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- 21 November 1995 (Creation)
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Two page letter in Russian and 2 page English translation inside shiny gold folder with embossed Russian coat of arms and engraved "President of the Russian Federation" in Russian on cover.Two page unofficial translation of the original Russian into English, reads:
President
of the Russian Federation
21 November
Your Excellency,
I recall, Mr President, with very warm feelings our brief but highly productive meeting in New York. I avail myself of the opportunity presented by the official visit of the delegation led by Mr Soskovets, first Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation to the Republic of South Africa to assure you and through you the entire people of South Africa of sincere sympathy which citizens of Russia feel towards your wonderful country.
I am confident that we have all reasons to count on further progress of cooperation between Russia and South Africa, better understanding and interaction in political, economic, scientific, and military-technical fields. We attach great importance to this.
The Declaration on Principles of Relations and Partnership between the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Africa can be viewed from now on as political basis of the relations between our two countries. I think it would be useful to initial this most important document which we could sign during our meeting in Moscow.
His Excellency
Mr Nelson Mandela
President of the Republic of South Africa
Pretoria
(page 2)
Finally, I would like to mention one more thing, the most pleasant for me. I instructed Mr O Soskovets to invest you with one of the highest state awards of Russia - The Order of Friendship. This award is a sign of acknowledgment of your outstanding merits in the struggle for the triumph of democracy in South Africa, your efforts to strengthen traditional friendship between the peoples of our countries.
I wish you, Mr President, good health and every success in your activities to the benefit of the new South Africa, stability, peace and prosperity to the people of the Republic of South Africa.
B. Yeltsin
NB: originals have been replaced with photocopies: originals to be accessioned under Presidential Records.