Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s message of greetings on the Day of Russian Diplomacy, Moscow, February 10, 2020

Submitted on Mon, 02/10/2020 - 14:01

Colleagues, friends,

Today we are celebrating Diplomats’ Day. First of all, I would like to offer my sincere greetings to all our diplomatic staff and veterans on their professional holiday, the holiday of hard-working people dedicated to their work who sincerely love their Motherland and stand up for our national interests in the international arena.

A diplomat is above all a patriot. Their most important qualities are honesty, integrity, reliability, eloquence in writing and speaking, extensive knowledge, and readiness to give their all. Russian diplomacy has a history of several hundred years and is famous for its traditions. At all times diplomats served our Fatherland with honour, fulfilling their duty to the end, including in armed combat, if needed, as was the case during World War II and the Great Patriotic War. 

Guided by the experience and example of our predecessors, we will continue solving a broad range of issues in line with the foreign policy course approved by President of Russia Vladimir Putin. The agenda includes efforts to preserve peace, enhance strategic stability, resolve crises and conflicts by political and diplomatic means, promote the idea of a broad Eurasian integration, strengthen bilateral cooperation and enhance interaction within multilateral associations including the United Nations, G20, BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, RIC (Russia, India, China), Eurasian Economic Union, the Commonwealth if Independent States and Collective Security Treaty Organisation.

We will continue advancing economic diplomacy and securing the interests of Russian citizens and our compatriots abroad. And this year, as we mark the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory, it is imperative that we redouble our efforts to counter any attempts to falsify the history of World War II and the Great Patriotic War, or to revise the universally accepted international legal results of the establishment of the UN. 

Thus, much is to be done to live up to the trust of the country’s leadership and the Russian people. An important element of our success is reliance on the principles of the link between the times and the continuity of generations. We all had mentors who generously shared their experiences and taught us the basics of diplomacy and the subtleties of the diplomatic craft. I would like to take this opportunity to express my most heartfelt appreciation to our dear veterans who are still in our ranks and continue to contribute to the common cause.

Friends,

I wish you all good health, wellbeing and new achievements for the benefit of Russia. Once again, happy holiday.