08:29Russia: West convinces Africa that it cannot develop healthcare without US 'but there is an alternative' - Duma Deputy Piskarev
State Duma Deputy Vasily Piskarev claimed that Western nations were attempting to convince African countries that they couldn’t develop their own healthcare without US help - which he alleged led to participation in US military and biological programmes - while speaking at the second Russia-Africa International Parliamentary Conference in Moscow, on Sunday.
"I am sure that there is an alternative for people of Africa, not to be subjected to the Pentagon's military experiments. ... Russia is ready to develop co-operation with African countries in the field of biomedical technology on an equal basis. We also propose to unite our efforts to preserve our peoples and jointly advocate in the international fora of the UN and other organisations and demand the implementation of the BWC Conventions to prohibit the development and stockpiling of bacteriological, biological and toxin weapons," he stated.
In 2022, Washington revealed plans to provide $2 billion in humanitarian assistance to the continent, although has never stated that aid was linked to military programmes or otherwise.
While medical trials did take place there as recently as the 1990s - leading to rows over consent and authorisation - there has been no reported evidence of ongoing experimentation.
Meanwhile, the head of the secretariat of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, Oleg Ozerov, stressed the growing importance of Africa in the world.
In addition, Speaker of South Africa's National Assembly of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, expressed her country's readiness 'to share experiences of negotiating and end to conflict'.
"If needed, to form part of efforts to facilitate dialogue for a mutually beneficial end to even the current conflict," the politician stated.
The second Russia-Africa International Parliamentary Conference is taking place in Moscow on March 19 and 20, led by the State Duma. Delegations from 40 African countries are taking part in the conference, including more than 200 parliamentarians of various ranks. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to address the conference on March 20.
The conference is a preparation event in the run-up to the Russia-Africa summit in Saint Petersburg on July 27–28.
08:29State Duma Deputy Vasily Piskarev claimed that Western nations were attempting to convince African countries that they couldn’t develop their own healthcare without US help - which he alleged led to participation in US military and biological programmes - while speaking at the second Russia-Africa International Parliamentary Conference in Moscow, on Sunday.
"I am sure that there is an alternative for people of Africa, not to be subjected to the Pentagon's military experiments. ... Russia is ready to develop co-operation with African countries in the field of biomedical technology on an equal basis. We also propose to unite our efforts to preserve our peoples and jointly advocate in the international fora of the UN and other organisations and demand the implementation of the BWC Conventions to prohibit the development and stockpiling of bacteriological, biological and toxin weapons," he stated.
In 2022, Washington revealed plans to provide $2 billion in humanitarian assistance to the continent, although has never stated that aid was linked to military programmes or otherwise.
While medical trials did take place there as recently as the 1990s - leading to rows over consent and authorisation - there has been no reported evidence of ongoing experimentation.
Meanwhile, the head of the secretariat of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, Oleg Ozerov, stressed the growing importance of Africa in the world.
In addition, Speaker of South Africa's National Assembly of Parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, expressed her country's readiness 'to share experiences of negotiating and end to conflict'.
"If needed, to form part of efforts to facilitate dialogue for a mutually beneficial end to even the current conflict," the politician stated.
The second Russia-Africa International Parliamentary Conference is taking place in Moscow on March 19 and 20, led by the State Duma. Delegations from 40 African countries are taking part in the conference, including more than 200 parliamentarians of various ranks. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to address the conference on March 20.
The conference is a preparation event in the run-up to the Russia-Africa summit in Saint Petersburg on July 27–28.