"I would like to congratulate all the diplomats, everyone who works in the Foreign Ministry’s central office, as well as in our representative offices in Russia and abroad. Special words of gratitude and a low bow to all our veterans who are still with us and generously pass on their experience and knowledge to the younger generation," Lavrov said in his congratulation.
He also pointed at the difficult conditions the Russian diplomats were working in, in particular amid the growing threat of terrorism and other forms of organized crime, drug trafficking, climate change issues, food shortages and many other serious challenges.
"Conflicts and crises are not abating. And this is mostly explained by the fact that… there is a tendency arising from the ancient logic of dictate to impose your own views and values on everyone else, as well as from the necessity to dominate in out world," Lavrov said adding that Russia was ready to ensure national security in tight cooperation with all the states that are ready to do so on an equal basis.
The Russian diplomacy managed to contribute to reaching the historic Iranian nuclear deal, completing the process of Syria’s chemical demilitarization and adopting the landmark Paris climate change accord.
Diplomatic Worker’s Day has been celebrated in Russia on February 10 since its establishment on October 31, 2002, by the presidential decree.
