Commenting on Russia's diplomatic role in strengthening world peace, "resolving regional and global issues, and promoting cooperation with our foreign partners," President Vladimir Putin stressed the importance of preserving a rules-based order.
"In today's challenging circumstances, when international security and the rule of law are subjected to serious tests, you, the diplomats, face important and major tasks. In particular, it is imperative to enthusiastically uphold the basic principles of international law and the universal role of the United Nations and to strive to rally the international community in fighting the terrorist threat," Putin said in his congratulatory message.
Outlining other important objectives for Russian diplomacy, the president stressed the need to advance the peace process in Syria, to step up efforts "to promote Eurasian integration processes" and expand "the external relations of the Eurasian Economic Union with an eye to forming the Greater Eurasian Partnership." The latter initiative envisions inter-bloc integrative processes among the EEU, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and ASEAN, and consists of virtually the entire continent of Asia.
