Our meeting is being held ahead of the 200th anniversary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This, without doubt, is a historic date. And not only in the official chronology of Russian diplomacy, but also in the formation of Russian statehood itself. Today I want to congratulate also the Russian ambassadors present here, and all of the staff at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this upcoming event. All the best to you, I congratulate you.

As you remember, in January last year at the meeting with the senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the topic of discussion was the realization of the Foreign Policy Concept, the specification of our priorities, as well as the agency's internal problems.

Today, for the first time in sixteen years, all of the Russian ambassadorial corps has been invited for a serious discussion of strategic foreign policy guidelines. Also present here are the directors of the key state agencies. I think you will agree: the necessity for such a broad and straightforward dialogue has ripened long ago. More than 500 people are present, and it seems to me very important not only just so, in an official manner to listen to each other from the podium, but also for colleagues to communicate among themselves.

The rapid dynamics in the international situation, and the appearance of fundamentally new threats, or, I would say, cognizance of these threats by many of our partners require of us a prompt reaction, the renewal of our goals and the adoption of extremely responsible decisions.

I understand - this situation has imposed higher obligations on you. And the intense schedule of international meetings is only a small part of the work which we have had together to tackle over the recent period.

I thank all of you for the professional attitude to matters in hand. For the fact that this to no small extent has helped to strengthen the positions of Russia in the world and broaden the range of our allies substantially.

We shall have yet to do very much. But it is perfectly clear that in international relations Russia has managed to get out of the period of long confrontation. And it is no longer seen as an opponent or enemy, but increasingly - as a predictable, truly reliable, businesslike and equal partner. Strictly speaking, of the surrounding world we actually require nothing more. Russia doesn't need any preferences in international affairs.

Today I would like to dwell on the areas of foreign policy work which I consider strategic and key ones.

No one doubts today that it has been the principled stand of Russia that has made it possible to achieve serious successes in the fight against terrorism. But counteraction against the terrorist threat is a serious, long-term task, because the roots of terrorism are very deep as well. And it must remain in the zone of constant attention. This is a basic theme in relations with all the participants of the antiterrorist coalition. Moreover, this work has to be conducted not only at the level of diplomatic talks or contacts between special services, but also on lines of the strengthening of the appropriate international legal base.

And, of course, the fight against terror must remain the central theme in cooperation with our partners in the Security Council of the United Nations, which remains the key organization in solving all the issues of this kind, in the CIS, the Collective Security Treaty and the SCO, and with other international and regional organizations.

In the consolidation of global stability a special responsibility, without doubt, falls on Russia and the USA. And so it is important to know that at the base of our present-day relations lies a new reading of the national interests of the two countries as well as a similar perception of the very character of today's world threats. I will re-emphasize: the confidential partnership between Russia and the USA is not only in the interests of our peoples. It exerts a positive influence on the entire system of international relations and therefore remains one of our absolute priorities.

The recent months have been marked by an unprecedented activity of Russia on the European track. I mean the Russia-EU and Russia-NATO summits, and a whole series of bilateral contacts.

Some new guidelines have appeared in our work with the Europeans. Apart from security problems and the traditional trade-and-economic matters, long-term energy cooperation and high-technology, innovation projects are now firmly the order of the day.

It is well known: the European partners do not accept a diplomacy in the abstract. All of their diplomatic moves are subordinated to the attainment of concrete results. In our turn we should not forget either that here Russia's main task is to directly participate in the formation of a common economic space.

In this case I ask you to clearly make up your minds as to the possible limit of a compromise. In the same context too - conduct the dialogue on the problems of the Kaliningrad oblast stemming from the upcoming EU enlargement.

I repeat - the coordination of positions, and compromise decisions are possible. But not at the expense of the interests of our country or rights of our citizens.

Particularly - on work within the CIS. The Commonwealth is an organization that has an international scope. And it is fully capable of not only actively influencing, but also assuming responsibility for the solution of a broad range of issues in a vast regional space. This is both security and economic and humanitarian cooperation in Eurasia.

I am convinced that the economic growth in Russia, and the successes of our partners are creating a qualitatively new atmosphere around the prospects of integration within the CIS. And it is gratifying that pragmatism and businesslike interest not only by states, but also by business communities of our countries are ever more beginning to prevail in these processes.

In this connection I ask both the ambassadors and all of the Ministry's staff to promote successful cooperation within the CIS to the greatest extent possible. This is our common advantage on the scale of global economic competition. It is a guarantee of our joint successes both in the international-policy and the strategic area.

Concluding this part of my speech, I would like to touch briefly upon one more fundamental issue - whether Russian foreign policy stays global in its reach. I know that such questions are often being asked. Of course, it does. Not just because of our military capability or economic potential, but because of our geography. We are present in Europe, in Asia, in the north and the south. Sure enough, we do have our interests there.

But Russia needs to seek partners and allies everywhere for this purpose - in Europe, in Asia, in Africa and Latin America. However, those must be partners who both reckon with and acknowledge our national interests. And most important - cooperation with whom bears an equitable character and gives Russia some real benefits. And it is necessary to work with such partners painstakingly, consistently and with respect.

Esteemed colleagues.

I have already said and must repeat: today many see in Russia not only an ally, not only a business partner, but also a strength gaining economic competitor.

In this connection diplomatic support of national business is obligated, at last, to acquire a systemic and long-term character. One shouldn't be ashamed of such actions. You know how your foreign counterparts in many countries, including in this country, behave in this area: very assertively, mildly speaking. At times even, to our mind, overstepping the bounds of traditional diplomacy. But they often achieve successes.

Central issues here are preparation for entry into the WTO, the protection of the national producer against discrimination, the enhancement of Russia's credit rating, support of military-technological cooperation programs.

A serious practical task is to assist in organizing the EXPO-2010 fair in Moscow. We expect that this will be an extra trump card for attracting new technologies to the country, and searching for new partners and become a major lever for the development of our partner cooperation in the economic area.

I did not set myself the task of covering all the lines of MFA activity. But there is one more sore problem, which today I am simply obligated to mention - it is work with compatriots abroad. At issue are the fate of people, and their concrete everyday problems. Here there may be no room for either formalism or bureaucratic indifference.

I ask you to pay the closest attention to this matter. It is necessary to help compatriots in legal, in educational and in business terms. Yet both from your reports and from the complaints of citizens themselves it can be seen that people in many missions still treat this problem as a peripheral one. This is incorrect. I assure you it's a great mistake. And it is by this index that we will also assess the effectiveness of the work of individual embassies. I must say that in many geographical sectors this work has, of course, been improved recently, but far from everything has yet been done.

Esteemed colleagues,

A few words about the organization of diplomatic activity itself. Ambassadors are appointed by the President's decrees, and the embassies they lead represent not merely an individual agency. They represent the interests of the country abroad. This gives you extensive powers as well as enhances the measure of responsibility.

At the last conference in the MFA we spoke of the quality of information coming in from the embassies. I would like to see in it not only a situation report, but in the first place - a professional analysis and a competent forecast. For this purpose it is necessary to deeply know not only the situation in your host country, but also - what is particularly important - to know the situation in Russia, to know the development of the political situation at home. And, of course - to clearly understand the interconnection of the tasks facing our country and the situation in the world as a whole. Formal reports are not needed. Just as you should not wait when detailed instructions and concrete requests will come to you from Moscow. Although I hope that the Ministry's staff in this regard will act sufficiently purposively.

It is understandable that the level of your initiative directly hinges on your qualifications, on your political background, on your ability to systemically assess specific events. But I would also like to address a wish to the MFA leadership more attentively to treat reasonable initiatives that come in from our diplomatic representations. It is necessary to help them in undertakings which could be breakthrough ones in individual areas of foreign policy work. And I must say that such initiatives are there, and I read many documents simply with pleasure. They do really help in work. Last time too I said that I was reading practically all of your reports, and confirm this today. Many things help the country's leadership arrange realistically our practical steps in the domain of foreign policy, and that's why I once more draw your attention to the quality of work.

I will particularly dwell on the coordinating role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Let me say bluntly - in both the coordination of foreign policy and foreign economic activities - problems still abound. It is primarily failures in organizing interagency cooperation. Even the most obvious, current directions to ministries and agencies are in reality still often "shifted" onto other ministries, and even - onto the Presidential Administration. I stress once more - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has all the necessary powers here. It's only necessary to use them intelligently and effectively.

I would like you to remember another thing as well: it is by no means that federal agencies alone form the foreign policy assets of the country. They consist of efforts by national companies and business communities as well. Of activity by regions actively developing cross-border and interregional cooperation at present.

And here the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ambassadors of Russia should act not merely as coordinators, but also as interested partners. And hence they are obligated to closely cooperate with other participants of international activity. To render them legal, methodological and organizational support. And with all that, of course, serve as a vehicle for the interests of the state as a whole.

And, finally, on one more important question - the excessive closedness, not knowing how to work with the mass media and other institutions of civil society. This is still our problem. And it does not help the work. Your ability to influence public opinion has a direct impact on the world's objective perception of Russia. And, apart from anything else, this is your direct responsibility. And furthermore, on how effectively you act in this direction the prestige of the agency itself will depend. I think that many things that could without doubt be credit points ascribed to the Ministry - and they are indeed such credit points - for the public go either unnoticed or are subjected to criticism. People often do not understand just what occurs in our country under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is necessary to explain things, I stress this, in an intelligent, competent and talented way.

Several words on cadre policy. Russian diplomats have always been distinguished by their caring attitude to both state and their own professional traditions. An understanding of the strategic role of Russia in the world processes, a continuity in diplomatic activity are the major features of Russian foreign policy.

Vivid personalities have always served in the diplomatic profession. The diplomats of Russia were famed for their excellent and versatile education, their broad political world view, their high culture and tact. One of the causes of the personnel shortage is the low level of remuneration of the diplomats' labor. But some questions have been solved over the last year. The system of labor remuneration of those in the foreign service has been reviewed. The general increase of pay for government employees applies to the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well. The question of diplomatic service veterans' pensions has been solved.

The prestige of the diplomatic service needs to be enhanced - that's obvious. But along with this the MFA ought to think not only about social aspects, even though this is very important, I precisely began with this, when I spoke of cadre work, but it is also necessary to think of other aspects, to create incentives for the career and professional growth of employees. Specialists working in other agencies should be used more boldly, and we well know graphic examples of this. Even a former Chairman of the Government deemed it possible to head up one of our embassies abroad. And I think that's a successful experience.

It is necessary to think, surely, also of strengthening MGIMO, of enlisting people from science and non-governmental organizations. This kind of thing happened more than once in the history of the diplomatic service and acquitted itself well. It is necessary to remember that corporate closedness is the road leading to a depletion of professional potential.

As before, in the selection of diplomatic cadres an undeservedly weak attention is paid to women. In this hall this is particularly noticeable. Yet, it has not been the "old-style" nomenklatura selection, but the very present-day reality that has succeeded in raising quite a large number of qualified female state employees in Russia. And it has to be understood that the absence (as distinct from many other countries) of the so called "weaker sex" in Russian diplomacy might become a weak point of our foreign service.

Esteemed colleagues,

Concluding my speech, I want once again to stress: national success is achieved not only by persevering work inside the country, but also by political and economic successes outside it.

Well-considered diplomatic moves, knowing how to gather allies around oneself - all this works directly for the enhancement of the prestige of the country, for economic growth, for the strengthening of the positions of national business. And this is particularly important because it opens up new opportunities for the initiative of citizens, makes their lives safer, more prosperous, considerably more comfortable.

In this audience I will stress once more: the enormous potential of the country has been preserved. Despite all the problems and losses, the potential of our country remains enormous. It is today being actively developed. But to unfold it completely and to full strength - this is our common task and it is quite feasible.

I wish you all the best in your work.

Many thanks for your attention.


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