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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: RUSSIA AFRICA CURTAINRAISER
HEADLINE: Putin Promises Grain to Africans in Bid to Ease Isolation
TEASER: Russia hosts a two-day summit of African countries as world tensions grow due to the increase in food prices following Moscow's withdrawal from the grain agreement signed by Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey.
PUBLISHED AT: 07/27/2023 at 12on
BYLINE: VOA Moscow Bureau
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Moscow
VIDEOGRAPHER: Ricardo Marquina, Agency
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original, Reuters
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 2:20
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVR
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
Russia is hosting a summit of African countries as world tensions grow due to the increase in food prices following Moscow's withdrawal from the grain shipment agreements signed with Ukraine and Turkey. In hosting the two-day gathering that began on Thursday, Russia is seeking to cast its image as a partner of the African continent. Marcus Harton narrates this report from the VOA Moscow Bureau.
((NARRATOR))
African delegations arrive in Saint Petersburg for a summit overshadowed by the war in Ukraine and Russia’s efforts to mitigate its isolation. Seventeen heads of state joined this meeting, 18 fewer than the last summit four years ago in Sochi.
Moscow accuses Washington of pressuring Africans not to attend the summit, where President Putin on Thursday promised substantial direct aid to the continent.
((Vladimir Putin, Russian President - MALE, IN RUSSIAN, REUTERS))
“I am ready to grant at no charge from 25 to 50 thousand tons of grain to Burkina Faso,
Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic, (and) Eritrea in the coming months, in the next three to four months.”
[[RADIO VERSION: Putin said he is ready to provide, at no charge, 25 to 50 thousand tons of grain to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and Eritrea in the next three to four months.]]
((NARRATOR))
Russia called the summit as world tensions grow due to an increase in food prices following Moscow's withdrawal from the grain shipment agreements it had signed with Ukraine and Turkey.
[[RADIO VERSION: Bashir Obasekola heads the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Europe (NIDOE).]]
((Bashir Obasekola, Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Europe - MALE IN ENGLISH))
((Mandatory ZOOM))
“It is very, very important because Russia is known for that fertilizer, because the grain fertilizer to African countries from Russia is very, very profound. (substantial).”
((NARRATOR))
But there is agreement on little else and some at the gathering were prepared to call on Russia to halt its full-scale invasion Ukraine. Of all the participants, Obasekola says only Russia appears interested in continuing the war.
((Bashir Obasekola, Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Europe - MALE IN ENGLISH, ORIGINAL VOA))
((Mandatory ZOOM))
“African countries (are) going to Russia to see how they can also put certain pressure, psychologically of course on Russia and Ukraine to come on to (a) peace agreement.”
((NARRATOR))
Many in the West see the two-day summit as a propaganda move by the Kremlin to show that it is not cut off from the world. But observers say it is also an opportunity to speak frankly with Russian leaders on the need to bring peace to Ukraine.
((FOR THE VOA MOSCOW BUREAU, MARCUS HARTON, VOA NEWS))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJuly 27, 2023 12:06 EDT
BylineVOA Moscow Bureau
Brand / Language ServiceUS Agency for Global Media, Voice of America - English
