Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the Knowledge Day ceremony at Primakov School, Moscow, September 1, 2022

Dear Maya Maisuradze,

Friends.

This is not the first time I am speaking as the Chairman of the school’s Board of Trustees at the Knowledge Day ceremony marking the start of the new academic year. Every time I am overwhelmed with a sincere feeling of pride for this educational institution, also because I have made a modest contribution to establishing it.

Please accept my warmest greetings on the start of this academic year and Knowledge Day.

I have some special words for first-graders. You are starting the most interesting and the best stage in your life. You will realise this a little later. I advise you to take full advantage of the opportunities this magnificent school can offer.

I would also like to specifically address the oldest students, the 11th grade, who will graduate at the end of this school year and will face one of the most important choices in their lives. I hope that many of you will think about diplomatic careers, among other options, and consider enrolling at the University we love – MGIMO. The demand for MGIMO graduates remains high. Every year, many graduates of this school try their luck at MGIMO.

“The school years are wonderful” is a popular line from a song. But it is also very true. Here you make friends, you gain knowledge, face the first challenges that you have to overcome, develop your individuality and get ready for adulthood.

I am confident that knowing your country, knowing your Motherland is of particular importance in the process of maturing. They say people should be taught to love their Motherland. But I think they should also be taught to know it. The more we learn about our country, the more we love it with all its history, its historical and cultural heritage that our great predecessors left us.

The Russian flag ceremony has just ended to the sounds of the Russian anthem. As Ms Maisuradze said, this tradition has long been practiced at this school. I consider it fundamentally important that such ceremonies are now recommended for all schools throughout Russia.

A new lesson has been added to the school curriculum, Conversations about What’s Important. This is a good opportunity to learn more about your country. I can assure you that the better and deeper you know its history, geography, and nature, our multi-ethnic nation, the more successful you will be in your lives. Only those who promote the identity inherent in a particular nation, can achieve success. This school is named after Yevgeny Primakov, a great son of our multi-ethnic country, a recognised scholar, diplomat, and statesman. I think it would be good to have one of your “conversations about what’s important” dedicated to this man, his life, his legacy, and his fate, as a person. It would be interesting and useful.

You have an exciting year ahead of you. I would like to wish success to everyone who has just joined this school – I wish you to gain a foothold here and to prove with your progress that you have been admitted for your true worth. To the 11th graders, I wish you good luck at your final exams and I hope you get admitted to the universities of your choice.

Happy Knowledge Day and all the very best!