On February 10, Russia marked Diplomats’ Day, the professional holiday of the Foreign Ministry’s current and retired staff members. It was established by the Presidential Decree in 2002. The date is closely associated with the history of Russia’s first foreign affairs agency – the Ambassadorial Department, created on February 10, 1549.
A professional diplomatic service appeared during the reign of Peter the Great. In 1718, the Foreign Affairs Collegium, subordinated to the Senate, the country’s supreme institution of state authority, replaced the Ambassadorial Department. The Collegium monitored diplomatic mission exchanges, oversaw the affairs of Russia’s ethnic groups living in borderline regions.
In the 18th century, the Russian Empire became a powerful multiethnic state. Following the abdication of the last Crimean Khan, Crimea became part of the Russian Empire, and Sevastopol, the future main base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, was also established.
In 1802 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was created since then the Ministry’s structure has expanded considerably and now has over 40 departments, and more than 200 embassies, consulates, and representative offices abroad.
In 1856, Alexander Gorchakov was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Russian Empire’s diplomacy made an invaluable contribution to expanding the norms of humanitarian law.
In 1918, the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs (NKID) began to implement the foreign policy of Soviet Russia.
In the 1930s, the Soviet Union prioritised the establishment of a collective security system for Europe.
During World War II, over 360 NKID employees volunteered to fight at the front.
At that time, Soviet diplomacy did its best to strengthen the Anti-Hitler Coalition and to facilitate the opening of the Second Front in Europe.
Today, the Foreign Ministry of Russia is guided by the Concept of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation as endorsed by the President of Russia on November 30, 2016. In accordance with this document Russian foreign policy is aimed at ensuring the country’s national security, sovereignty and territorial integrity, creating favourable conditions for sustainable economic growth, strengthening international peace and stability, enhancing the role of the UN, and developing bilateral and multilateral relations of mutually advantageous and equitable partnership with foreign states. The key principles of Russian foreign policy have remained unchanged: independence, openness, predictability, pragmatism, a multi-directional approach, and the upholding of national interests. Recently, the Foreign Ministry has prepared an updated draft of the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation which takes into account the recent global changes took occurred in international politics over the past five years.
Russian Diplomats’ Day gives us an opportunity to remember the past, think about the present and future of Russia’s diplomatic service, as well as look back at the Russia’s diplomatic performance in 2021.
In coordination with their Turkish and Iranian partners, the Russian representatives enabled the Astana format to play a leading role in promoting a settlement in Syria.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) members agreed on measures to improve mechanisms for countering regional challenges and threats.
Russia contributed to the efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic and its consequences. The Sputnik V vaccine has been registered in 71 countries, large batches of Russian vaccines were delivered to foreign countries, and agreements were reached to localise and increase the scale of local manufacturing of Russian medications throughout the world.
Of special significance in the year of the 75th anniversary of the Nuremberg Trials and the 80th anniversary of the start of the Great Patriotic War was the adoption of the Russia-proposed UN General Assembly Resolution on «Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance» in December.
Russian officials have said on numerous occasions that there will be no war with any country, including Ukraine.
In 2021 Russian-Sri Lankan relations further expanded. Russia extended its full support to the Sri Lankan Government during the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council, made every effort to oppose the anti-Sri Lankan Resolution and voted against it.
The Russian Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus was approved in Sri Lanka under the emergency use authorization procedure and 335,000 doses of the first and second components were delivered to the island.
The Russian Government took a decision to transfer $5.5 million to World Food Programme to finance the development of sustainable school feeding projects in Sri Lanka.
Our bilateral cooperation in the field of security significantly developed. In November the Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev paid a visit to Colombo, met with the President of Sri Lanka H.E. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and held consultations on security issues with Defence Secreatry Kamal Gunaratne.
In October Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Igor Morgulov and Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage held another round of Russian-Sri Lankan political consultations in Moscow on bilateral, regional and international issues.
Defence cooperation between our two countries expands. In October the Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Sri Lankan Army General Shavendra Silva paid a visit to Moscow where he held talks with Commander-in-Chief of Land Forces, General of the Army of Russia Mr. Oleg Salyukov.
In October the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet ships comprising corvette «Gremyashchiy», large submarines B-274 and B-603 were on a business call in Colombo.
Despite the COVID-19 situation the volume of bilateral trade between January and November has not dropped significantly and the import from Sri Lanka increased by 12.1%.
In 2022 Russia will continue to defend the central role of the United Nations and the need for a strict regard for international law as it is enshrined in the universally coordinated and accepted documents, and will promote the ever-growing partnership with Sri Lanka.
