On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin will receive credentials from 24 newly arrived foreign ambassadors, including diplomats from unfriendly countries. In addition, on the same day, the president is scheduled to have talks in Moscow with Milorad Dodik, Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In particular, as the Kremlin press service earlier reported, Putin will be presented with certificates by Ambassadors Kypros Giorgallis of Cyprus, Sarah Marie Walsh of New Zealand, Maria Madalena Lobo Carvalho Fischer of Portugal, and Jang Ho-jin of South Korea. At the moment, all EU countries are on the list of countries unfriendly to Russia. New Zealand, South Korea, and several other countries are also on the list.
Putin will also receive new ambassadors from several post-Soviet countries. They include diplomats from Armenia Vagharshak Harutiunyan, Belarus Dmitry Krutoy and Moldova Lilian Darie. In addition, Serbian Ambassador Momcilo Babic will attend the ceremony.
Harutiunyan served as Armenia's defense minister prior to his appointment as ambassador. Putin and Lukashenko personally agreed on the candidacy of Krutoy in July during a telephone conversation. Before that, he was the deputy head of the presidential administration of Belarus, responsible for developing allied programs for deeper integration with the Russian Federation. Darie served as Moldovan ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg before his current appointment, and Babic served as Serbian ambassador to Slovakia.
The Russian president will also receive credentials from ambassadors from Asian states (Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines), Africa and the Middle East (Algeria, Egypt, Congo, Kuwait, Libya, Mali, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda) and Latin America (Venezuela, Colombia, Uruguay).
Last December, Putin received credentials from 20 foreign ambassadors. Diplomats who have recently arrived in Russia are invited to such ceremonies. Presentation of credentials symbolizes the beginning of a new ambassador's diplomatic career in Russia. Traditionally, the Russian president addresses foreign diplomats at such events and gives his assessment of major trends in international affairs and bilateral relations with specific countries.
Meeting with Milorad Dodik
On Tuesday, Putin will also meet with Milorad Dodik, Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This information was confirmed to TASS on the eve of the talks by Russian leader's spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Dodik explained in an interview with TASS on the eve of his visit that he intended to discuss with Putin the construction of a gas pipeline and expansion of cultural cooperation. In particular, the politician noted, there is an idea of creating a new Russian-Serbian Orthodox center. During his visit, Dodik plans to invite Putin to Banja Luka.
The last time they met in person was in June on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Then Dodik said that Russian companies would build a gas pipeline and two power plants in the Republika Srpska (the entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina). He also thanked the Russian president for the gas price, stressing that energy resources from Russia have no alternative. Late last year, the politician said that he had agreed with Putin to keep the existing gas price for the Republika Srpska at around $290 per thousand cubic meters.
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Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS