Upon his return from Sochi where the Russia Africa Summit was held, The Ethiopian Herald has sat down with Russian Ambassador to Ethiopia E.Terekhin to talk about the Summit and the Nuclear energy agreement signed between Ethiopia and Russia on the sideline of the Summit. Here it follows.
Can we say the Russia-Africa Summit was a success?
The summit was a great event in the history of Russia-Africa relations. Russia and Africa enjoy longstanding cooperation, friendship and mutual assistances. But up to now, it was the first event of such scale. Out of 54 countries which Russia has diplomatic relations, 33 leaders have taken part in the Summit while the rest of the countries were represented at a ministerial level.
It was very fruitful even in helping Russian dialogue with African countries and the spirit was warm and very constructive. It also laid a new cornerstone for the diplomatic relations between the two sides. In the 1960s and 70s, Russian relations with African countries was blossoming. And these relations are in different areas such as political, educational, defense and security.
The former USSR had strong ties with Africa, is Russia now returning to the continent?
Yes, all of us remember that Russia the former Soviet Union was among the first countries in helping the struggle of African countries for independence. Russia was the only country that raised its voice in the former League of Nations in defense of Ethiopia during its struggle against Italian aggression. Though the relations were politically and ideologically motivated, the assistances had been rendered to the peoples and the countries.
After the collapse of Soviet Union in 1991, Russia’s relations with African took a weak path since Russia was facing internal challenges for a decade. It had to overcome its internal challenges and crises. It was very tough for Russia to continue its relations in the same scale it was before.
Now that Russia has recovered from its problems, it is retaking cooperation with African states to another new height. Since 2010, the process of return of Russia has started. Russia is ready to play valuable role in Africa.
We know the scale of cooperation of China with Africa; we also know the role France, the U.S. and other countries have in Africa. Russia is also keen on playing a role which is not less than these countries. It is good to give have a common ground of cooperation and new modality of partnership. For this, we are laying down a concrete plan. In this respect, the Sochi Summit was of paramount importance.
What were the major decisions taken during the Sochi Summit?
The summit focused on the continental problems; it focused on specific issues of different countries. It was directed at enhancing bilateral relations, of course AU and other regional blocs have participated. Among the bilateral partnerships the Russia and Ethiopia is mentionable. The two countries have signed a deal for the former to help the latter in building nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Economic agreements worth approximately 15 Billion USD were signed on the sidelines of the Summit as well.
Russia has a lot to offer to Africa in terms of technology. Since the country is regaining its financial might, it can also supply finance to African countries. The country can collaborate with African states in the areas of health, capacity building and security such as in fighting terrorism and extremism. Similarly, Africa is an opportunity for Russia with its huge natural resources, growing economies including Ethiopia.
What are the crux of the latest nuclear agreement signed between Premier Dr. Abiy and President Putin, what are the latest developments concerning the deal signed on the sideline of the Russia-Africa Summit?
It is understood that the signed document is a framework agreement laying the legislative foundation for cooperation between Russia and Ethiopia in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy. In principle, the agreement involves cooperation in a wide range of areas, including research, energy, medicine, agriculture, etc. For each area of cooperation, a specific agreement should be signed that defines the obligations of the parties, terms and conditions and all other details of substantive interaction.
Does the agreement include capacity building training provision to Ethiopia to minimize its dependency on Moscow in operating, regulating and managing risks of nuclear energy?
It is worth noting that nuclear energy is an exceptionally high-tech activity that requires highly qualified personnel in many narrow specializations. However, the training of such professionals takes a long time. It is a long and difficult process. If a country decides to develop nuclear energy at a national basis, then, accordingly, it should also train national personnel who will work for the good of their state and its prosperity.
In this regard, the agreement, in particular, Article No. 4, implies capacity building, which manifests in exchange of experts, organizing workshops and symposia, assistance in training of scientific and technical personnel, exchange of scientific and technical information. We have been talking about this area of cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear energy use for quite some time.
Two years ago, in July 2017, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the then Ministry of Science and Technology of the FDRE and the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom). The agreement included capacity building. There are such provisions in the roadmap adopted by the parties in April this year. Moreover, this issue was raised during the meeting of the IPC in St. Petersburga month ago.
The number and specialization of training programs will be determined based on the national plan of the Ethiopian government for the development of nuclear energy. The government must determine these parameters on its own. I also want to note that the first batch of Ethiopian students has already been sent to Russia to study subjects relating to nuclear energy sciences.
What are the major requirements that should be fulfilled from the Ethiopian side to implement the deal on time?
The first and determining condition for any further interaction is stated on Article No. 12 of the Agreement. It refers to the fact that Ethiopia should first join the Vienna Convention on nuclear damage enacted on May 21,1963.
As for other requirements, I can say that the above mentioned roadmap for the development of cooperation in the field of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is a detailed document which defines the specific steps that should be taken by both parties after signing the framework agreement.
When will the actual work of the 10 year project begin?
If by a “ten-year project” you mean the construction of a nuclear power plant, you should ask the Ethiopian government because it is the only legal body which has the right of making an appropriate decision to start such projects. Only when such a decision is taken by Ethiopia’s leadership a concrete agreement on the issue gets concluded. Based on my experience; however, discussion and signing such a document may take two to three years. But since, in our case, both sides are eager to strike a deal; this process may become much shorter.
Russia has long been engaged in nuclear energy development and has enormous experience to share with other countries, what are the major setbacks a developing country like Ethiopia would face in developing nuclear energy?
Your question sounds pessimistic. Let’s reformat it: What tasks does the state need to ensure successful implementation of the agreement and reach progress in developing nuclear energy?
Undoubtedly, a state that is planning to develop the sphere of peaceful use of nuclear technologies from scratch will have to endeavor. Considerable efforts are required to prepare material and non-material infrastructure: for a start, it would be right to adopt a plan for the development of nuclear energy in the country, it is necessary to develop a legislative framework and find funding. Of course, the general state of the country’s economy, its political stability and peace are of utmost importance.
Ethiopia lacks expertise and developing countries usually depend on the U.S., Russia and other nuclear powers for licensing, does the agreement also include this?
What kind of licensing are we talking about? If you mean intellectual property, the issues of transfer of technology and experience are resolved following specific agreements, which are concluded for this purpose. So far, we have only a framework agreement that defines only the main areas of cooperation. Naturally, many things will be new for Ethiopia, many will have to be adopted and borrowed, however, and these are working issues that are settled by global practice during the working process.
The Ethiopian Herald Friday 27 December 2019
BY DESTA GEBREHIWOT
