UNITED NATIONS, October 29 (HS/RIA Novosti) - The West’s attempts to disrupt participation of African countries in the summit with Russia are doomed to fail, Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Anna Evstigneeva told RIA Novosti.

Speaking about Western countries’ attempts to dissuade representatives of the African continent from participating in the Russia–Africa summit, Evstigneeva recalled a comment made by her colleague, Tatyana Dovgalenko, the director of the Department for Partnership with Africa at the Russian Foreign Ministry. The latter stated that there have been collective demarches by Russia's former partners in African capitals to try to disrupt the national delegations’ trip to Moscow.

Such approaches are doomed to fail, Evstigneeva said.

A number of states that are unfriendly to Moscow have long been trying to hinder the development of relations between Russia and Africa, she continued.

So we are not talking about an isolated line regarding the summit. The Africans are aware of this. In response to such demarches, our friends usually directly remind [them] of their right to choose their partners independently. As you understand, holding the Russia–Africa summit itself clearly demonstrates this consistent policy of African leaders, the diplomat added.

The third Russia-Africa Summit and the associated Economic and Humanitarian Forum are taking place in Moscow on October 28–29. RIA Novosti is an information partner for the summit and the forum.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar