p Leaders of independent African countries repeatedly emphasised that the independent economic development of their countries was inconceivable without national science, trained national personnel and intelligentsia, and without cultural development. Therefore, young African states attach enormous importance to obtaining assistance from industrialised countries with a great scientific potential.

p Particularly valuable in this respect is the experience of the USSR where science was placed at the service of society in a short historical period. By sharing its scientific know-how the USSR helps the liberated African states to build up their own industry, modernise agriculture, expand the network of educational and scientific institutions, promote research and train national scientific personnel.

p For some years already Soviet-African scientific and technical cooperation has been developing in the following directions: establishment of scientific institutions, research laboratories and experimental medical centres on the continent; dispatch of Soviet scientists to African countries as experts, advisers and specialists in the field of scientific planning and development; exchange of experience and knowhow at scientific forums in African countries and elsewhere; donations of scientific equipment and books for scientific libraries; assistance in book publishing, and the organisation of scientific and technical exhibitions; exchange of scientific literature and information.

p One of the tasks of the Soviet scientists who go to Africa to pass on Soviet experience in organising and planning 261 scientific development is to help in directing the more important investigations, particularly those which are essential for the given country.

p Lectures delivered by Soviet Africanists at African universities and scientific centres are beneficial to both sides. For instance, scientists of the Institute of Africa of the USSR Academy of Sciences lectured on national statehood and socio-economic problems of Tropical Africa at scientific centres in the Sudan, Uganda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, at the Algerian and Tananarive (Madagascar) universities, the African Institute of Economic Development and Planning in Dakar (Senegal), and elsewhere.

p At the request of some African governments Soviet scientists helped their agencies in planning socio-economic growth, and also in setting up and developing the national economy. For instance, Member of the Moldavian Academy of Sciences V. V. Chervinsky visited Libya in 1967-68 where he drew up science-based guidelines for the development of the country’s productive forces for the next 15-20 years. The Libyan Government and the UN mission in the country approved his work.

p Practice shows that the recommendations and reports submitted by Soviet scientists who visit Africa as experts become the bases for continuing work already under way. A case in point was Professor V. P. Zenkovich’s recommendations how to combat bank erosion, and those of L. E. Rodin who worked out methods for fixing drift sands in Egypt. Between 1958 and 1968 many delegations from the USSR Academy of Sciences visited Egypt where they rendered scientific assistance in the organisation and planning of scientific studies at Cairo and Alexandria universities and other scientific centres. A delegation of the USSR Academy of Sciences which visited Egypt in 1959 drew up a report on how to plan and organise research at Egyptian scientific institutions with due account for the demands of industrial and agricultural development and the potential of the scientific organisations and the available scientific personnel. At the time the Egyptian Government had very high praise for the work performed by Soviet scientists.

p A very important form of international contacts between scientists is exchange of scientific books, journals, and documents. Since national science and publishing in Africa are not developed, such form of contacts does much to help its 262 research centres. It is also very useful to Soviet scientists because it enables them more effectively and profoundly to study the problems confronting African countries.

p Anxious to contribute to the development of science in Africa and acquaint the African public with scientific achievements in the Soviet Union, in 1962 the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences offered the leaders of African scientific centres to conduct a regular exchange of publications and information between the organisations of the Academy and African countries. As a result, contacts were established with many African research and educational institutions. In the following years exchange of books was organised with practically all major scientific organisations in Africa. The exchange of scientific books and journals was often included in agreements on cultura? and scientific cooperation. The Library of the USSR Academy of Sciences in Leningrad and the fundamental library of the USSR Academy of Sciences alone annually send’ hundreds of scientific publications to the libraries of more than 80 institutions of higher education and scientific centres in more than 40 African countries.

p The Lenin State’ Library in Moscow, the Saltykov- Shchedrin Library in Leningrad and the libraries of the USSR Academy of Sciences’ humanitarian institutes permanently exchange scientific literature with African universities and scientific centres.

p A particularly broad exchange of scientific publications and information with many African countries is conducted by the Africa Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences. It regularly sends its publications, bibliographical reference books and other information to many of them. In return Soviet centres of African" studies receive a steadily increasing flow of information from Africa acquainting Soviet scientists with the development of scientific thought on the continent.

p Seeking to accelerate scientific and technical progress in African countries the Soviet Government in response to the requests of their governments; agreed to build atomic reactors in Egypt and Ghana. The continent’s first atomic reactor whose construction was launched near Cairo in 1958 was put into operation in 1961. It became the basis for a regional radio isotopio centre which was set up with Soviet assistance in 1963 where research was conducted by scientists 263 from Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, Morocco, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Uganda and other countries. The Soviet Union has also helped to build medical radiological centres in Morocco and radio isotopic laboratories in Egypt, Algeria, Sudan, Nigeria, Tunisia and Morocco.

Soviet delegations attending international congresses of Africanists in Accra in 1962 and Dakar in 1967 handed over scientific libraries to Legon and Dakar universities. These libraries are made up of works by Soviet scientists in English and French. Similar libraries were also donated to universities in Addis Ababa and Kampala (Uganda) in 1975.