Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s remarks at the book launch of Vladimir Shevchenko’s The Presidential Protocol, Moscow, October 15, 2018

Friends,

This is a remarkable day. We have gathered here for the book launch of Vladimir Shevchenko’s The Presidential Protocol. You can see it here. I hope everybody will get a copy after this event.

Vladimir Shevchenko is a true legend. He worked with Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin in an area that required the utmost responsibility. He spoke to the media about the difficult fate of the protocol service. Yesterday, I had the great pleasure watching the programme based on his interview. There have been serious incidents and small mishaps that inevitably happen to diplomats and during the work of protocol services. The experience of these people is invaluable for those who are involved in foreign policy and diplomacy.

Although performing a seemingly auxiliary function, protocol has great significance and plays a very important role.

First, protocol is an area directly related not only to relations between states in the area of protocol itself but also to the principles of inter-state communication, because protocol embodies respect of the states towards each other and equality of countries, a principle formalised in the UN Charter. In order to maintain high respect and for a state receiving foreign guests to demonstrate its ability to be hospitable and respectful towards its partners, it is important to know the cultural, religious, historical and civilisational traditions of the visiting countries down to the subtle nuances.

Second, there are no insignificant details in protocol. It must be flexible, especially considering the turbulent development of forms of inter-state communication, which, along with official receptions and conversations at negotiation tables, under banners and national coats of arms, have expanded to include such forms as casual and one-on-one meetings. These formats appear to allow more freedom; however, it is always important to understand the rules, the outcome and further impact of such meetings on subsequent official procedures between the states.

I had the pleasure of seeing Mr Shevchenko in action when Boris Yeltsin visited New York. I was Russia’s Permanent Representative in the UN at the time. I watched Vladimir Shevchenko in various official and informal situations, and I can say that this person never performed substandard work that could  damage political negotiations. Mr Shevchenko’s accuracy in performing his duties has already gone down in history. Many guests here have seen him at work and can confirm this. I think his experience described in this book is priceless – and it is only a small part of this experience, for obvious reasons. It would be impossible to write down everything; the rest needs to be passed on by word of mouth. I am certain that this book is an excellent teaching material for the modern protocol service that continues to develop and enrich our traditions and practices.

I want to sincerely thank my friend Vladimir Shevchenko for being with us, for assisting the current staff of the Presidential Protocol Service and the Foreign Ministry Protocol Service in building on the legacy of their predecessors.

Congratulations on this event. I wish everybody a pleasant evening.