The full text of the message, a copy of which was sent to Seychelles Nation, reads as follows:
“Please accept my sincere congratulations on the occasion of the Day of Africa.

“In 2010 a special perception is added to this date by the significant jubilee of the Year of Africa. 50 years ago the emergence of young African states on the political map opened a new page in the development of the modern world order.

The break-up of the colonial system became a vivid example of the triumph of the ideas of progress, equal rights and democracy on the planet.

“Our ties with the African continent traditionally develop at an ever-increasing rate, becoming more active in scale and extending to new dimensions. We believe that the cooperation between Russia and Africa is gaining a fresh positive dynamics.
 The level and the intensity of the contacts are growing. The systematic work is being done in order to strengthen and diversify them. I am confident that the Russia-Africa partnership, tested by time, will be productively promoted further at the interstate level and in the multilateral formats.

“In this regard we welcome the consistent policy of deepening the political and economic integration in the framework of the African Union and other organizations. We are convinced that this promising trend will become a real instrument for the solution of many issues the continent is facing.

“Looking back at the past half a century we see how much the role of Africa in the international affairs was augmented.
Today the African countries are more and more actively involved in the settlement of the most pressing problems of the present times, the consolidated search for responses to the global challenges and threats.

“On its part, our country stands for building up the efficiency of the international assistance to Africa, fist of all in the UN and G8 frameworks. We will continue to exert further efforts to this effect.

“I wish lasting peace, progress and prosperity to the leaders and peoples of the African states.”