Lavrov: It's time for African countries to finally get rid of the post-colonial influence of the West
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is on a tour of African countries, during which he is holding talks with his counterparts and the heads of state of Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda and the Congo. At a joint press conference held after a meeting with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen, Lavrov said African countries would have to face historical choice, as the West continues to "cling to the elusive prospect of a unipolar world."
Lavrov believes that Western countries are trying to slow down the natural historical process of gaining democratic freedoms by other states and building a fair world order. At the same time, the principle is being imposed that the only rules that the whole world must follow are those that are invented and enforced by "Western democracy." Countries that do not follow them should be punished.
There is no single principle, except for one: if I want something, you must obey. If you don't obey, you will be punished. This is the picture of the future that the Western rules-based world order offers us.
- quotes the words of Lavrov "Lenta.ru".
The Russian minister considers such an approach, when the world is ruled not by international law, but by the rules created by several dominant countries, is flawed. In his opinion, now the countries of the third world are facing a historic choice: either go with the flow, which is controlled by the West, or choose their own paths of development.
According to Lavrov, "a world order based on rules" reflects the interests of an exclusively Western coalition of several states. At the same time, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed, "if you analyze the behavior of our Western colleagues in the international arena, you will understand that these rules differ from case to case."
Lavrov drew attention to the fact that such a world order does not suit the majority of states that do not want to "live as if colonial times are returning."
The vast majority of states want to be independent, want to revive their own traditions, their own history, do not want to betray old friends
the Russian diplomat emphasized.
Earlier, during a meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, the Russian Foreign Minister said that the countries of the African continent should deal with their difficulties without outside interference. He also stressed that the global food crisis has nothing to do with Russia's special operation in Ukraine. It is based on the consequences of the pandemic and Western sanctions against Russian food exports.
In turn, the President of Uganda stressed that his country, despite external pressure, would not take an anti-Russian position. The Ugandan leader recalled that Russia, including the period of the existence of the USSR, has been supporting the anti-colonial movement of African countries for over 100 years.
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