Transcript of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s Remarks and Responses to Media Questions at Joint Press Conference Following Talks with Nigerian Foreign Minister Odein Ajumogobia, Abuja, November 17, 2010

Foreign Minister Lavrov: On November 25 we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, and we welcome this date in a very positive stage of our cooperation. After the visit of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev last year, important agreements were reached that put our relations on a qualitatively new level. Russian companies are interested in expanding their presence in Nigeria. Today at a meeting with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and my counterpart, Foreign Minister Odein Ajumogobia, we discussed specific issues that lend themselves to solution in order to make this collaboration more effective. We concur that the potential of our economic, trade and investment cooperation is far from being exhausted and that we can significantly increase the volume of our cooperation.

We agreed to strengthen cooperation in the humanitarian sphere. Our Nigerian colleagues are pleased that many citizens of the country are being trained in the Russian Federation.

We also discussed international affairs, the situation in Africa. Here we have a full coincidence of approaches. We are unanimous in the view that all the problems that arise in international relations ought to be solved on the basis of international law and of confirming the central role of the UN and a peaceful negotiation path. We are working closely with Nigeria in the United Nations, within the framework of the UN Security Council, and will continue to strengthen this cooperation.

I am confident that today's talks will serve to further develop our partnership and will pave the way for its elevation to a strategic level.

I am grateful to my colleague for the hospitality and the excellent organization of the talks. I conveyed to him an invitation to pay visit to the Russian Federation.

Question: How do you assess the implementation of the agreements concerning the oil and gas and nuclear industries and outer space that were reached during the visit of Russian President Medvedev to Nigeria? What has been done and what remains to be done?

Foreign Minister Lavrov: Today, we noted the completion of the ratification process of a number of important agreements reached during the visit of Russian President Medvedev. This concerns agreements on the reciprocal protection of investments and on cooperation in the peaceful atom sphere. Negotiations are underway on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Nigeria.

Today during a meeting with the Nigerian President we discussed plans in the fuel and energy sector. We felt the sincere interest of our Nigerian partners in realizing the projects that Gazprom is planning. Gazprom has partners here with whom the relevant negotiations are being conducted. We hope for their expeditious and successful conclusion.

We also have a common interest in ensuring that the RUSAL projects being implemented here also bring benefits to both parties.

With regard to space, we are planning to launch two Nigerian Earth mapping satellites on board our carrier rockets in December. I hope that all of this will take place and will be further developed. I believe that everything is going right.

Question: Viktor Bout is now on US territory. According to media reports, Russian diplomats still do not have the opportunity to meet with him. When will he be given consular assistance?

Foreign Minister Lavrov: As you realize, it depends primarily on the USA. The United States is obliged to comply with international norms. We hope that this will be done immediately.

If the consular access is delayed, it would be yet another violation of the norms of international law, which have repeatedly been violated in relation to the so-called case of Bout. I hope that our American colleagues understand this.

Question: At what level will the safety of the construction of a nuclear power plant in Nigeria be ensured?

Foreign Minister Lavrov: Each project being implemented by the State Corporation Rosatom with its foreign colleagues is under strict IAEA supervision and is guaranteed to be safe.

Question: How can you comment on the agreement to supply Nigerian gas to Russia? What can you additionally say about the launching of the Nigerian satellites?

Foreign Minister Lavrov: Nigeria does not supply gas to Russia. Russia and Nigeria export hydrocarbons. We are cooperating in several formats. Russia is an observer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), of which Nigeria is a member. Our countries participate in the Gas Exporting Countries Forum. Russian company Gazprom has agreements with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on the development of mutually beneficial cooperation. This is not about Russia getting Nigerian gas, but about joint capacity development in the hydrocarbons sphere, including pipelines, liquefied natural gas and other cooperation forms to be approved by both parties.

As to space cooperation, the Nigerian satellites will be delivered by Russian rockets to do Earth mapping. That is the plan, which I hope will be realized.