Russian, Namibian FMs to discuss situation in Africa, Mideast

MOSCOW, May 16 (Itar-Tass) - Russian and Namibian foreign ministers
Sergei Lavrov and Utoni Nujoma will meet in Moscow on Monday to discuss
the situation in Africa and the Middle East as well as prospects for joint
exploration of uranium deposits.
"The Russian and Namibian foreign ministers will focus on problems of
ensuring sustainable development of the African countries as well as
issues related to peacekeeping missions in Africa and the search for the
ways for the settlement of conflicts that are one of the main obstacles
for socio-economic revival of the continent," Russian Foreign Ministry
spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.
"The ministers will consider the key aspects of the Russian-Namibian
partnership in the context of the tasks of translating into practice the
existing groundworks in such priority areas as joint exploration of
uranium fields, energy, trade, agriculture, fisheries, transport as well
as the military and technical cooperation," he said.
The bilateral trade between Russia and Namibia is not high. According
to experts, over the past year it totalled some 6 million U.S. dollars.
Russia imports fruit, nuts, fish and seafood from Namibia and exports
fishing equipment, newsprints, cables and ropes.
Despite a low trade turnover economists forecast the growth of
Russian-Namibian cooperation in joint exploration and development of
mineral resources, including diamonds, stronger interaction in some
investment projects as well as further cooperation in the fishing industry
and the construction of a hydro-electric power station on the territory of
Namibia.