… More economic boosting agreements on the way
BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA
MBABANE– Travelling between the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Eswatini has been made easier.
This has been made possible today by the Russian Federation Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov and Eswatini’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Thuli Dladla today by signing the Visa Waiver Agreement.
The signing occurred during His Excellency Lavrov’s Bilateral Visit at Cabinet in Mbabane and the signing was experienced by ministers, officials, members of the media from the country and Russia.
The Visa Waiver Agreement simply means diplomatic and service passport holders can travel to Russia Visa-free.
In her deliberation, Dladla, who also doubles as a Senator, said she was keen to see the bilateral agenda grow in many positive aspects, and in ways that will have a favorable impact on the lives of the Eswatini people, locally and abroad.
“The Visa Waiver Agreement that has been signed today is a step in the right direction as it sets the tone for the movement of people between our two great countries.
“I am optimistic, that this will bring us closer and could be our opportunity to propose a bilateral cooperation arrangement that seeks to find commonalities in many spheres of interest. In addition to the Visa Waiver Agreement, we are hopeful of signing more agreements in fields such as Trade and Investment, Agriculture and Food Security, Tourism amongst others,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The Eswatini minister on the podium further said it was her profound honour to be able to welcome Lavrov to Mbabane, in the Kingdom of Eswatini today. Saying the visit served to cement the growing relationship between the two countries, Governments and people.
“I would also want to express my own personal appreciation at being able to host you Your Excellency, welcome to Eswatini. We have had a number of interactions between our two Governments facilitated through your able representation in Maputo.
“This visit is a testimony to the hard work and an effort that your representative office has put in, it is an affirmation of the long history of cordiality between the Kingdom of Eswatini and the Russian Federation. Friends do need to make real time contact in order to ensure long term projections of common permanent interest,” said Dladla.
Dladla went on to say they remained deeply concerned about the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, saying their prayer was in the belief that their Brotherly State, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine, would find an amicable solution soon.
She said Eswatini believed that the use of a dialogue and other peaceful methods of intervention would assist the sovereign states in ending the conflict.
“Closer to home, we bear witness of the power of our bilateral relations. Russia has never wavered to play a significant role in assisting our domestic agenda on higher education, in-service training, and other areas of common value. We have a healthy number of doctors manning our hospitals who are proudly trained in Russia.
“This is a clear demonstration of your commitment to Eswatini and could be the most pragmatic option, by far, towards creating an unbreakable rapport from people to people.”
Showing courtesy to the Russian Federation Minister of Foreign Affairs, Her Excellency Minister Thuli Dladla said as she concluded, it was a pity that given the limited amount of time at your disposal, they would be unable to show them a bit of the beautiful Kingdom.
“But, please receive an open invitation for a visit at which we can cover the leisure aspects that we are unable to do now. We are certain that, should this come to pass, you will fall in love with the Kingdom of Eswatini and realize that you have a home away from home here in Eswatini.”
