Official visit of Foreign Minister for Bilateral talks in Moscow, attendance at 20th St. Peterburg International Economic Forum
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Georgetown, June 24, 2016)- From June 14th to 16th a Guyana’s delegation undertook an official visit to the Russian Federation (RF) at the invitation of the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Hon. Mr Sergey Lavrov.
The team was led by Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Carl B. Greenidge, included Ambassador Rudy Collins and Ms Geneva Tyndall. Minister Greenidge accepted an Invitation from the Executive Secretary of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum Organising Committee Mr. A. Kobyakov to participate as a panelist in the business Round Table discussing the Topic “Russia Latin America: Foreign Trade and Investment Cooperation as Drivers of Economic Growth.
The visit to Moscow was aimed at reviewing progress on implementation of the various initiatives being pursued by the two states, to explore possibilities for new initiatives and to deepen relations and collaboration in a mutually beneficial way.
Minister Greenidge had extensive and fruitful discussions with his Russian counterpart on a wide range of issues ranging from regional political developments to specific projects of collaboration and new ideas for the future.
The Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs indicated his willingness to respond positively to requests from the Guyana side and agreed to explore with Guyana opportunities for the exchange of ideas and information that will promote further collaboration.
The high point of the visit to Moscow was the signing of the Treaty on Basic Relations which provides a framework within which dialogue and cooperation would take place inter alia provision for cooperation at all levels, access to markets, shared interest in ecological matters and dispute settlement.
At the St. Petersburg Economic Summit, attended by a number of regional and European leaders, Minister Greenidge made two presentations which touched on the issues affecting the region. He also raised specific issues of interest to Caricom and identified the factors that could facilitate greater investment in the region as well as cooperation between the community and the Russian Federation.
Minister Greenidge also held extensive discussions with the leaders of Rusal and also with Roscongress, Rosoboron and other companies that expressed an interest with doing business in Guyana.