Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s welcome address to participants of Quito-2015 Yelena Stasova Ivanovo International Children’s Home alumni international conference

My heartfelt welcome to the participants of the Quito-2015 Yelena Stasova Ivanovo International Children’s Home alumni international conference.

It is difficult to overestimate Interdom’s role in raising children of different ethnicities in the spirit of friendship, comradery and mutual respect, teaching them to be ambitious, helpful and supportive of each other. With the variety of knowledge taught at this outstanding institution, the graduates have an opportunity to find a worthy application for their talents and skills, and to succeed in very different areas.

Even today, the alumni of the Ivanovo children’s home maintain links with this country and bring a helpful contribution to trust and mutual understanding in international relations. It is symbolic that this year’s conference takes place in Latin America for the first time as the countries on this continent are Russia’s reliable partners in global affairs.

From my heart, I wish you most productive discussions, good health and all the best.

SERGEY LAVROV

Moscow, September 21, 2015