Egypt keeps active interaction with Russia despite Western pressure
Cairo is not abiding by the West's wishes that several countries limit contact with Russia.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry give a joint press conference following their meeting in Cairo, Egypt, July 24, 2022 (TASS)
Egypt maintains an active interaction with Russia, despite Western pressure to reduce contacts, Russian Ambassador to Cairo Georgy Borisenko told Sputnik on Saturday.
In late January, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the United States and Europe called on African countries not to cooperate with Russia.
The United States and European countries are seeking to restore Africa's colonial dependence as they seek to put an end to the continent's cooperation with Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on January 27.
Read more: From Africa, US warns not to violate anti-Russia sanctions
"Despite all this pressure, Egypt remains faithful to the traditions of friendship between our countries, laid down during the presidency of Gamal Abdel Nasser, and continues to actively interact with Russia in the economic, cultural spheres and various international political platforms," Borisenko said in an interview.
The diplomat gave as an example Lavrov's visit to Cairo in the Summer, when the G7 countries' ambassadors called on the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and the Arab League to cancel his planned meetings there.
"We, of course, understand that Egypt and our other Arab partners have a difficult time in the current situation, when they are under massive pressure from the West, which often requires to interrupt any contacts with Russia in an almost ultimatum manner," Borisenko added.
Last month, after meeting with Lavrov, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said his country intends to keep building equal relations with all countries, despite serious Western pressure.
It is worth noting that Egypt is not the only country that has been facing pressure.
Russian Ambassador to Angola Vladimir Tararov told Sputnik in May last year that the West is going so far as to exert pressure on African states that it is even resorting to immoral actions like threats.
The Ambassador explained that Western nations "are just threatening, blackmailing. This blackmail, I emphasize once again, is immoral. The countries [of Africa] are barely standing their ground to resist."
Read: Russia considers evacuating African students from Ukraine
