Speech by H.E. the Ambassador of Russia to Botswana Mr. Victor Sibilev on the occasion of The Meeting with the Students departing to study in Russia in 2016, September 6, 2016

Dear friends, dear guests,

I'm proud to welcome all of you at the Russian Embassy's Cultural Centre. Today we have a very special day in our bilateral ties. It has become a tradition in a forty six -year history of diplomatic relations between Russia and Botswana to send young people from Botswana to study in Russian Universities. This year the quotas on scholarship were drastically increased from 10 to 29 due to signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Education and Skills Development of the Republic of Botswana on cooperation in the field of education. This is a great success achieved in June 2016 during the visit of Honourable Minister of Education and Skills Development Dr. Unity Dow.

Thus, I take this opportunity to congratulate all of you and your parents on the beginning of the new school year, which is traditionally celebrated in Russia on the First of September. In Russia we call it - the Knowledge Day.

The world is continuously changing, it becomes more and more complicated, sciences and technology are developing. So everyone needs good education, knowledge and professionalism.

We are confident that you are the most able, talented and clever. You are the future of the prosperous Botswana. You will have to transform Botswana for better, to reinforce the economy and welfare of the people.

You are going to study in Russia. Russia is the biggest state in the world, it covers the territory of seventeen million square kilometers, the population is one hundred and forty six million people. Russia's peoples speak more than two hundred languages. Russia is a multinational state with different religions. All kinds of nature are represented in the country - warm and cold seas, mountains, forests, fields, rivers and lakes. You will be studying in the most beautiful Russian cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tambov, Ryazan, Saratov, Nizhny Novgorod, Veliky Novgorod, Samara, Rostov, Stavropol, Tver', Astrakhan' and others.

More than 300 of Botswana students have studied in Russia. Some graduated from Russian and Soviet Universities many years ago. Before and now they have leading political, economic, business and military positions. Among them is honorable Ms. Botlgile Mogogo Tshireletso - Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development. Besides, many Botswana graduates from Russian education institutions are working in different companies, universities and research centers. Hopefully you will also become good specialists and may take positions of ministers, generals or prominent statesmen.

I am satisfied to say that the mutual traditionally friendly and cordial relations of Russia and Botswana have been expanding in many areas. This applies to education, healthcare, law enforcement, military and technical cooperation, trade and economics.

I wish to congratulate you on the beginning of your studies in Russia and wish you success in this new stage of your life.

I would like also to congratulate you with the 50th Golden Jubilee of Botswana independence.

I avail myself of this opportunity to wish peace and prosperity, good health, wellbeing and great success to

all of you!