Address

by H.E. Mr. Gleb A.Ivashentsov,

Ambassador of Russia to the Republic of Korea,

at the reception on the occasion

of the Day of Russian Diplomatic Service

(February 8^th, 2007)

Dear guests,

I am glad to welcome you in the Embassy of the Russia at the reception on the occasion of the Day of Russian Diplomatic Service. Russia maintains diplomatic relations with 186 countries and it is but natural that Russian diplomatic service is a rather serious entreprize. It includes not only numerous personnel in the central office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow but about 250 representations abroad including 142 Embassies and 78 Consulates.

Earlier than many, Russia was able to comprehend the lessons of the Cold War and give up ideology in favour of common sense. Russia is open for constructive dialogue and equal cooperation with all states without exception. With many countries, including the CIS neighbours, China, India, Brazil and G8 members, we have already reached or are reaching the level of strategic partnership.

With her internal strengthening Russia is becoming once again an influential independent actor on the world scene. And in the world as a whole, forces are gaining momentum that are keen to see a powerful Russia. Powerful with the skill to �play in team� for the sake of advancing multilateralism in world affairs and forming a new, more fair and democratic, system of international relations. Without Russia and despite Russia, not a single international problem of any significance can be solved.

Some people obviously do not like it. That is proved by sporadic spiteful invectives in the international media when without any evidence Russia is blamed of all kind of evil-doings, sparing maybe influencing climate change only. As for us we recall in those cases a well-known Roman maxim: �You are angry. It means you are wrong�. We are not trying to push anyone to love Russia but we will not allow anyone to hurt Russia.

Constructive relationships with the Republic of Korea are among priorities of Russia�s policy in Asia. It is steadily reaching the level of trustful comprehensive partnership when two our states interact practically in all spheres of human activities.

The Six-Parties� Talks on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula have resumed in Beijing today. Their progress will to much extent influence the future of not only the Northeast Asia and the Asian Pacific Area as a whole but the world processes as well. I will single out just two main aspects. On one hand, the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula would create a principally important precedent for settling similar issues in other parts of the world and would thereby become a weighty contribution to strengthening the non-proliferation regime. On the other hand, the Six-Parties� Talks represent a pattern for a collective decision-making on a hottest international issue, a pattern which is extremely important in the present international situation. It is on such a basis only, not by one-sided forcible actions that there is a chance to stabilize the present disbalanced system of international relations and to promote its deideologization and demilitarization.

Dear friends,

The tasks which the Russian diplomacy sets for itself are straight and clear. It is creation of favourable external conditions for safe and prosperous life of Russian people. The absolute majority of other states wish the same for their citizens. But in the modern inter-dependent world that could be achieved only by joint efforts, acting together in the spirit of partnership.

Let us work together for peace and prosperity of our peoples!

To diplomats, Russian and foreign!

To world peace!