Speech of Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs S.V. Lavrov at the ceremony of presentation of the book about A.Y. Arosev “Living Twice”, Moscow, 25 April 2012

Dear Olga Aleksandrovna,

Dear friends,

We have gathered at the meeting dedicated to the diplomat, writer and a man of action – Alexander Yakovlevich Arosev. I am particularly happy to have with us today O.A. Aroseva who is presenting to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs diaries, correspondence and photos from her father's personal files. These materials will serve as the basis for the personal fund of Ambassador A.Y. Arosev in the files of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We have more than 180 personal funds, including those of G.V. Chicherin, V.V. Vorovsky, V.A. Antonov-Ovseenko, A.M. Kollontai, A.F. Dobrynin and many other renowned Russian diplomats. Today, this unique collection acquires another very important and bright page.

Materials presented by O.A. Aroseva to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs were used as the basis for her book "Living Twice" published by AST Publishing House. Today, she will present the book.

A.Ya. Arosev was a man of incredibly great ability; his energy found use in a variety of ways. Apart from many other things, he took part in the revolutionary movement in Russia. However, employees of our Ministry are mostly interested in his diplomatic career. He started his diplomatic work in 1921 as the first secretary of our country's embassy to Latvia, then he worked in Switzerland and France. In 1927, A.Y. Arosev was appointed the ambassador to Lithuania, where he worked 3 years. From 1929 to 1933, he was the USSR Ambassador in Czechoslovakia, when diplomatic relations between our countries were not formalized de jure. A.Y. Arosev quickly covered the gap and USSR recognized Czechoslovakia.

I would also like to welcome A.V. Antonov-Ovseenko. His presence once again underlines that this event is a symbol of the link of times, continuity and our heritage that we will hallow.

I would like to note that while working as the Ambassador in Czechoslovakia, A.Y. Arosev established close contacts in various circles and laid the foundation for an epoch event of the period – signature of the Soviet-Czechoslovak treaty of Mutual Assistance of 1935.

Upon completion of his assignment, he headed the All-Union Society of Cultural Connection with Abroad (ASCC). In this capacity, A.Ya. Arosev made a large contribution to consolidation of humanitarian and human connections between our country and foreign partners; he communicated in person with many prominent people of literature and art, including B. Shaw, L. Aragon, R. Rolland, many politicians and scientists.

He also demonstrated a gift of writing when he became the author of more than 30 books, including on the history of literature and arts. A.Ya. Arosev's heritage is the evidence of his multi-faceted talent.

His brilliant way was cut short in 1938. At that time, all manuscripts and diaries were destroyed in such instances. I would like to bow to his parents who performed a true civil and human feat and kept the materials that are now presented to the Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for nearly 20 years. This is another confirmation of the catch phrase "manuscripts do not burn". Indeed, they do not burn when they are in honest and faithful hands. I would like to quote A.Y. Arosev who said about his records: "My diary is an attempt to live after death". Today, these prophecies come true and we are very happy with that.

Having opened the book at random, I saw the letter of A.Y. Arosev who then headed ASCC addressed to I.V. Stalin. Many proposals of the diplomat are up-to-date in our today's work. Here is one of the proposals: "Establishment in Paris, London, Czechoslovakia and other places of representative missions comprising the persons who are not united (at least by the territory) with the embassy and trade mission to deprive them of officiality". This may be viewed as an embryo of Russian cultural centres that are now strongholds of information, cultural and outreach activities of the Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs abroad.

I would like to thank O.A. Aroseva once again for her today's donation.

25 April 2012