Russian Federation marks ‘Diplomat’s Day’

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Sergey Lavrov, current Foreign Minister of Russia, in office since 2004

The Russian Federation’s diplomatic service is set mark the 16th professional ‘Diplomat’s Day’ come this Saturday February 10, 2018.

This is a day set aside by the Federation’s Foreign Ministry, to celebrate men and women who have dedicated themselves to serving their nation in various capacities to ensure better relations with other nations both home and abroad.

It is also used to remember the hard work of members of the diplomatic community especially those who have passed on, while having events that brings together approved and recognized diplomatic missions of other nations based in Russia.

This year, though the day will fall on Saturday which is a non-working day, the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation has lined-up events prior to the day.

On Thursday February 8, 2018, the event will begin with flowers being laid at burial places of prominent diplomats at Novodevichy Cemetery: former foreign ministers and ambassadors of the USSR and Russia. Representatives of the Foreign Ministry administration, veterans and employees of the Ministry and young diplomats will take part in the traditional annual ceremony.

Also, as part of the festivities for Diplomat’s Day, another set of flowers will be laid at memorial plaques in the Foreign Ministry building.

There are also plans to pay tribute to the memories of Foreign Ministry employees who perished during World War II or in the line of duty, or who fell victim to political repression while an exhibition will be organized, dedicated to the establishment of the national diplomatic service after the October Revolution of 1917.

The display of documents will encompass the activities of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs before the USSR was formed in 1922.

Another important program will be the traditional official meeting which will take place on the occasion of Diplomat’s Day.

The event is also expected to be replicated at all Russian foreign missions and the Foreign Ministry headquarters, as the embassies, consulates general and permanent missions with international organisations will publish corresponding materials.

Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), the alma-mater of many Russian diplomats

Council of Young Diplomats holds gala event on Diplomat’s Day

On the same Thursday February 8, at 7pm the Foreign Ministry’s Council of Young Diplomats is expected to hold an informal meeting with the young employees of the Moscow diplomatic corps at the Foreign Ministry’s GLAVUPDK where they will share experiences and discuss the future.

This programme will also include presentation of the activities of the Council of Young Diplomats, a review of the first Global Forum of Young Diplomats that was held in Sochi in October 2017 on the sidelines of the World Festival of Youth and Students, a discussion of the plans for the second Global Forum in 2018 and the establishment of an international association of young diplomats and a Moscow diplomatic club.

18th Winter Diplomatic Games

On the day itself which is Saturday February 10, which is the Diplomat’s Day, the Moscow Country Club, an affiliate of GLAVUPDK, will host the 18th Winter Diplomatic Games.

The event will be attended by heads and employees of diplomatic missions accredited in Russia, officials from the Russian Foreign Ministry and GLAVUPDK, as well as by famous Russian athletes and cultural figures.

The referee’s board will include celebrated Russian athletes: Olympic skating champion Lyudmila Titova, Olympic bobsled champion Vladimir Kozlov and biathlete Alexander Yelizarov, to name a few.

The games will consist of competitions of about 40 teams of diplomatic missions in six sports.

The games will be crowned by a gala hockey match between the winner of the hockey tournament and the team KomAr.

By tradition, Moscow Country Club guests will be offered an interesting cultural programme and a Russian food tasting session.

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