The main stages in the formation of the Russian diplomatic service. The power of words: diplomats who made Russian history

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18:29 09.03.2019

As Russian Spring previously reported, at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, a US Embassy employee tried to smuggle a mine in his luggage. The United States, it seems, is trying to test the reliability of Russia’s security not only from the outside, regularly organizing provocative raids of warships and aircraft near our borders, but also from the inside. Moreover, with the involvement of employees of their embassy, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an object similar to a mortar shell was found this morning when an American's luggage was scanned. Explosive technicians called

16:17 09.03.2019

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported the detention of an employee of the United States Embassy at the capital's Sheremetyevo airport with a mortar shell. This is stated in a statement obtained by RT. The text clarifies that on Saturday, March 9, airport employees detained a US citizen, in whose luggage an object similar to a mortar shell with a fuse was found. It is noted that the mine did not contain explosives. A mortar shell with a fuse was confiscated from the passenger..., the passenger was released, they said

09:22 13.02.2019

An employee of the US Consulate General in Yekaterinburg was sent home. As URA.RU has learned, Richard Woodhouse, Consul for Administrative Affairs of the US Consulate General, has left Russia. Woodhouse was remembered by his housemates for his love of strong drinks. Richard Woodhouse, if not an alcoholic, is at least a heavy drinker. Residents of the house saw him drunk very often. And not just tipsy, but completely drunk, one of the residents of house No. 25 on Karl Marx Street, where the consul lived, told URA.RU. Neighbor as evidence

08:13 29.12.2018

Russia and Great Britain will begin to restore the number of diplomatic missions in their capitals from January 2019. This statement was made by the Russian Ambassador in London Alexander Yakovenko on the Russia 24 TV channel, Interfax reports. We have reached an agreement in principle that sometime in January the diplomatic staff will be restored both in Moscow and London, he said. Yakovenko noted that he is not sure that all employees will return to work. At the same time, he added that half of the embassy would be restored. As he writes

14:09 20.12.2018

Former first secretary of the Russian Embassy in the United States, Oleg Divanov, is accused of illegally issuing Russian passports to American citizens with Russian roots. The Investigative Committee and the Prosecutor General's Office have already transferred the materials on the diplomat's case to the court, and his defense demands that the persecution of her client be stopped. Divanov himself does not admit guilt, claiming that everything attributed to him is simply a slander. As Kommersant learned, Andrei Gilev, an investigator from the main department of the Investigative Committee, which deals with particularly important cases, and Deputy Prosecutor General Viktor Grin received statements from a lawyer

22:24 13.12.2018

A military diplomat from Slovakia working in Moscow was declared persona non grata by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. The diplomat, according to the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova, must leave the country within forty-eight hours. Zakharova recalled that last month the Slovak authorities announced the expulsion of a military diplomat from Russia from the country, so Moscow decided to take retaliatory measures, which, apparently, were completely mirrored. The practice of mirror countermeasures is common throughout the world.

10:39 11.07.2018

The Greek authorities have decided to expel two Russian diplomats from the country and ban the entry of two more diplomatic staff, the Athens newspaper Kathimerini reports. According to the publication, the Russians are accused of attempting to interfere in the internal affairs of Greece and illegal actions that undermine the country's national security. Among other things, diplomats are suspected of collecting information and bribing officials. The newspaper names the name of one of the expelled Russians, Viktor Yakovlev. In the list of diplomatic personnel on the website of the Russian Embassy in Greece there is a surname like this:

20:21 27.06.2018

The alleged organizer of the smuggling of almost 400 kg of cocaine from Argentina to Russia, businessman Andrei Kovalchuk, asked not to reveal himself to the Russian side. His lawyers sent an official appeal to the Berlin court, which should consider the issue of extradition, RBC reports. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office sent a request to Germany to extradite Kovalchuk on March 29. A hearing date has not yet been set. According to the suspect’s lawyer, Kovalchuk is very interested in a fair investigation, but Russia’s vague and non-specific arguments in favor of him

20:41 11.05.2018

Veterans of the ATO (ATO anti-terrorist operation, as in Kiev they call the actions of the Ukrainian military against the self-proclaimed republics of Donbass DPR and LPR) threatened a Russian diplomat who took part in the work of the UN General Assembly Committee on Information at the headquarters of the World Organization. Official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova told reporters about this on Friday. Zakharova, who also took part in the committee meetings, drew attention to the fact that on May 9 the Ukrainian delegation held a

09:15 12.04.2018

The authenticity of Yulia Skripal's statement published by Scotland Yard is questionable, says the Russian Embassy in the UK. The Embassy reports that it has read the text of the statement with interest. According to the diplomatic mission, one can only be happy for Skripal if everything stated in it is true. However, given the impossibility of verifying this in practice, the publication of the London Police raises more questions than answers, according to a statement on the embassy’s website. The Embassy noted that the text should clearly support the statements

19:09 06.04.2018

Ukraine intends to submit proposals to the Russian side to send consuls to Rostov-on-Don, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.” This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze on Ukrainian TV. We will submit our proposals to send our consuls to Rostov-on-Don. You and I understand that we need our consuls to be in Rostov. Due to the fact that five of them were expelled from Russia, it is important for us today to protect

15:24 05.04.2018

Austria did not expel Russian diplomats from the country. The Chancellor, live on the Puls 4 TV channel, answered citizens why Austria did not support England’s initiative against the Russian Federation. The Austrian state traditionally maintains warm and friendly relations with the Russian Federation, and also serves as the headquarters for many international organizations. The head of the country said during the broadcast that some EU countries did not expel Russian diplomats. The same decision was made by Sebastian Kurz and Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl. Kurtz

07:49 04.04.2018

A representative of the US State Department said that Russia may send new diplomats to replace those previously expelled from the country, CNN reports. As has always happened in such situations, the Russian government may make a request to accredit diplomats for vacant positions in the diplomatic mission, the State Department said. The representative noted that each request for new diplomatic accreditations will be considered individually. Russia has not notified us that it intends to reduce the total number of diplomats who can work for

18:39 01.04.2018

The loud international scandal fanned by the British around the Salisbury incident initially had far-reaching plans to isolate Russia. The meeting of the Council of Europe on the issue of chemical attacks, which took place a week ago, is only part of an elaborate spectacle that has never been fully realized. According to the Voltaire Network, Theresa May’s goal was the long-standing dream of the West to deprive Russia of its veto power in resolving international conflicts at the UN and drive it once and for all into the pool of rogue countries. Diplomatic boycott of Russia in the West with

14:45 01.04.2018

The first plane of the special Russia flight detachment carrying Russian diplomats, whom Washington expelled from the United States in connection with the Skripal case, arrived in Moscow. A total of 171 people left the United States: 60 employees and members of their families. Ambassador Antonov sees off expelled diplomats The United States announced the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats on March 26. Washington linked its decision to the Skripal case. Moscow announced the mirror expulsion of 60 American diplomats and the closure of the Consulate General in St. Petersburg. Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov reported that all those expelled

01:41 31.03.2018

Russia is expelling 13 Ukrainian diplomats, according to the official website of the Russian Foreign Ministry. As Russian Spring previously reported, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on March 26 that Kyiv was expelling 13 Russian diplomats due to the situation with the poisoning in the UK of former GRU officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry explained that the expulsion of 13 Russian diplomats will take place in the near future, they will be declared persona non grata. They (ambassadors) were handed notes of protest and stated that in response to the unfounded demands of these, Russia was expelling diplomats from several countries

Moscow is expelling diplomats from a number of countries as a response to the expulsion of employees of Russian diplomatic missions due to the Skripal case. These measures are of a mirror nature. Thus, four Polish diplomats, three Lithuanian and Czech, two Italian and one Latvian, must leave Russia. Two employees of the Dutch diplomatic mission, one Swedish and Estonian military attache Toomas Peda are also expelled. All of them must leave the country by April 5-7. The Foreign Ministry also demanded that London equalize the total number of diplomats and administrative

02:09 30.03.2018

The Russian authorities gave two days for the complete liberation of the US Consulate General building in St. Petersburg. The consent to open and operate the US Consulate General in St. Petersburg has been revoked. American representatives must completely vacate the administrative building previously provided to them to house this institution no later than March 31, according to a message published on Thursday on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry. 60 American diplomats declared persona non grata must leave Russia by April 5: that's 58 embassy employees

20:50 29.03.2018

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today that Moscow is taking retaliatory measures against the United States. The American Consulate General in St. Petersburg will be closed, and sixty US diplomats will be sent to their historical homeland. Lavrov also noted that US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman was invited to the Russian Foreign Ministry to see Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who will convey to him the decision made in the Kremlin. Similar measures, which Washington has been warned about more than once, have already been put into effect. Attempts by Western countries to provide

For objective reasons, Russia has a priority relationship with the United States of America, which for the foreseeable future will remain the most economically and technologically powerful world power. International security and the effectiveness of the efforts of the world community in the fight against new common threats depend on the situation in Russian-American relations. There are six Russian diplomatic missions in the territory, including the Russian mission to the UN.

Relations with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region (APR), which have become the locomotives of the world economy, are of strategic importance for Russia. Ties with Asia-Pacific countries are especially important for the economic growth of the eastern regions of Russia. Integration processes are gaining momentum in the Asia-Pacific region. Russia is actively strengthening ties with and other countries, participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, and developing partnerships with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other regional organizations. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which includes Russia, China and the states of Central Asia, has become a factor of stability in Asia.

Russia has a wide network of missions throughout Asia, including four in each of such large states as India, China,. Maintaining ties with both the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian National Authority, Russia is making active efforts to unblock the Middle East conflict and is a member of the international “quartet” of mediators.
Russia’s interests are met by the restoration and expansion of ties with the countries of Africa and Latin America, which followed the period of their certain weakening in the 1990s. These ties, in particular, are important for the implementation of a number of economic tasks of the country and Russia’s participation in solving key international problems. A strong impetus to the development of relations with sub-Saharan African countries was given by the first-ever visit to this region by the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin in 2006. Russia’s interaction with many African and Latin American countries is based on long traditions and similarity of foreign policy views.

Strengthening the representation of Russia and expanding its geography is dictated by the urgent needs of the country and the need to protect the interests of Russian citizens. Broad international connections create favorable conditions for the development of the country's economy and strengthening of national security.

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February 10 is the professional holiday of Russian diplomats. On this day in 1549, the Ambassadorial Prikaz was first mentioned in written sources - the first state institution in Russia, the direct functions of which included foreign relations. Diplomat's Day has been celebrated since 2003. The decree establishing a new professional holiday was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 31, 2002.

The structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation includes the central apparatus; foreign institutions (diplomatic missions: embassies and consulates), territorial bodies and various subordinate organizations. For almost 12 years, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry has been Sergei Viktorovich Lavrov, who gained experience as Russia’s permanent representative to the UN.

On the day of a diplomatic worker, as a rule, many laudatory speeches are heard. Domestic diplomacy, of course, has something to praise for. However, the structures of the Russian Foreign Ministry do not always successfully fulfill their responsibilities to protect the interests of our country and citizens of the Russian Federation. “Russian Planet” decided to take stock of the activities of Russian diplomacy, which turns 25 years old in 2016.

Achievements and failures

Over the past quarter century, Russian diplomacy has finally found its face. Moscow got rid of the belligerent rhetoric of the Cold War and at the same time stopped building its foreign policy in the wake of the United States. Russia has declared itself as an influential and independent player on the world stage. Moscow strives to establish equal relations with partners and constantly emphasizes a friendly and peaceful attitude, while demanding respect for its interests. The symbolic turn of Yevgeny Primakov’s plane over the Atlantic in 1999 predetermined the formation of Moscow’s new policy on the entire foreign policy front.

In the 2000s, Russia made every effort to protect Serbia and did not bend to the West on the Kosovo issue. In 2013, our country was able to prevent an American invasion of Syria by concluding an agreement on the elimination of chemical weapons in the Arab republic. Now the diplomatic mission of the Russian Federation in the Syrian direction is supported by the successful work of the Russian Aerospace Forces. But the main achievement of our country, naturally, is the return of Crimea. It is now becoming clear that work in this direction was carried out long before February-March 2014.

Of course, in the history of modern Russian diplomacy there have been many blunders. Russia was unable to prevent two coups d'etat in strategically important Ukraine (2004, 2014). The war in Donbass and the fragile Minsk peace are largely consequences of the quality of work of the Russian Embassy in Kyiv, headed by Mikhail Zurabov.

In addition, Russian diplomacy made mistakes in the North African and Middle Eastern regions. In 2011, our country did not block the UN Security Council resolution to introduce a no-fly zone in Libya. Humane at first glance, the document provided carte blanche to Western and Arab air forces to bomb the positions of troops loyal to Muammar Gaddafi. Russia also did not behave very competently in the issue of the sanctions regime against Iran.

Lots of work to do

In the context of confrontation with the West and the need to combat the terrorist threat, Russian diplomacy faces extremely difficult, and perhaps practically impossible, tasks. More than ever, our diplomats are required to have ingenuity, flair, the ability to foresee the development of a situation, a high level of professionalism, the ability to work with modern technologies, dedication to their work and tremendous efficiency.

“In my opinion, Russia has adopted the correct foreign policy strategy. We are not going to fight with anyone, we demonstrate our readiness to be friends and defend national interests. However, it is worth recognizing that so far we have reaped very little of the fruits of such a policy. Yes, we are perceived as a serious player, but we cannot fully defend our national interests,” he says. O. Head of the Department of International Relations and Foreign Regional Studies of Volgograd State University Timur Nelin.

“I mean that our diplomatic corps, although it is trying, is not yet coping with the key task - to explain to the West that Russia does not pose a threat to it. We see how seriously the leaders of Western countries are regarding the issue of sanctions and “containment” of Russia. I believe that they sincerely believe that Moscow's policies are harmful to their interests. Russia has been labeled as an “aggressor” and an “occupier.” Convincing the West otherwise, of course, is very difficult. But our diplomats need to work as actively as possible in this field,” the RP’s interlocutor believes.

Nelin drew attention to the issue of the effectiveness of the Russian diplomatic missions abroad. “Previously, we heard a lot of complaints. Embassies did not have time to monitor the progress of political changes in the host country, and consulates were cool to the requests of Russian citizens and businessmen. As far as I can tell, the situation has not changed fundamentally since then,” Nelin stated.

In his opinion, in the structures of the Russian Foreign Ministry, as in other government departments of our country, nepotism prevails, which negatively affects the quality of the work of diplomats. “Smolensk Square may send absolutely correct directives, but diplomats on the ground may not implement them properly. It seems to me that some diplomats are confident that if problems arise, they will be “covered up,” Nelin explained.

The expert stated that the most “tasty” positions are almost always occupied by “their own people,” especially for diplomatic missions in developed countries. “This does not mean that the people working there are incompetent. The interests of Russia are protected by professionals. Another thing is that due to clanism, the level of responsibility of diplomats naturally decreases,” noted the RP’s interlocutor.

Nelin pins his hopes for rectifying the situation on the figure of Sergei Lavrov, who, in his opinion, has long been fighting the problem of incompetence of diplomatic personnel.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Photo: Sergey Savostyanov/TASS

How to beat the West?

Perhaps the most important component of professional and public diplomacy now is the ability to work with information and use “soft power” tools. The successful activities of Russia Today, Sputnik and pro-Russian media abroad suggest that a positive foundation for improving the image of Russia has already been created. Moscow began to work with forces sympathetic to the Russian Federation, providing them with a platform to express their opinions.

The time when Russia mediocrely lost information wars (Maidan 2004, the war in August 2008) is becoming a thing of the past. “I would like to note that the information component of the work of our Foreign Ministry has improved significantly. Now we have tools that allow us to respond as quickly as possible to rapidly changing events. In particular, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs now has a centralized system for monitoring, collecting and processing information,” says Dmitry Abzalov, president of the Center for Strategic Communications.

“However, the work of the information component must be constantly improved and new methods adopted. If we talk about social networks separately, I would recommend working more actively with reference groups (diaspora and communities). It is necessary to form and develop “support groups” in foreign countries, the expert points out.

Abzalov recommends using the opportunities of economic diplomacy more often. “For example, the Prime Minister of Bavaria came to Russia last week. The formal agenda was purely economic. However, in reality, Horst Seehofer's visit acquired a distinct political overtones, and one that was friendly to Russia. Considering the current relations with Germany, such a maneuver can be clearly interpreted as a diplomatic success,” Abzalov believes.

As a key approach to the work of domestic diplomacy, the interlocutor of the Republic of Belarus identified a proactive method of responding to events. “It is necessary to move away from the catch-up principle, when Russian diplomats react after the fact. For example, Western diplomacy tries to generate various informational occasions and prepares responses to them in advance. Thus, Russian colleagues themselves create a conflict, and then give it an exhaustive assessment, drawing conclusions that denigrate our country,” says Abzalov.

“A striking example of the application of the anticipatory method in practice is the recent coroner’s report on the Litvinenko case. A few days before this event, Western media were full of provocative anti-Russian headlines. The coroner's report was nothing special. But a negative information picture for Moscow had already been created. A similar situation for London gave rise to a discussion about tightening the sanctions regime in relation to the Russian Federation. At the same time, people were convinced that Litvinenko, who at that time was a citizen of the Kingdom, was eliminated almost personally by the President of the Russian Federation. Let’s at least remember the story about “Putin’s tea,” said RP’s interlocutor.

Dmitry Abzalov considers the method of playing ahead to be the most progressive in modern diplomacy. Manipulation of the media and information campaigns beneficial to Moscow require more advanced analytical work and understanding of the mechanisms for ensuring information security. Russian diplomacy needs to more actively master the latest methods of working in the media field. In the context of confrontation with the West, it is extremely important for Moscow to form a positive attitude among the world community towards its military and political initiatives.

Diplomacy refers to the activities of heads of state and special bodies to carry out external interactions between states. Special people protect the interests of their country. However, for this you need to know the international situation and the state of affairs in different countries. It happens that it is diplomats who decide the fate of countries in negotiations, and not on the battlefield.

There are many examples in history that politicians demonstrate greater talent than professional diplomats. In any case, the greatest figures were able to seize on fleeting signs, luck and direct the fate of their country in a good direction. Here are the names of those who can be considered truly great diplomats.

Pericles (490-492 BC). In those days, all major statesmen of Greece had to conduct diplomatic activities. One of the most famous diplomats of the ancient world was Pericles, the leader of Athens, under whom democracy flourished in that city. A Greek was born into a wealthy family, where he studied with his father, the leader. He invited his growing son to feasts. There, Pericles became acquainted with the art of politics, realizing that one can win not only on the battlefield, and with the help of diplomacy one can sometimes achieve no less. Pericles expanded his traditional education by communicating with prominent philosophers and artists. Over time, he set himself the goal of managing the Athenian state. Pericles began to engage in public activities. He himself was a very reserved man, whose lifestyle was considered impeccable. And Athenian scientists always visited the politician’s house, with whom the owner talked about science, politics, and art. In public affairs, Pericles showed selflessness and modesty, he even allowed other speakers to express his thoughts and advice. The politician began to advocate for maintaining the unity of the Delian League, calling for the expulsion of the Persians from the Greek seas. But defeat in the fight against the Persians forced Pericles to change his views. He realized that salvation was possible only in the complete subordination of all allies to Athens. A new power could emerge that would own the forces and resources of 200 states! First, the union treasury was moved to Athens; the city actually became the capital of a strong maritime power, managing its finances. All that remained was to unite the Greek world. Pericles himself led the fleet and defeated those who did not want to join the alliance. And although he was seen more as a commander, he considered himself a politician. Thus, a long-awaited truce was concluded with Sparta. Pericles made Athens the most beautiful city in Greece, ruling it like a monarch. Pericles treated his allies with respect, the tax was reasonable, and attempts to leave the alliance were suppressed by military force. At the head of the expedition, the ruler and diplomat established connections with the states of the Black Sea, finding new friends. Even alliances were made with cities in Sicily and southern Italy. But over time, Sparta could not withstand such growth of Athens - a war began. Pericles was given complete freedom. But the war dragged on, and the plague began in Athens. The politician and diplomat himself was dismissed. But it turned out that there were no worthy people in the city to replace the famous Pericles and he was again called to power. But he himself did not reign for long, dying of the plague. Athens quickly realized who they had lost - a great politician, ruler and diplomat, modest, kind and worthy.

Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527). Niccolo Machiavelli was born into the family of a lawyer. The young man graduated from a city school, but was unable to enter university due to his family’s financial problems. Then Niccolo began to study himself, reading the works of Cicero, Caesar, Virgil, Ovid and other philosophers of antiquity. And his father introduced him to the founding of legal science. At the age of 29, Machiavelli was able to be elected to the chancellery of the republic. He headed it, taking over work with foreign and military affairs. Over 14 years of work, the diligent Florentine compiled several thousand diplomatic letters, he wrote military and government laws, made diplomatic trips to Italy, to the Pope and even the French king. The situation over Italy was getting worse. Machiavelli traveled a lot, persuading his neighbors to remain faithful to the agreements. The mission to France also turned out to be important. There the diplomat also assessed the situation in the country, and his messages home were no less important than the negotiations themselves. Machiavelli showed himself to be a subtle psychologist. At the beginning of the 19th century, it was Machiavelli who was sent to the hottest spots where conflicts flared up. It must be said that fulfilling numerous orders of the Republic, Machiavelli turned into an official who knew his worth. He began to dress well and never spared money on this. The death of the Florentine Republic in 1512 interrupted the political career of the famous diplomat. Finding himself in exile, Machiavelli began to create. In 1513-1520, his most famous works appeared, including “The Sovereign,” which is cited by many politicians. The diplomat carried out small assignments, but was never able to return to big politics.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790). This great statesman and politician managed to prove himself in many areas. The highest stages of his diplomatic activity were the representation of the North American colonies in 1757-1762 and 1765-1775. Franklin represented the United States in France from 1776-1785. Thanks to the diplomat, America concluded peace treaties with France in 1778 and England in 1783. Franklin, in addition to his political activities, was directly related to science - it was he who invented the lightning rod. He is considered the first American journalist, the best writer of the 18th century, and a true encyclopedist. In Paris, Franklin was generally considered a personality comparable in scale to Voltaire and Rousseau. And Benjamin was born in Boston, in the family of a soap maker, becoming the fifteenth child in the family. It was at his father’s enterprise that he gained his first experience, then moving to a printing house. But poverty did not allow him to receive a systematic education - Franklin had to comprehend everything with his own mind. His desire for knowledge remained throughout his life. At the age of 17, Benjamin came to Philadelphia with no money, eventually becoming rich in the publishing business and acquiring his own printing house. At the age of 30, Franklin's political activity began when he was elected secretary of the Pennsylvania Legislative Assembly. In 1757, the first diplomatic experience took place - it was necessary to defend the rights of their native lands in a dispute with the owners of the colony. Successful management of disputes brought Franklin authority in his homeland. Gradually, the diplomat realized that the colonies were rapidly moving towards independence, and petitions to London were not successful. Then in 1775 he returned to Philadelphia, where he was immediately elected a member of Congress. This body began to test the waters regarding the sentiments in Europe on the issue of relations between England and the American colonies. A secret committee of correspondence was created, essentially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Franklin headed this body. He also took an active part in drafting the Declaration of Independence, adopted in 1776. England sent troops to America to pacify the rebels. The young country needed a strong ally, and Franklin went to Paris for negotiations. This choice of envoy was not accidental - he was the only American famous in Europe. The diplomat quickly became friends with the French government and used long-standing enmity with England to draw Louis XVI into hostilities. Thanks to Franklin's active work, America managed to conclude peace on terms favorable to itself and retain France as an ally. Historians note that successful negotiations became possible only thanks to the eloquence of Benjamin Franklin. In 1785 he returned home, where he was warmly welcomed. And Franklin devoted his last years to the fight against slavery. After the death of the famous diplomat, Congress declared a month of mourning for such a respected citizen. Today, Franklin Porter is featured on the $100 bill as the diplomat continues his journey around the world.

Talleyrand (1754-1838). The name of this diplomat became synonymous with cunning, dexterity and freedom from political principles. Talleyrand was born in Paris, into a poor but noble family. Physical injury prevented the boy from starting military service, which is why he became a clergyman. During the French Revolution, the young bishop was elected to the Estates General and then to the National Assembly. In 1797, a politician with experience in international negotiations became Minister of Foreign Affairs. Talleyrand quickly saw potential in Bonaparte, becoming his ally and helping him seize power. In 1799-1807, the diplomat was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Emperor Napoleon. He is actively involved in establishing the young state in Europe. But at the same time, Talleyrand began to actively take bribes from states hostile to France. In 1809, he himself offered his paid services to Metternich. March 31, 1814 was an important day for the diplomat. The Allies decided who would rule France in the future. Talleyrand actively advocated the legality of a legitimate hereditary monarchy, which could not but please the victors. After the Bourbon restoration, the diplomat regained his post as head of the foreign policy department and even managed to become the first prime minister in the history of France. The cunning diplomat managed to negotiate the most lenient terms for the losing country. Talleyrand's finest hour was the Congress of Vienna. First, he managed to enlist the support of offended small countries, and then actually dissolve the coalition and lead France out of international isolation. After the revolution of 1830, Talleyrand visited the government and then became ambassador to England. There he helped bring the two great neighbors closer together, but was forced to resign due to a bribery scandal.

Clemens Metternich (1773-1859). This Austrian diplomat went down in history as one of the main organizers of the reconstruction of Europe after the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Metternich was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Austrian Empire from 1809 to 1848. An aristocrat by birth met the French Revolution with hostility. In 1798, Metternich began his diplomatic career. In 1801 he became imperial envoy in Dresden, and from 1803 in Berlin. Here he began to prepare a coalition against France, trying to convince Prussia to join the alliance of Russia, England and Austria. At the same time, the diplomat became friends with the French, which was the reason to send him to Napoleon's court. There Metternich defended the interests of his country, warning it of the impending attack by the French. Having taken the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs, the diplomat immediately changed the vector of European politics - the daughter of Emperor Franz, Marie-Louise, became Napoleon's wife. Thus ended the friendship between Russia and France. In Napoleon's Russian company, Austria, which was experiencing financial problems, was able to remain neutral. In 1813, Metternich realized that it would be impossible to make peace with France. Austria immediately entered the war on the side of the Allies. After the fall of Napoleon, Metternich opened the Congress of Vienna, which redrew the map of Europe. Austria itself received the lion's share of the spoils. The diplomat's ideas triumphed - Italy and Germany remained fragmented. Metternich generally became famous for his conservatism and reluctance to change anything in the established state of affairs. The national movements of 1820-1840 seemed unnecessary to the diplomat. As a result, in Austria itself, popular unrest against harsh policies and censorship forced Metternich to resign.

Alexander Gorchakov (1798-1883). The diplomat was born into a princely family. His high origins helped him get into the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, where he became Pushkin's comrade. Even then, the poet noted the qualities of his friend: observation, passion for light and fashion, which was so important for diplomacy. Gorchakov's wit and literary talents would then appear in Gorchakov's international notes. Already at the age of 22-24, the young diplomat accompanies Count Nesselrode to congresses. In 1822-1833, Gorchakov worked in the embassies of various European countries, gaining experience. In the 1840s, Gorchakov served in Germany, where the prince met Bismarck. In 1854, already as ambassador in Vienna, the diplomat managed to convince the Austrians to remain neutral and not support France and England in their treaty against Russia. The defeat in the Crimean campaign and the Treaty of Paris actually moved Russia away from decision-making on political issues in Europe. In 1956, Gorchakov was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, realizing that Russia needed to return its former influence. The Polish question cemented Russia's friendship with Prussia and made it possible to evade the persistent attempts of France, England and Austria to protect the national rights of the Poles. Correspondence on this issue brought Gorchakov the fame of a prominent diplomat. The strengthening of Germany with the full support of Gorchakov helped him in 1870 to announce a revision of the terms of the Paris Treaty. Russia's decision displeased the great powers, but it was impossible not to agree with such an influential rival. Thus, Gorchakov, only through diplomacy, managed to return to Russia the fleet on the Black Sea and its former influence in the region, without entering into war. The last striking event in the diplomat's career was the Berlin Congress, at which Gorchakov spoke little and rarely sat. The fate of the Balkan states was being decided; Russia received back Bessarabia, which had been taken away by the Treaty of Paris. The great politician gradually retired, maintaining the honorary title of State Chancellor.

Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881). The great diplomat was born into a wealthy Jewish family. Benjamin took care of his education himself, paying special attention to history. At a young age, Disraeli managed to play on the stock exchange, where he lost all his capital. The attempt to publish a newspaper also ended in failure. But the book “Vivian Gray”, written by him in 20 books, brought fame to the author. But Disraeli did not dream of becoming a writer like his father. He had a more ambitious goal - the post of prime minister by the age of 30. But only on his fifth attempt did Disraeli get into parliament. He was already 33 years old, and the finances of the aspiring politician were in a deplorable state. In 1852, Disraeli took the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer and became Leader of the House of Commons. In 1868 he briefly became prime minister, but after losing the elections he found himself in retirement and in opposition. Disraeli set about reforming his Conservative Party. He developed a program of solid foreign policy that was supposed to make England great. In 1874, the politician again took the post of prime minister. His primary attention was focused on issues of colonies and state foreign policy. He emphasized that there was a dilemma - to live in cozy England, like continental countries and wait for one's destiny, or to become a great empire. The secret of the success of the politician and diplomat was that no one else could so clearly define their goals, much less achieve them. In 1875, Europe learned that England had secretly bought up a 40% stake in the Suez Canal. Disraeli turned out to be a master of secret diplomacy, intrigue and intricacies. Thanks to his actions, Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India in 1876. In 1878, a Congress was held that was supposed to decide the fate of the Balkans after the Russian-Turkish War. The cunning Disraeli is said to have become the central figure in the negotiations. He was able to defend his point of view before Bismarck, and the Russian diplomat showed the train on which he was preparing to depart due to problems in the negotiations. The Russians had to make concessions. In parallel with this, Disraeli agreed with the Sultan to cede Cyprus to the British, which was supposed to become a stronghold on the path to seizing territories in Asia. The diplomat returned to his homeland as a hero, having earned the Order of the Garter from the Queen. Disraeli continued to lead the country, continuing his colonial policy. The diplomat is considered the most outstanding political figure in England of the 19th century.

Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898). For centuries Germany was fragmented. This great politician and diplomat managed to unite it. His parents sent Otto to study law, dreaming of seeing him become a diplomat. But young Bismarck was a typical representative of the golden youth - he had fun with friends, fought duels and had a blast. Such a past, even after defending his dissertation, prevented Bismarck from immediately entering the diplomatic field. His political career did not work out, just like his military one. At one time, Bismarck showed himself to be a practical landowner. But he had another chance to return to politics and in 1847 Bismarck became a deputy of the United Landtag of Prussia. There he showed himself to the fullest thanks to energetic conservative attacks. After working as a deputy, Bismarck was sent as ambassador to Russia. It is believed that his communication with Vice-Chancellor Gorchakov had a great influence on him as a diplomat. However, the German himself already showed the gift of political foresight, possessing a lively mind. Gorchakov singled out the ambassador, predicting a great future for him. In Russia, Bismarck learned the language and understood our way of thinking, which helped a lot in the future in politics. After being ambassador to Paris, Bismarck took the post of Prime Minister of Prussia. Here he began to pursue a tough policy of unifying Germany, with iron and blood. I had to fight with Denmark and Austria, and in 1870-1871 France was crushingly defeated. The Germans took their historical lands from all the defeated states. In 1871 the Empire was proclaimed. Bismarck soon realized that Germany could not dominate Europe as long as some Germans remained under the heel of the Habsburgs and Austria. Fearing revenge from France, the diplomat begins a rapprochement with Russia. The diplomat did everything possible to prevent a coalition from forming against his country. He understood that even with a strong army, Germany could not withstand a war on two fronts. As the practice of two world wars showed, the great German diplomat was right.

Andrei Gromyko (1909-1989). We can say that it was this Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR who was the main active figure of the Cold War. But thanks to his efforts, it did not develop into the Third World War. Gromyko held the highest diplomatic post in the Soviet Union from 1957 to 1985, shaping the state's foreign policy during both the Thaw and Stagnation periods. It is believed that the entire modern Russian diplomatic school grew out of his experiences and lessons. Gromyko was an economist by training. But in 1939, after the extermination, during the purges, of most of the diplomatic corps, a young specialist was called there. Molotov personally recommended Andrei Gromyko for the post of ambassador to the United States, where he stayed from 1943 to 1946. It is Molotov that the young diplomat considers his teacher in foreign policy. Gromyko preferred to act with maximum caution. He understood that internal orders would necessarily influence external affairs. Therefore, the diplomat obediently listened to the leadership of the CPSU, without entering into open disagreements with the leaders. Gromyko was remembered for his sober judgments and clear views. This diplomat read a lot and was interested in philosophy. He had no equal in negotiations, which is why his style is still imitated today. The diplomat understood that the Third World War would destroy all life, so he avoided military confrontation with the United States in every possible way. Gromyko constantly negotiated with America, thus lowering the temperature and preventing relations from heating up. But the diplomat was not particularly interested in the East. But Gromyko’s activities formed the basis of the first steps of the UN; he always supported the formation of a new international body. Since 1961, the diplomat became a member of the CPSU Central Committee, and from 1973 to 1988 he was a member of the Politburo. He signed treaties on the limitation of nuclear weapons and missile defense. It was thanks to the diplomat that Soviet diplomacy achieved its greatest success - the Final Act of the CSCE was signed in Helsinki on August 1, 1975. The existing borders of countries, including the GDR, as well as the limited sovereignty of the USSR allies under the Warsaw Pact were recognized. Thanks to Gromyko, the weight of Soviet diplomacy increased significantly. Personally, he managed to prevent military actions of the USSR against Israel in 1983, but he was unable to resist the entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan. Although the diplomat helped Gorbachev assume the post of Secretary General, he did not share his ideas about disarmament and perestroika.

Henry Kissinger (born 1923). The famous American statesman was the National Security Advisor to the President of the United States and was Secretary of State in 1973-1977. As a diplomat, Kissinger showed himself most clearly during the Soviet-American negotiations on the limitation of strategic arms, in the Paris negotiations to resolve problems in Vietnam. The diplomat even received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 for his activities. And he was born not in America at all, but in Germany, in a poor Jewish family. However, at the age of 15, the family emigrated to escape the Nazis. Henry even managed to fight at the very end of World War II. And in 1947, Kissinger entered Harvard, where he immediately stood out for his intelligence and success in history and philosophy. Then he continued his scientific work, teaching the history of diplomacy. In 1955, Kissinger joined a research group dealing with relations with the USSR. The monograph Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy received the Woodrow Wilson Prize and significantly influenced the country's policy. At age 39, Kissinger became a professor at Harvard, then gradually began to become involved in government research and work on national security commissions. Kissinger's articles provide advice on foreign policy and are also published in Europe. In 1968, the scientist received an invitation from President-elect Nixon to become his assistant. So Kissinger became an important figure in the administration, preparing options for final decisions in foreign policy. The diplomat led negotiations on a number of areas - problems with Vietnam, negotiations with the USSR and China. He was described as a clear and businesslike politician who did not shy away from specific problems. Although Kissinger was not everyone's cup of tea as a diplomat, he was never boring. In 1969-1972, the diplomat visited 26 countries, he accompanied the president in his 140 meetings with leaders of other countries. And Kissinger's signing of the Vietnam Peace Agreement earned him the Nobel Prize. The diplomat paid special attention to relations with the USSR. Under him, the administration tried to pursue the toughest course possible, trying to gain allies in Europe. Thanks to Kissinger, negotiations were held on the limitation of strategic arms, and relative parity was established between the parties. And in 1973, Kissinger's negotiations turned hostile relations with China into allies. The diplomat emphasized that one should not directly interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, as this would directly harm American interests. In the Arab-Israeli positions, Kissinger insisted on maintaining an uncertain situation, which brought the United States and Israel closer. After D. Ford left the post of President, Kissinger also left his post, having since then acted as a private consultant.

On February 20, in New York at the age of 64, one of the most prominent diplomats of modern Russia, the permanent representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, suddenly died. This loss was a real shock for the country and once again reminded us all of the importance of the diplomatic profession and their enormous contribution to international relations. “Typical Moscow” invites readers to remember people whose names are inextricably linked with Russian diplomacy, and whose death was a real shock for the country.

Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov (1795 – 1829)

We all know Griboedov as a great playwright and composer, but Alexander Sergeevich remained a professional diplomat until the end of his life. A nobleman, a polyglot, an outstanding student, a successful duelist and a freemason, Griboyedov nevertheless became famous through art, although he did not stop performing diplomatic service from the moment he graduated from Moscow University. It was she who, it seems, molded Griboyedov into a man of incredible intelligence, who gave not only Russia, but the whole world “Woe from Wit” and a dozen magnificent piano works, which rightfully added to the rich fund of Russian classical music.

Despite such a contribution to Russian art, Griboyedov always remained a diplomat and passed away as a diplomat. His death occurred tragically in Tehran, where Alexander Sergeevich was serving as the ambassador of the Russian Empire to Persia, when a crowd of angry religious fanatics destroyed the embassy and killed everyone who was there, with the exception of the embassy secretary.

The life and death of Griboyedov became significant for Russia. His exclusivity became the limit of the efforts of diplomats of the future, and his death seriously raised the question of the safety of Russian diplomatic missions, as well as the danger and importance of the diplomatic service.

Alexander Mikhailovich Gorchakov (1798 – 1883)

A contemporary of the Griboedov we mentioned, Alexander Gorchakov, was undoubtedly one of the greatest diplomats in all of Russian history. He headed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire for 25 years and led the country's foreign policy during times of great achievements: from the European wars to the powerful development of the then system of international relations.

Gorchakov had a difficult mission - to ensure that Russia minimizes its losses incurred during the disastrous Crimean War. Alexander Mikhailovich managed not only over time to achieve a revision of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Crimean War in 1856, but also to promote the Russian Empire among the leading diplomatic states in Europe.

The tandem of Gorchakov and Emperor Alexander II during the latter’s reign made it possible to solve many problems of the state’s foreign policy and gradually bring Russia to the forefront of international relations.

Andrei Andreevich Gromyko (1909 – 1989)

Andrei Andreevich Gromyko is deservedly the most respected diplomat in Soviet, if not the entire history of Russia. And this is not just so, because this diplomat set an absolute record for the duration of his tenure as Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs - 28 years. Moreover, Gromyko had the difficult task of preventing the Third World War, which the world was on the verge of during the Cold War era.

Gromyko's merits include not only the preservation of peace without serious clashes between the two systems - Western and communist - but also his constant initiative in strengthening peace. Gromyko proposed many international treaties on disarmament, reduction and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, banning the testing of weapons of mass destruction, and much more. Most of the documents were accepted by the international community and are still being implemented.

Nevertheless, Gromyko did not forget about the interests of his own state and conducted a dialogue with his main opponents on the world stage (primarily the United States) from a strong position, which made it possible to speak of him as a tough and pragmatic diplomat who knew his business and defended the ideals of the state , for whose benefit he worked.

Evgeny Maksimovich Primakov (1929 – 2015)

Despite the fact that Primakov’s professional diplomatic career as Russian Foreign Minister was limited to only two years, he will forever remain among the most prominent Russian foreign policy figures. Mainly, his main merit as head of the Foreign Ministry was that under him Russian diplomacy regained the strength and dignity lost after the collapse of the USSR. In addition, Primakov set a new tone for the entire Russian diplomacy, which provoked a new round of interest among young people in a diplomatic career.

It was thanks to Evgeniy Maksimovich that Russia, as they say now, began to “turn to the East,” that is, it stopped focusing solely on Europe, but improved relations with China, India and other large developing countries.

Russia has always been famous for its diplomacy, and this is a fact that cannot be disputed by any arguments. And when people who devoted themselves to serving the foreign policy interests of their country pass away, their death is a tragedy and mourning for the entire nation. Therefore, we must always remember our heroes and honor their memory as people who partly help us not to know what war is. After all, one of the main goals of diplomacy is to prevent war and maintain peace.

(All images taken from Wikimedia)