-Dr. Rahul Kumar, senior Correspondent, the Asian Independent, UK
(Asian Independent)- Russia Embassy in New Delhi celebrated Diplomats` Day today at the Embassy. Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Nikolay Kudashev addressed the audience through zoom meeting on the celebration of Diplomatic Day & said: Our time-tested friend, special and privileged strategic partner, serving Russia’s interests which coincide with all humankind’s aspirations to resolve conflicts by political and diplomatic means, develop international cooperation without illegitimate sanctions and interference in domestic affairs, counter the new pandemic and other modern challenges and threats.
We will continue to pursue an independent, transparent, honest foreign policy course, which is predetermined by the centuries-old history and unique geostrategic position of Russia between Europe in the West and Asia-Pacific region in the East. The Russian diplomacy has the longest traditions of maintaining friendly ties within Eurasian area dating back much earlier than February 10, 1549, when our Foreign Ministry, or Posolsky Prikaz, was first mentioned in the chronicles.
The Old Russian state, since the 9th century, acted as an active participant in international relations in the area covering today’s Balkan countries, Italy, Syria, Turkey and even more. Thus, the Russian embassy in Constantinople in 838 was significant, where Russia was first represented at the court of the Byzantine emperor Theophilos as an independent state. And in 860, the Russian state received international recognition by concluding an agreement “On Peace and Love” with the Byzantine Empire. This is the first contractual legal act known in our history.
The benefits of its geographic location, a so-called bridge between Europe and Asia, our country started widely using since the 13th century, under Prince Alexander Nevsky who established mutually beneficial trade contacts both with China and Hansa, a medieval prototype of the European Economic Union.
Later on, in the 18th century, under Peter I, or the Great, Russia became an integral part of Europe’s diplomatic links, transforming into an active and quite important factor for European balance of power.
Speaking about our diplomacy’s contemporary achievements, it is essential to mention that the Soviet Union stood at the origins of the UN creation, establishing a new post-war world order, which was to be based on a complete and universal rejection of aggressive military-force methods in global affairs, and mutual understanding of all peace-loving countries, regardless of their socio-political and economic structure. The Soviet diplomat Andrey Gromyko was one of the authors of the UN Charter, a participant of the Dumbarton-Oaks Conference of 1944, where a blueprint for the Organization was formulated, and the Preparatory Commission of 1945-46, which set the agenda for the first sessions of the General Assembly.
Another great achievement of our diplomacy is development of the most important international treaties on nuclear disarmament. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, agreed and signed by Gromyko in 1968, is still one of the cornerstones of international peace, security and the non-proliferation regime, along with the New START Treaty extended this January for another 5 years thanks to goodwill of the Russian and US Leaders. Andrey Gromyko’s successor, Sergei Lavrov, often quotes the well-known phrase of this Soviet Foreign Minister in response to accusations of dragging out the negotiations, that he prefers 10 years of negotiations to one day of war.
This saying continues to be a slogan of modern Russian foreign service, at the times when some politicians would rather agree to 10 years of war than to one day of negotiations. Its history formally began after the formation of the Russian Federation as a new democratic state. In its activities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation today is guided by the Foreign Policy Concept approved by the President in 2016. In accordance with this document, Russia’s foreign policy is aimed at solving such tasks as strengthening international peace, stability and security, enhancing the role of the UN, developing bilateral and multilateral relations, creating favorable conditions for sustainable economic growth. The key principles of Russia’s foreign policy are independence, openness, predictability, pragmatism and multi-vectorness.
It is encouraging that these goals and values along with most of approaches in international relations, including upholding the basic principles of international law and primacy of the UN’s role in global affairs, enhancing strategic stability are shared by New Delhi, a key element of the SCO and BRICS. We are looking forward to learning about your country’s new political, economic initiatives and their successful implementation this year, marking India’s BRICS Chairmanship.
Our countries are also likeminded in their aspiration to make the world economy human-oriented, serving not only the interests of “golden million” or even “golden billion”, as President Putin told at the recent Davos Forum, and this is the message of Russian economic diplomacy for India. Here we are promoting the initiatives beneficial for all country’s development, security and sustainable growth. Such are all our flagship projects in India: Sputnik V production and possible vaccination, Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant construction, military hardware supply in compliance with Made in India programme and many more. They provide a great scope of localization, technological exchange, employment of local specialists in huge numbers, their training.
We also offer opportunities for young Indians to promote new progressive projects for the better future of India. It is about sharing new ideas online in the framework of the Russian Youth Parliament, entrepreneurs’ participation in annual BRICS Youth Business Incubator and programmers’ involvement in Ulyanovsk International IT Valley activities to start this year, among other undertakings. And, certainly, it is studying in Russian universities offering globally recognized quality of education at competitive prices in medicine, engineer and other spheres, opening their campuses from this week.
I am confident that the professional excellence, purposefulness, true humanistic values and fidelity to the duty, always characteristic of the Russian diplomats, will assure continuing these endeavours and strengthening our mutually beneficial cooperation for the vibrant development of both countries.
Dr. Girish Munjal, Russia Studies, University of Delhi, Himandrish Suwan, Chairman, Conference of Young leaders delivered short comments on India -Russia bilateral, political, economic & cultural relations. Diplomats, scholars, teachers from JNU , Amity & Sharda universities also participated. Dr. Rahul Kumar, Senior correspondent, the Asian Independent, UK, also participated in the Q/A session.
Russian Embassy staff: Mr. Mikhail Ktitorov, Councillor, Mr. Aleksei Illiuviev, second secretary, and Mrs. Ekaterina Tyurina, Attache` also participated in the webinar programme.