The provisions of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action on combating racism and discrimination align with the priorities of the third Russia–Africa Summit, which will take place in Moscow on 28–29 October. The Russian Foreign Ministry said this on 8 September on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the documents.
“The substance of the Durban Process is reflected in the agenda of Russia’s co-operation with African states. Overcoming the consequences of colonialism, ensuring sovereign equality and developing joint approaches to creating a fairer and more polycentric world order are among the priorities of the third Russia–Africa Summit,” the statement said.
The ministry also recalled that Russia had participated in drafting the Durban Declaration and that Moscow has consistently reaffirmed its commitment to the documents, including by co-sponsoring the annual UN General Assembly resolution on combating racism.
The ministry also stressed that Russia actively uses the provisions of the Durban Declaration in its initiative to combat the glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other manifestations of racism.
“A quarter of a century later, the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action are more relevant and significant than ever. The Russian Federation actively uses the provisions of these documents as part of its key initiative in the UN General Assembly, ‘Combating the glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices’,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
At the same time, the ministry expressed concern over attempts by certain states to revise the fundamental principles of the Declaration.
“We are compelled to note that today certain states are attempting to revise the fundamental principles laid down in the Declaration. <…> The destructive practice of imposing the concept of ‘civilisational exceptionalism’ <…> only contributes to destabilising the architecture of international law that has been developing for decades,” the ministry stressed.
Earlier in September, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Borisenko discussed preparations for the third Russia–Africa Summit with the Secretary-General of the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of the Congo.
The first Russia–Africa Summit was held in Sochi in October 2019 under the co-chairmanship of the Russian president and the African Union Chairperson, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The second summit took place in St Petersburg in August 2023.
(Afr Initiative/GSF)