Niël Terblanché
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi, expressed gratitude to the Russian Federation for strengthening bilateral relations with Namibia through recent parliamentary exchanges.
Katjavivi shared his views on cooperation between the two countries during a courtesy visit by the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to the Namibian Parliament.
In a meeting with the Federation Council’s delegation, led by Yelena Perminova, Chairperson of the Committee on Social Affairs, Professor Katjavivi stressed the importance of innovative approaches to advance political cooperation.
He praised the Federation Council’s commitment to maintaining cooperation and noted the substantial increase in bilateral delegation exchanges, particularly in the ministries of health, education, defence, and justice.
Perminova highlighted Namibia’s balanced and constructive role in international affairs, commending its participation in Russia-Africa forums such as the second interparliamentary conference in Moscow in March 2023 and the second Russia-Africa Summit.
She noted that these exchanges have creatively established friendship groups among parliaments, reflecting the spirit of partnership and mutual solidarity between the countries.
The visit also included discussions with the deputy minister of disability affairs, Alexia Manombe-Ncube, focusing on social issues.
Katjavivi reiterated the country’s aspirations for peace between Russia and Ukraine, underscoring the conflict’s global implications and his role as Vice President of the Russian-Ukraine task force.
“What is really important is to remember history and to be guided by historical events that have shaped the kind of world that we desire,” he stated.
The Federation Council’s visit aligns with broader cooperative efforts, including a historic cooperation agreement signed between Namibia’s National Council and the Federal Council of the Russian Federation in March 2024.
Katjavivi said the agreement aims to facilitate inter-parliamentary interactions, the exchange of information, and cooperation in oversight and law-making processes.
He reiterated Namibia’s commitment to strengthening solidarity and partnership with Russia, particularly in the current challenging global landscape.
