MOSCOW, Mar 19 The West will reckon with those African countries that came to Russia despite the pressure, said State Duma Vice Speaker Pyotr Tolstoy.
The second international parliamentary conference «Russia — Africa» is being held in Moscow on March 19-20. The conference is attended by representatives of the scientific, educational and expert communities from Russia and African countries, deputies of the State Duma, heads of federal executive bodies, senators of the Federation Council, chairmen of the legislative bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, representatives of the business community. More than 40 delegations from most African countries take part in the conference.
«We talked with representatives of various countries and many told me that, you know, we are under pressure, because Russia is under sanctions. We are told: do not go to Moscow, do not. What I want to say, those who succumbed to pressure and did not come, they will be quickly forgotten, but those who continue to cooperate with Russia even in such difficult times will always be reckoned with — both Westerners and us,» Tolstoy said.