RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR ON RELATIONS WITH GHANA

UNCLAS ACCRA 002876

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: GH PGOV PREL RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR ON RELATIONS WITH GHANA



1. (SBU) On November 21, Russia's newly arrived Ambassador
to Ghana, Andrey Pokrovskiy, paid a courtesy call on
Ambassador Bridgewater. Porkrovskiy noted that Russia is
politically active in Ghana and is trying to reengage in
Africa generally. He was disappointed that Ghana was not
realizing its potential. End summary.

Politically Active, Economically Frustrated
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2. (SBU) President Putin's recent visit to South Africa and
Morocco signaled Russia's serious interest in strengthening
ties with Africa, according to Pokrovskiy. He noted that
Russia's political interaction in Ghana is "quite active",
with demarches and other diplomatic efforts. Russia's
diplomatic relations with Ghana began in 1958 and previous
assistance included plans to help the GOG prepare to build a
nuclear research facility in Accra. After President Nkrumah
was overthrown in 1966, Russians were expelled and diplomatic
relations were severed (Note: the USSR nuclear research
assistance plan was also scrapped, to be taken up later with
support from the Chinese. End note.) Russia is now working
to recover from this period and reinvigorate its bilateral
relationship, Pokrovskiy said. Russia will move into a new
embassy in Accra in September, 2007 he said. He expects a
delegation from Moscow to Ghana's Jubilee celebrations,
although it will probably not include President Putin.


3. (SBU) Pokrovskiy thought the role of chieftaincy was
much stronger in Ghana than in other African countries he
knew, adding that chieftaincy disputes are a significant
obstacle to Russian investment. He expected Ghana would be
more developed, even in African terms. He was disappointed
that Ghana was not making the most of its tourism potential.
Russia provides up to thirty scholarships each year to
Ghanaians to study in Russia, he said.

Bio Note
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4. (U) Andrey Viktorovich Pokrovskiy was appointed
Ambassador to Ghana in July, 2006, after serving four years
as Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Security
Department of the Russian MFA in Moscow. In 1994, he worked
as Deputy Provincial Coordinator of the UN peacekeeping
operation in Mozambique. His assignments have included
Zimbabwe (1997-2002),Angola (1984-1986),and Mozambique
(1979, 1988-1993). He graduated from the Moscow State
Institute of International Relations of the MFA in 1979, the
year he joined the diplomatic service. He was born October
2, 1957. He speaks English and Portuguese. He is
personable and mild-mannered, and is already active on the
Accra social circuit.
BRIDGEWATER