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L. Fituni, I. Abramova Resource Potential of Africa and Russia's ...

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including piracy <strong>and</strong> illicit trafficking. The old 20th century agenda<br />

was still present in the form <strong>of</strong> concern for <strong>Africa</strong>’s many humanitarian<br />

crises, armed conflicts, <strong>and</strong> more general challenges, such as<br />

the devastating effect <strong>of</strong> HIV/AIDS. The real challenges <strong>of</strong> the 21st<br />

century were to be described in the NATO’s modernized strategy<br />

adopted during the Lisbon summit in November 2010.<br />

During the Lisbon Summit, President B. Obama <strong>and</strong> the other 27<br />

NATO heads <strong>of</strong> state endorsed the new Strategic Concept which<br />

among other things stated: “We are firmly committed to the development<br />

<strong>of</strong> friendly <strong>and</strong> cooperative relations with all countries <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Mediterranean, <strong>and</strong> we intend to further develop the Mediterranean<br />

Dialogue in the coming years. We attach great importance to peace<br />

<strong>and</strong> stability in the Gulf region, <strong>and</strong> we intend to strengthen our cooperation<br />

in the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative.” 26 The Mediterranean<br />

Dialogue consists <strong>of</strong> NATO <strong>and</strong> seven nations: five in <strong>Africa</strong><br />

<strong>and</strong> two in the Asian part <strong>of</strong> the Middle East: Algeria, Egypt, Israel,<br />

Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco <strong>and</strong> Tunisia.<br />

The <strong>of</strong>ficial NATO Lisbon Summit Declaration Issued by the<br />

Heads <strong>of</strong> State <strong>and</strong> Government participating in the meeting <strong>of</strong> the<br />

North Atlantic Council in Lisbon devoted significant place <strong>and</strong> attention<br />

to <strong>Africa</strong>, though the direct interest <strong>of</strong> the alliance was not<br />

linked in its text to the continent’s natural resources, but was rather<br />

explained by the Pact’s concern about peacekeeping needs. The<br />

document stated that the Alliance was also contributing to peace <strong>and</strong><br />

security through other operations <strong>and</strong> missions. The Declarations<br />

names three ongoing operations specifically in the following words:<br />

“Operation Active Endeavour (OAE), our Article 5 maritime<br />

operation in the Mediterranean, is making a significant contribution<br />

to the fight against terrorism.<br />

Operation Ocean Shield <strong>of</strong>f the Horn <strong>of</strong> <strong>Africa</strong> demonstrates<br />

NATO’s commitment to contribute to the sustained comprehensive<br />

international effort to help counter piracy <strong>and</strong> armed robbery at sea.<br />

At the request <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Africa</strong>n Union (AU), we are providing<br />

support to its mission in Somalia <strong>and</strong> the development <strong>of</strong> its longterm<br />

peacekeeping capabilities, including the <strong>Africa</strong>n St<strong>and</strong>-by<br />

34

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