Russia (bbabo.net), - Contacts between the Mali authorities and private companies working in the field of security are the country's sovereign right, said Vsevolod Tkachenko, director of the Africa Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"Contacts between the state and private contractors are the sovereign right of the Malian government," RIA Novosti quotes Tkachenko as saying. "... Russia is not responsible for the actions of private companies ... The Russian government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have nothing to do with private contractual issues."

The diplomat also noted that Mali's assistance in the fight against terrorism is a field for cooperation, not dives.

“France is conducting a long-term Operation Barkhan in Mali, but recently Paris has begun to reconfigure its mission, which has provoked a mixed reaction from the Malians, who felt that they had a kind of security vacuum. partners so that they can be helped in this struggle. And it seems to us that here, rather, a field for cooperation, rather than for some kind of pick and criticism, "said Tkachenko.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also noted that the accusations made by France against Moscow for sending military mercenaries to Mali are "groundless." According to him, the Russian side "explained to its French colleagues what kind of cooperation it has with Mali in the military sphere."

Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said earlier that the media campaign against Russian private security companies in Mali is aimed at disrupting cooperation between Moscow and Bamako.

bbabo.Net