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31 March 2015 14:52

Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s meeting with Vanuatu Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Sato Kilman

594-31-03-2015

On March 31, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Vanuatu Sato Kilman, who arrived in Russia on a working visit.

They exchanged views on important bilateral issues, including the establishment of trade, economic and humanitarian ties, as well as prospects for closer interaction between the two countries in international affairs, above all at the United Nations and within the framework of a dialogue mechanism between Russia and the island states of the South Pacific.

Mr Kilman was informed about Russia’s relief efforts aimed at helping Vanuatu to speedily overcome the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Pam, which devastated the country in March 2015.

March 31, 2015

Bilateral relations

RUSSIA-VANUATU RELATIONS

Diplomatic relations between the USSR and the Republic of Vanuatu were established on June 30, 1986. The Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Australia is concurrently accredited to Vanuatu. Vanuatu does not have an Ambassador in Russia.

July 26, 2009 marked 200 years since the establishment of Russia's first contacts with Vanuatu (the arrival of the Russian ship Diana under the command of Vice-Admiral Vasily Golovnin on the Tanna Island). On this occasion, a monument to Russian naval commander Vasily Golovnin was unveiled in Port Vila.

Trade and economic relations are sporadic. In 2016, the volume amounted to $24,900. No Russian goods were not exported in the specified period. Chemical industry and rubber products are imported from Vanuatu. According to the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, there is no economic cooperation in the form of joint ventures or investment projects.

Bilateral contacts focus on interaction within international organisations, including in support of Russian initiatives and candidates to the UN. Vanuatu supported the re-election of Russia to the UN Human Rights Council, the ICAO Council and the Executive Council of UNESCO, and officially informed of its intention to recognise valid Russian seafarers’ identity documents issued in accordance with the 1958 Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention, until receiving notice from Russia on the completion of the transition to a new format of this document, specified in the 2003 Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention.

Since 2011, official representatives of Vanuatu have regularly participated in annual meetings between Russian and South Pacific small island states.

On September 25, 2014, Sergey Lavrov had a meeting with Foreign Minister Sato Kilman on the sidelines of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

On March 30 − April 1, 2015, Sergey Lavrov held talks with Sato Kilman during his working visit to Russia.

In connection with the tropical cyclone Pam that struck Vanuatu in March 2015, Russia provided humanitarian assistance to the population of that country. Two Russian Emergencies Ministry aircraft delivered more than 60 tonnes of cargo, including food, blankets, tents and power generators to Port Vila. The total cost of Russian humanitarian aid exceeded $1.6 million.

In June 2015, the Russian Government allocated up to $500,000 to the UNDP budget and up to $500,000 to UNICEF in Russia’s efforts to provide humanitarian aide to Vanuatu.

On September 20, 2016, an agreement was signed on the mutual abolition of visa requirements between Russia and Vanuatu.

In June 2016, Vanuatu Foreign Ministry employees undertook a training course on “International relations. Russian foreign policy” at the Diplomatic Academy.

On July 4, 2017, the Federal Financial Monitoring Service and the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Republic of Vanuatu signed an agreement on cooperation in combatting money laundering and terrorism financing.

The Republic of Vanuatu

REPUBLIC OF VANUATU

General information: The Republic of Vanuatu is a state in the South Pacific Ocean. It is a group of islands (83). The land area is 12,200 sq kilometres. It borders with the Solomon Islands (north), Australia (west), New Caledonia (southwest) and Fiji (east).

Population: 277,000 people. Over 98 percent of the population are indigenous Ni-Vanuatu (belong to Melanesians) and natives of other island states of the South Pacific Ocean.

Religion: Christianity (82.5 percent). Remainder, local beliefs and various cults.

Capital: Port Vila.

Official languages: Bislama (Creole language based on English), French and English. Over 100 local dialects are used.

National holiday: Independence Day (July 30).

Currency: Vanuatu vatu (1 US dollar ≈ 106 vatu).

History. The islands were discovered by Spanish explorers in 1606 and explored by Englishman James Cook in 1774, who named the archipelago the New Hebrides". As of 1886, they were under the control of the British-French naval commission. From 1906, it became the British-French condominium. In 1980, independence of Vanuatu was proclaimed.

Political system. Vanuatu is a parliamentary republic. It is divided into six provinces.

The head of state is the president (Tallis Obed Moses since July 6, 2017), elected for a five-year period by secret ballot by members of parliament and heads of six provinces.

The parliament is unicameral and consists of 52 deputies, elected every four years.

The executive power is exercised by the government headed by the prime minister, who is elected by the majority of votes in the parliament. Since February 11, 2016, Charlot Salwai has been Prime Minister.

The judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of Vanuatu.

Armed forces: There is no regular army.

Economy. In 2016, the GDP was $800 million, income per capita − $2,900, GDP growth rate − 4.5 percent, inflation − 2.5 percent, and unemployment − 1.7 percent. The main factor of economic growth, in addition to investment in land reclamation and construction, is the development of tourism and services (banking, insurance, transportation, hotel, and communications).The fisheries industry and tourism provide the main inflow of foreign currency into the country. Emphasis is also placed on agriculture (coconuts, cocoa beans, coffee, taro, yams, fruit and vegetables, beef production), in which a large part of the population is still involved. Industry is poorly developed. There are light, food processing, wood processing and mining enterprises (deposits of manganese ore, diamonds, gold and silver are being developed).

The foreign trade balance is characterised by a deficit. Imports in 2016 amounted to $320 million (food and manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, chemical products, vehicles), significantly exceeding exports − $ 46 million (coconut oil, copra, kava, beef, coffee). Leading trading partners of Vanuatu are Thailand, Japan, China, Singapore, Fiji, and Australia.

On March 14, 2015, tropical typhoon Pam struck Vanuatu. This was the most powerful typhoon in the country's history. According to the UN, more than half of the population (166,000 people, 82,000 of which are children) suffered from the disaster and up to 90 percent of residential buildings were partially or completely destroyed.

A number of countries, including Russia, China, Australia, Great Britain, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, the EU, India, and the United States, as well as international organisations provided humanitarian assistance to the people of Vanuatu.

Foreign policy: Vanuatu has diplomatic missions in Brussels, Canberra, New York (the Permanent Mission to the UN), Beijing and Suva. Its consulates general work in Noumea, Oakland and Shanghai. Diplomatic missions of Australia, China, New Zealand, France and the EU operate in Vanuatu.

Currently, the government of Vanuatu is trying to diversify international relations by promoting a dialogue with new partners in Southeast Asia and other regions of the world.

Vanuatu is a member of the United Nations and several of its specialised agencies, as well as of the British Commonwealth, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Pacific Islands Development Forum, the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, the Melanesian Spearhead Group, the Non-Aligned Movement, the IMF, the World Bank, IBRD, ADB, and WTO.

On May 23, 2011, Vanuatu recognised Abkhazia.

Diplomatic and consular missions of Russia

Russian Embassy in Australia represents Russia in the Republic of Vanuatu concurrently

The Republic of Vanuatu

Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s meeting with Vanuatu Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Sato Kilman

General Information

Diplomatic and consular missions of Russia

Russian Embassy in Australia represents Russia in the Republic of Vanuatu concurrently

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