ST. PETERSBURG. July 27 (Interfax) - President Evariste Ndayishimiye has said his country looks forward to broader military cooperation with Russia.
"Burundi now wants to build up its military capability and protect the territorial integrity and security of its citizens. Russia has often supported Burundi in various UN institutions. And we'd like to thank you for that," Ndayishimiye said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Thursday.
"We hope that we will be able to strengthen and diversify our cooperation in the military field," he said.
Ndayishimiye also thanked Putin for Russia's "comprehensive and multifaceted support" when his country was "unfairly put on the Security Council's political agenda as a result of the political aggression of various countries."
"This gesture of solidarity deserves high praise. We will never forget this gesture on your part," he said when addressing Putin.