Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at a gala meeting devoted to Diplomatic Worker’s Day, Moscow, February 9, 2024

Dear friends, 

Today we are celebrating a traditional annual holiday – Diplomatic Worker’s Day. I declare this gala meeting, dedicated to Diplomatic Worker's Day, open!

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At the beginning of these meetings, we always recall our comrades who passed away. The year that has passed since the last Diplomatic Worker’s Day is no exception. Let’s honour their memory with a minute of silence.

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By tradition, we receive congratulations from our national leaders. In our daily work, we invariably feel comradely assistance and support from our colleagues in the Presidential Executive Office as well as from the various ministries and departments. I would also like to note the messages of congratulations from the Chairs of the Federation Council and the State Duma, the heads of parliamentary committees and federal executive government bodies, the regions of the Federation, and representatives of the business and cultural communities.

We are grateful for the high assessment of our work and will continue to honestly fulfil our duties in the entrusted area.

The trust given to our diplomats by our national leadership compels us to assume increasing responsibility especially considering the numerous challenges and opportunities that exist in the international, foreign policy activities at this turning point in the world’s development. This is not the first time that our country is at the peak of geopolitical processes. This is why Russia’s place in the emerging multipolar world and the future of the world itself largely depends on us, on our dedication and a correct understanding of the priorities.

The US-led collective West is not letting up in its attempts to impose an unfair unipolar global arrangement on the world. With this aim in mind, it is trying to exert pressure on all those who are in the way of its hegemonistic plans, those who, like Russia, support democratisation of international life and its development on the enduring principles of international law, primarily the principle of the sovereign equality of states.

Acting together with the countries of the global majority, our associates in the international arena, we will continue working for the unconditional guarantees for our lawful interests in regional security based on the principle of an indivisible Russia. The Foreign Policy Concept, a new version of which was approved by President Vladimir Putin in Match 2023, is instrumental in this work. In accordance with this strategic planning document, Russia is fulfilling the unique mission of providing global balance and consideration for the interests of all states involved in international communication.

The hybrid war unleashed by the West against those who object to its global striving to maintain its domination is creating not only obstacles but also impetuses for strengthening versatile ties with our allies and partners in the global south and the global east, with all countries, political forces and public circles that are motivated to conduct constructive cooperation with Russia. An impetus is created to give up illusions that are still nurtured in some places. We will continue working with them in our efforts to create a fairer world arrangement that is designed to ensure the wellbeing of all humanity while preserving its cultural, religious and civilisational diversity.

This is the priority goal in our work with our closest allies in the CSTO, the EAEU, the CIS, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and in the framework of the Union State of Russia and Belarus. We intend to continue consolidating our strategic partnerships with the PRC, India, Brazil, South Africa, Algeria, Egypt, Syria, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and a vast number of other countries that share our conceptual approaches to the world situation and the prospects for the development of our common planet. We attach primary importance to reaching the goals of Russia’s current presidency in the Commonwealth of Independent States and the expanded BRICS.

We focus in particular on advancing BRICS’ relations with regional and sub-regional association from the Global South, such as the African Union, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, ASEAN, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the League of Arab States, and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. This is an engaging area of work because as an organisation with global reach, BRICS can effectively amplify its voice by establishing connections with these sectoral and regional entities, ensuring a louder and weightier voice for the Global Majority. We will continue to play an active role in Eurasian associations, such as the CSTO, the EAEU, and the SCO. To effectively address international priorities, we leverage Russia's participation in the G20, APEC, the East Asia Summit mechanisms, and other multilateral associations.

We will continue to work within the G20, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, the East Asia Summit mechanisms, and other multilateral associations that include the participation of Western representatives. We have significantly strengthened our positions and forced the G7 and its allies to drop the attempts to impose their unilateral approaches and to seek a balance of interests. This trend is plain for everyone to see. It showed itself in recent meetings of APEC, the G20, and East Asia Summits and is gaining momentum.

We will do our best to help further strengthen the SCO in the interests of effectively addressing pressing international issues and promoting our concept for strengthening Eurasian security across the board.

In the forthcoming period, the diplomatic service will focus on ensuring the proper conduct of the presidential election in Russia, including setting up polling stations abroad, facilitating international observation of elections in Russia, including in Crimea, the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics, and the Kherson and the Zaporozhye regions.

Mobilising existing staff and intellectual resources is a mandatory component of professional success in the current geopolitical situation. We are reallocating these resources in the central office and foreign missions in order to prioritise the most promising areas which primarily include countries of the Global Majority, the Global South, and countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. This work has been a challenge.

The national diplomatic service has always been known for its creative approach to problem-solving, the ability to adapt to the demands of the time while remaining faithful to our good traditions. It is important for each of us (in a fast-moving world with new factors affecting all spheres of life) to keep bettering ourselves and to combine time-tested methods of classical diplomacy with innovative approaches and techniques.

The ministry’s top officials focus on ensuring continuity as well. Former employees play a major role in mentoring young diplomats who will carry the banner of Russian diplomacy high in the 21st century.

While setting high expectations for our employees' performance, we will continue to do our utmost to strengthen social protections for our staff, ensure decent compensation, and create positive work and recreational environments. We are aware of the issues and needs faced by our veterans and always keep them in focus.

In closing, I would like to offer my heartfelt wishes to everyone in this room, all our colleagues who are unable to attend, the territorial staff of our Ministry, the foreign mission employees, especially the former members of the diplomatic service, on the occasion of our professional holiday.

I wish you good health, success, and new achievements for the good of Russia.