MOSCOW, October 29. /TASS/. Russia has never been a colonial power, this is why the question of the possible use of African territory for rivalry with anyone directed at Moscow is misplaced, President Vladimir Putin said at a press conference after the Russia-Africa summit.
"As for the fact that the countries of the African continent can remain or be the subject of rivalry between large states, this is not the right question. Russia has never considered the countries of Africa as some kind of objects for rivalry," he noted.
"For Russia, the African countries have always, throughout history, been only friends. We were not engaged in colonial policy. On the contrary, we helped African countries to free themselves from colonial dependence."
