MOSCOW, May 25 (RIA Novosti) - Speaking in the Russian Foreign Ministry on the occasion of Africa Day, Sergei Lavrov, head of the office, said that Russia had made a significant contribution to relieve African states of a debt burden within the framework of the highly indebted poor countries initiative.
According to Lavrov, Russia wrote off $16.5 billion of African debt in 1998-2004.
Lavrov considered the prevention and settlement of African military conflicts under the UN aegis as the key task for Africa to attain stability.
Speaking on conflicts on the continent, the Russian foreign minister reminded those present that Moscow took an active part in all peace-keeping operations in the region under the mandate of the UN Security Council.
'Russia is ready to help Africa in skill training, including in the peace-keeping sphere,' Lavrov said.
