adminIvan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
RUSSIA has pledged to continue strengthening its cooperation with Zimbabwe and has called for the lifting of sanctions against the country imposed by some Western countries.
Speaking at the commemoration of the Defender of the Fatherland Day last week, Russian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Nikolai Krasilnikov said the day was one of the most important public holidays in Russia.
Observed annually on February 23, the day commemorates the establishment of the Red Army back in 1918 when the young Soviet Republic had to fight off the German invasion in the course of the First World War.
Ambassador Krasilnikov said the Russian diplomatic service would continue doing all it could to strengthen national sovereignty and to expand the circle of international partners and true friends.
“So, I am happy to be confident that here in the glorious Republic of Zimbabwe we have understanding, sympathy and support,” he said.
“Such an approach has been demonstrated through tight coordination in the United Nations, and you know that Russia and Zimbabwe are members of the Group of Friends in Support of the UN Charter. It has been demonstrated through the consistent confirmation by President Comrade ED Mnangagwa that Zimbabwe would remain focused on enhancing cooperation with Russia.
“So, we are proud of having such sincere and true friends. And down with the sanctions and other illegal attempts to curb the movement of sovereign and self-respecting nations towards a new multipolar world order based on principals of mutual respect which are enshrined in the United Nations Charter.”
Ambassador Krasilnikov said the problem was that the levers that could influence the search for a peaceful solution to the conflict around Ukraine were concentrated in the hands of Western arms companies and military corporations.
“They have got in Ukraine a real site where new arms types are tested, modified and improved at the expense of Ukrainian and Russian lives,” he said.
“The West is directly involved in the Ukrainian conflict not only because they provide arms and intelligence data, but also because they send military personnel and mercenaries, without whom the Kiev regime would be simply unable to operate much of the equipment it receives.
“However, the longer the range of the Western systems that will be supplied to Ukraine, the further we will have to move the threat away from our borders.
“There is no doubt that the threats to our national security from the West will be eliminated. The Russian Army, the Air Force and the Navy have risen to the challenge thrown at them.”
The event was attended by the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa, Commander Air Force of Zimbabwe and the co-chair of the Russia-Zimbabwe Working Group on Military and Technical Cooperation, Air Marshal Elson Moyo, representatives of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, heads of diplomatic missions, military attaches and Russian delegates.
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