‘Day of Russia’ celebrated

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said ‘Day of Russia’ is a day to reflect on the many achievements on the path to national development, at a ceremony hosted at the Russian Embassy on June 12.

Hinds made these remarks in his capacity as President, when he and Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Guyana Pavel Sergiev toasted the mutual relations between the two countries. A Government Information Agency (GINA) press release also quoted Hinds as saying that both Russia and Guyana aspired to sustain economic growth, productivity and reduce poverty and unemployment. “It is in this regard that I express the hope that as Russia continues to ascend in the ranks of the developed world, Guyana can count on its support in enhancing the North-South co-operation,” he said.

Hinds also acknowledged the assistance that Guyana has received and continues to receive from Russia in order to achieve its development objectives. However, he also said rising food prices is one challenge to development and as such Guyana is “keen to attract investments in other traditional and non-traditional sectors even as RUSAL has been the pioneer here of large investors from the Russian Federation.” Hinds also said he was hopeful that in the light of Russia’s advancement in energy, fisheries, forestry, information technology, mining and tourism, sectors Guyana hoped to develop, it would consider investing in those areas locally.

Hinds also lauded Russia’s appreciation of Guyana’s role in responding to climate change, noting that it is an issue of national interest on which the two countries have collaborated. In this regard he expressed hope that future collaboration can lead to a post-Kyoto framework.

In his address Sergiev said Russia’s relationship with Guyana is a foreign relations policy which it intends to establish with all countries to overcome the many world challenges. “It is only with joint effort that we can cope with the threats of the twenty-first century, namely international terrorism, proliferation and weapons of mass destruction, regional conflict, narco-traffic, dissemination of HIV/AIDS,” he said.

The Ambassador said too Russia shares a rich history with Guyana that is underscored by joint Russia-Guyana operations in the bauxite industry with the participation of RUSAL.

“Today we can surely say it’s the first but not the last example of mutually beneficial cooperation, which both parties are eager to strengthen and expand,” Sergiev said.

According to GINA, Cabinet ministers, members of the Russian Federation, the diplomatic corps and Members of Parliament also attended the celebration.