Foreign Minister Ivanov: Very important propositions were stated with respect to the further realization of the Russian Foreign Policy Concept. This is of fundamental importance to all the ambassadors and the representatives of Russia's agencies abroad, who had assembled here today in order to continue to pursue the foreign policy course of the Russian Federation in a coordinated, efficient and purposive manner under the President's guidance.

Any work, including the diplomatic service, requires improvement and actualization, solving today's problems and accomplishing the tasks that are set both within and outside our country by Russia's leadership, by our President. It is important that President Putin drew attention to the aspects of the activity of the diplomatic service where it is necessary to work more energetically and achieve greater results. It is, first and foremost, upholding the interests of our compatriots - one of the primary aims of the country's diplomatic service. Of course, something has already been done, but significantly more work is ahead. It is also rendering assistance to Russian business, a job which is likewise being done already. In the course of the debate a number of specific proposals were set forward as to how to make this work more effective.

It is information support of foreign policy activities as well. Each Russian needs to be clearly aware of just what Russia is after in foreign policy, on the international scene, how our interests are being upheld, and what today meets the country's interests in greater measure. All of these observations and suggestions made today by the President will be taken into account in our practical work.

Question: Igor Sergeyevich, what can be said about the prospects of relations between Russia and Belarus, the creation of the Union State. Well, this subject did not figure today. Russia has already made up its mind as to what it wants in this regard?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: This matter is in the constant field of vision of the Russian leadership. The President has repeatedly stated our stand on this matter. Now we are holding talks to implement these directives.

The question is not one of our defining what we want. It is in what way to get implemented the objectives set in the creation of the Union State.

Question: It will be two sovereign states?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: It will be two sovereign states. Thus is it written down in the Union Treaty.

Question: How can you comment on the reports that the President of Switzerland will not come to Bashkiria for the funeral of the plane crash victims since the Russian side cannot provide him with guarantees of security?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: Guarantees of security are not at issue. You understand perfectly well that there's no point in speaking once more of the emotional state of the relatives of the victims of this horrible plane crash. In this context, lest the emotions create any additional problems, by mutual agreement it was decided to refrain from this trip.

Question: Igor Sergeyevich, will Russia participate in the talks or elaboration of positions on the issue of the resignation of Yasser Arafat?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: In the first place, there are no such talks whatsoever, no one is engaged in any elaboration of this kind.

In the second place, it is a choice for the Palestinian people. And when it comes to, figuratively speaking, the ballot-boxes, the Palestinians will make their choice. We are conducting talks with the lawful representatives of the Palestinian autonomy on ways that would lead out of today's crisis. A meeting of the Quartet will be held in New York on July 16 with the ministers of foreign affairs of some Arab states then possibly joining in. In the course of this meeting we bear in mind to discuss moves aimed at solving the crisis. The situation is complicated, but if the dialogue is broken off, it will become complicated further still.

Question: What has been recommended for the ambassadors to visit?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: We have a very good museum opened of the national diplomatic service, dedicated to its 200th anniversary. Unique documents are collected there, including the copies of dispatches that our predecessors wrote one hundred and two hundred years ago. This is an interesting collection, so we have recommended that the ambassadors visit this exposition and take a look at how that was done earlier. I am confident that one can draw some useful information there.

Question: What complaints were expressed by the staff of the Ministry to the Russian ambassadors in the course of the working sessions of the conference?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: We did not concentrate on complaints by the staff of the Ministry against our agencies abroad or the other way round. The challenge lay elsewhere. Such a meeting is a unique chance. Take the work of the Middle East section. There are nuances which are seen differently from each region or country. It is important that the real specialists gathered here, including the representatives of the various agencies, and Yevgeny Primakov in particular, together discussed the issues at hand. It is no secret that the Middle East and Iraq are the most acute problems today. Each analyzed the situation from his angle. A creative quest is under way for a solution to the tasks now facing us. We are operating in one team. As to complaints, for that we can use other facilities.

Question: What can you say about the fate of the Russian trade representations?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: The President of Russia said this question is close to a resolution which to the greatest extent will meet our strategic interests.

Question: What can you say about ways of solving the "women's rights question" in the national diplomatic service, which President Putin also mentioned today?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: The "women's rights question" is a serious question raised by the President. Every year the Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes on about 120 graduates of various Russian institutions of higher learning. Young women constitute about forty percent. They come to the Ministry and work excellently. But then, with their professional growth there begin to appear other interests as well, tied to private life, to the creation of a family, to children. Unfortunately, the higher goes their career, the fewer women remain engaged with us. This serious question needs to be solved not only by administrative measures, but also, as in other countries, by measures of social protection.

Question: Are there any plans to make ambassadors' conferences regular?

Foreign Minister Ivanov: We bear in mind to impart a regular character to such meetings. This is the practice of many diplomatic services, and it has proved its worth.


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