Answers to certification in international diplomacy

The concept of multilateral diplomacy

Multilateral diplomacy is the official activity of the heads of state, legal special services/foreign relations bodies and their foreign representatives to carry out negotiations, correspondence of non-military practical measures, taking into account specific conditions and the nature of the tasks to be solved in order to uphold foreign policy goals.

Actors of multilateral diplomacy

The actors of multilateral diplomacy are not only representatives of states. Delegates from TNCs (transnational corporations) and INGOs (international non-governmental organizations) compete for influence in the corridors of the UN and other IOs with professional diplomats, politicians and international officials. The role of non-state actors who are engaged in lobbying the interests of their organizations among governments, the press and international officials is increasing. Representatives of INGOs show greater competence than professional diplomats in dealing with special, very specific issues. The so-called "diplomatic counter-elite" is formed from among non-state actors, as if opposing professional diplomatic cadres.

Differences: First concerns the knowledge base and information that is required for a particular type of diplomacy. In traditional diplomacy, a diplomat representing his country in the capital of another state must have a good understanding of the national interests of both parties. He must know where these interests coincide and where they differ. He needs knowledge and understanding of the political system and political culture of the host country, acquaintance with its prominent people. In the field of multilateral diplomacy, diplomats must be able to adapt to a political environment and culture where people speak many languages ​​and where it is necessary to know and take into account the national interests of a large number of countries. Second The difference between multilateral diplomacy and traditional diplomacy is that the first type is accompanied by regular personal contacts with a large number of people. Therefore, the ability to maintain business relations and get along with your colleagues regardless of their political, economic and cultural differences is probably more important in multilateral forums than in bilateral relations, where the political and military weight of the two countries is a more significant factor than their ideological and cultural differences.

Features of multilateral negotiating diplomacy

This is diplomacy without imposing their values ​​by some states on other countries, without diktat, without confrontation and military upheavals, that is, only through negotiations within the framework of generally recognized international law.

Multilateral intergovernmental conferences and forums

M / n conference is a meeting of representatives speaking on behalf of the state, which is convened for a certain period to achieve certain goals.

International conferences can be classified as follows:

♦ bilateral or multilateral;

♦ dedicated to one or more issues;

♦ special or regular;

♦ conferences with or without a permanent secretariat.

International conferences can be divided by purpose for which they are organized. According to this they can;

♦ be forum for a general discussion of one or more issues;

♦ make binding decisions for governments;

♦ decide on the activities of the secretariats of intergovernmental organizations, as well as the mode of implementation of programs funded by governments, such as permanent or executive committees of international organizations between plenary sessions.

There are many definitions of the concept diplomacy. Some are given, for example, in such well-known books as "Diplomacy" by G. Nicholson, "Guide to Diplomatic Practice" by E. Satow. The majority proceeds, firstly, from the fact that diplomacy is a tool for the implementation of interstate relations. Indicative in this regard is B. White's chapter "Diplomacy", prepared for the book "The Globalization of World Politics: An introduction to International Relations", published in 1997, where diplomacy is characterized as one of the forms of activity of governments.

Secondly, it emphasizes the direct connection of diplomacy with negotiation process.

An example of a fairly broad understanding of diplomacy is the definition of the English researcher J.R. Berridge (G.R. Berridge). In his opinion, diplomacy is the conduct of international affairs, rather, through negotiations and other peaceful means (gathering information, showing goodwill, etc.), which imply, directly or indirectly, precisely the conduct of negotiations, and not the use of force, the use of propaganda or recourse to legislation.

Thus, negotiations have remained the most important instrument of diplomacy for several centuries. At the same time, responding to modern realities, they, like diplomacy in general, are acquiring new features.

K. Hamilton (K. Natilton) and R. Langhorne (K. Langhorne), speaking about the features of modern diplomacy, highlight two key points. First, its greater openness compared to the past, which is understood, on the one hand, to involve representatives of various segments of the population in diplomatic activities, and not just the aristocratic elite, as before, on the other hand, broad information about agreements signed by states. Secondly, intensive, at the level of international organizations, development multilateral diplomacy. The strengthening of the role of multilateral diplomacy is also noted by many other authors, in particular P. Sharp. Lebedeva M.M. World Politics: Textbook for Universities. - M.: Aspect-Press, 2008, p.307.

In the second half of the 20th century, not only the number of multilateral negotiations, but the forms of multilateral diplomacy are also becoming more diverse. If in the past it was reduced mainly to the negotiation process within the framework of various congresses (Westphalian, 1648, Karlovitsky, 1698-1699, Vienna, 1914-1915, Parisian, 1856, etc.), now multilateral diplomacy is carried out within the framework of:

* international universal (UN) and regional organizations (OAU, OSCE, etc.);

* conferences, commissions and similar events or structures convened or created to solve a problem (for example, the Paris Conference on Vietnam; the Joint Commission for the Settlement of the Conflict in South West Africa, etc.);

* multilateral summit meetings ("Big Eight", etc.);

* the work of embassies in multilateral areas (for example, former US First Deputy Secretary of State St. Talbott notes that the American embassy, ​​for example, in Beijing, directed a significant part of its efforts to search, together with Chinese and Japanese colleagues, for solutions to problems on the Korean Peninsula).

Multilateral diplomacy and multilateral negotiations give rise to a number of new moments, but at the same time difficulties in diplomatic practice. Thus, an increase in the number of parties in the discussion of the problem leads to a complication of the overall structure of interests, the creation of coalitions and the emergence of leading countries in the negotiating forums. In addition, a large number of organizational, procedural and technical problems arise in multilateral negotiations: the need to agree on the agenda, venue; developing and making decisions, chairing forums; accommodation of delegations, etc. Ibid., p.309.

In the XIX - early XX century. embassies were few in number, and the ambassador performed many functions with his own hands. Today, although the ambassador remains in many ways a universal figure, the staff of embassies has expanded in many ways. It includes a press attaché, trade attaché, military attache, consuls, intelligence service, etc. The growing bureaucratization of embassies is a consequence of the increase in the volume and complexity of international interactions at the present time.

The irony of today, however, is that as diplomats become more professional, their role in negotiations with a foreign partner becomes less. A significant amount of the work of embassies is transferred either to international organizations, where there are representatives from the respective states, or to episodic meetings of the first persons of states or their authorized representatives. There are two reasons for this state of affairs. Firstly, the development of all means of communication, which facilitates direct communication between politicians of the highest ranks from different countries. It suffices to give such an example: the first US president who crossed the Atlantic Ocean to take part in the diplomatic end of the First World War was W. Wilson. Today, the communication of the first persons of states with the help of means of communication and directly is a daily practice. The second reason is the complication and globalization of the problems of world politics and international development, which require participation in decision-making directly by the top leadership of states. As a result, today's diplomatic practice, in contrast to the past, is to a much greater extent connected with the activities of leading politicians ("shuttle diplomacy" by G. Kissinger, J. Baker, E. Shevardnadze).

The summits of the first persons of the states cause both public approval and criticism. On the one hand, they promote mutual understanding between leaders and eliminate bureaucratic red tape in decision-making. On the other hand, the summits are more like a performance. There is much more journalistic hype around them than the expected effect. Here is an interesting observation from an American diplomat on this subject: “What really happens at most summits where serious issues are discussed? Although serious conversations take place at the banquet table, the time allotted for food and drink is amazing in its length. At the same time, in the Middle East and in South East Asia it is generally not customary to have discussions at meal times.Wherever the meeting takes place, toasts usually replace speeches.They contain diplomatic hints, especially if the press is present.In general, a common meal is a waste of time... In attempting to carve out the amount of time used for a substantive exchange of opinions within a ten-hour summit, the researcher must cut out at least four hours of eating and drinking, another two to four hours of non-meaningful conversation... then divide the remaining time by two or one and a half, keeping in mind the work of translators.What is left is two or three hours - is used to determine positions and exchange views".

Multilateral diplomacy versus bilateral diplomacy

Although multilateral diplomacy became a permanent practice in Europe after the Congress of Vienna in 1815, these were relatively rare events associated with international crises, post-war settlement. From the beginning of the XX century. the role of multilateral diplomacy is growing significantly, and at present the bulk of diplomatic contacts is multilateral. To be fair, it must be said that bilateral diplomacy remains of paramount importance.

The reasons for the strengthening of the role of multilateral diplomacy are connected, first of all, with the growing number of global problems requiring joint discussion and solution. It is also of great importance that many poor third world countries cannot afford to maintain embassies in other states and use international intergovernmental organizations for diplomatic contacts.

The forms of multilateral diplomacy are diverse. These are the activities of the UN and other intergovernmental organizations, international conferences and forums, including informal ones, such as the annual economic forum in Davos. After the end of the Cold War, such a form of multilateral diplomacy as international mediation in conflict resolution acquired particular importance. This form of diplomacy has been known in history for a long time. Thus, after the war of 1905, American President Theodore Roosevelt acted as an intermediary between Russia and Japan. Recently, however, the importance of this kind of diplomatic contacts has acquired a special role due to the uncontrolled growth in the number of new generation conflicts. Examples are the participation of the great powers in the settlement of conflicts on the territory of the former Yugoslavia in the mid-1990s. (Dayton process), mediation in conflicts in the Middle East (UN, EU, USA, Russia) at present, etc.

INTRODUCTION

Significant changes have taken place on the world stage in recent years. The growing processes of globalization, despite their contradictory consequences, lead to a more even distribution of resources of influence and economic growth, laying the objective foundation for a multipolar structure of international relations. The strengthening of collective and legal principles in international relations continues on the basis of the recognition of the indivisibility of security in the modern world. In world politics, the importance of the energy factor and, in general, access to resources has increased. The international position of Russia has been considerably strengthened. A stronger, more self-confident Russia has become an important component of positive changes in the world.

As a result, the balance and competitive environment that were lost with the end of the Cold War are gradually being restored. The subject of competition, which acquires a civilizational dimension, are value orientations and models of development. With the universal recognition of the fundamental importance of democracy and the market as the foundations of social structure and economic life, their implementation takes various forms depending on the history, national characteristics and the level of socio-economic development of states.

Along with positive changes, negative trends also persist: the expansion of the conflict space in world politics, the dropping of disarmament and arms control issues from the global agenda. Under the flag of combating new challenges and threats, attempts continue to create a “unipolar world”, to impose on other countries their political systems and development models while ignoring the historical, cultural, religious and other features of the development of the rest of the world, arbitrary application and interpretation of the norms and principles of international law.

The events of recent years also testify to the imposition on the world - contrary to the objective trend of modern world development - of the hypertrophied importance of the factor of force in international relations to solve certain problems based on political expediency, bypassing all legal norms. The lack of interest of individual states to bind themselves with new international legal obligations in the field of security and disarmament is becoming obvious, as a result of which the disarmament process is hampered, and those countries that feel militarily vulnerable become more inclined to possess weapons of mass destruction as a guarantee of their own security.

On the whole, the inertia of a unilateral reaction, conceptually based on the "victory in the Cold War" syndrome, is affecting. Linked to this approach is a policy of preserving the dividing lines in world politics through the gradual expansion - through the co-optation of new members - of the sphere of Western influence. The choice in favor of re-ideologization and militarization of international relations creates the threat of a new split in the world, now along civilizational lines. The situation is complicated by the fact that this is happening against the backdrop of the fight against international terrorism, which requires a broad dialogue between cultures, confessions and civilizations, their counteraction to extremism in their own environment, decisive progress in solving problems, including regional conflicts, which constitute the breeding ground for terrorism.

Multilateral and conference diplomacy

Diplomacy is a way of implementing the state's foreign policy. Diplomacy is carried out in the form of official activities of the heads of state, government, bodies of foreign relations of the state and directly diplomats, contributing to the achievement of the goals and objectives of foreign policy and protecting the interests of their state and individual citizens abroad.The devil knows whose definition. From other tickets, the definition is better (Dipsonic Dictionary of the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Oxford)

Forms of diplomacy

Bilateral diplomacy carried out on a permanent basis through the diplomatic representation of one state on the territory of another state;

Diplomacy carried out by sending special missions;

Multilateral diplomacy within the framework of international organizations, carried out through delegations and permanent missions of states to international organizations

International organizations are the highest form of multilateral diplomacy. Each of them has its own charter, budget, headquarters, secretariat, which ensures their regular functioning.

Created by states on the basis of multilateral treaties concluded between them and in accordance with the norms of international law, these international organizations (interstate, intergovernmental, inter-parliamentary) differ in the nature of the issues they are called upon to deal with, in the composition of participants (universal, regional and subregional), in the scope of powers and other signs. The status of such organizations is determined, as a rule, by their statutory provisions.

The UN is the Permanent Mission of Russia to the UN in New York. Representation of Russia at the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva.

The Russian Federation as a full member, observer (or having a special status) participates in the work of a number of large international regional organizations; European - OSCE, Council of Europe, EU, Eurasian - CIS, transatlantic - NATO, American - OAS (permanent observer), regional - ASEAN, APEC, EurAsEC, SCO.

A state participating in the work of an international organization interacts with it through a special representation of the state accredited to this organization. It is represented as a permanent mission (permanent mission) - a state body for external relations, carrying out permanent representation of the state in an international organization. The permanent mission is headed by a permanent representative. Functions are determined by the Charter of the organization, special agreements or protocols to it between the participating countries, as well as legislative acts of the accrediting state.

March 14, 1975 The Convention on the Representation of States in their Relations with International Organizations of a Universal Character was signed in Vienna. In accordance with its norms, permanent representatives, observers, operational staff of permanent missions are granted immunities and privileges similar to diplomatic ones. Russia is also a party to the Convention as the successor state of the USSR.

The Russian Federation takes an active part in numerous international conferences convened on a specific occasion, session meetings within the framework of international forums or associations of states that do not have the status of an international organization, various consultations or negotiations with three or more participants. This form of multilateral diplomacy is often referred to as conference diplomacy. Persons or delegations sent by States to participate in such activities are classified as special missions. Their name comes from the Latin , i.e. for this case.

The status of such missions is regulated by the 1969 UN Convention. on special missions (entered into force on June 21, 1985). In accordance with it, the mission is of a representative and temporary nature and is sent by one state to another with the agreement of the latter to perform a certain task in this state, regardless of whether diplomatic or consular relations are maintained between them or not. The head of the state or government, the minister of foreign affairs, or another person who has the appropriate authority to perform the task may head the delegation-mission as a diplomatic mission. Often, such a mission is carried out by special representatives of heads of state or government or ambassadors-at-large.

3) The universal nature of today's diplomacy as a reflection of the level of international communication. Strengthening the principle of the sovereign equality of states. Legal consolidation of these realities in international acts.

The structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia is the federal executive body of the Russian Federation, which carries out state administration in the field of relations of the Russian Federation with foreign states and international organizations.

A. Management team. Headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs; since 2004 - Sergey Lavrov. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is the head of the foreign policy department. The minister represents Russia in bilateral and multilateral negotiations and signs international treaties; distributes duties between his deputies and the general director; approves regulations on structural subdivisions.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, in accordance with the established procedure, assigns diplomatic ranks from attaché to 1st class adviser inclusive, and also submits petitions to the President of the Russian Federation for the assignment of the diplomatic ranks of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary 1st and 2nd class.

As of December 2008, 8 Deputy Ministers (their number is subject to change). All of them are appointed by the President of the Russian Federation. Each of the deputy ministers leads a group of departments, offices and other divisions of the ministry.

Denisov Andrey Ivanovich- first Deputy

Karasin Grigory Borisovich- Secretary of State (oversees issues of bilateral relations with the CIS states, work with compatriots abroad. Responsible for interaction with the chambers of the Federal Assembly and public organizations, including the drafting activities of the ministry)

A collegium is formed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, consisting of the minister (chairman of the collegium), his deputies, the general director, as well as other senior officials of the system of the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Collegium considers the most important issues of the activity of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and makes appropriate decisions. They are adopted by a simple majority of votes in the form of resolutions and are carried out, as a rule, by orders of the minister.

General Secretary. He holds the highest state position of the federal civil service of the Russian Federation, oversees the activities of the secretariats of the minister and his deputies. Under his leadership, there is a group of operational information, a department of documentation, control, inspection, a group of advisers to the minister, as well as personnel dealing with information from foreign agencies, letters and personal appeals.

The department is the main structural subdivision of the RF Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Divided (37) departments into main areas of activity.

B. Territorial departments entrusted with work on issues of Russia's relations with other states and international organizations

B. Departments and departments of a functional nature.

D. Departments, departments, departments and other subdivisions of an administrative and economic nature. (Department economic cooperation, Department of Information and Press, etc.)

In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, a collegium is formed consisting of the Minister (chairman of the collegium), his deputies (ex officio), as well as other senior officials of the Ministry's system.

Members of the collegium of the Ministry, except for persons included in its composition ex officio, are approved by the Government of the Russian Federation.

The Collegium considers the most important issues of the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and makes appropriate decisions.

15) The activities of the departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and issues of their competence

The department is the main structural subdivision of the RF Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Divided (37.39) departments by main areas of activity.

Each of the Deputy Ministers leads a group of departments.

The departments dealing with the relations of the Russian Federation with others include territorial departments by region, which in turn are subdivided into departments dealing with relations with specific countries. The states of Europe, for example, are divided into four regions, and the four European departments (EDs) deal with their respective countries. Relations with the states of Asia are also handled by four departments (DA), etc.

A special group is made up of departments dealing with relations with neighboring countries. Four departments belong to them. Three of them deal with relations with these countries on union issues of Russia's cooperation with the CIS countries as a whole. The departments of the latter supervise such issues as relations with the statutory bodies of the CIS, foreign policy cooperation, economics and law, culture, science, education, sports, border protection and law enforcement, customs union, peacekeeping and conflict resolution, information and analytical issues.

The following works of territorial departments; collection, analysis of official documents and information materials, implementation of diplomatic correspondence with accredited diplomatic missions of countries under the jurisdiction of the department, etc.

The functional divisions of the ministry are formed in the same way. All of them, with the exception of some departments and independent departments and groups, are also called departments. Among them are legal (DP), state protocol (DGP), economic cooperation (ECT), international organizations (DIO), etc. One of the main places in the system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation is occupied by the Department of Information and Press (DIP). The department is responsible for holding briefings and press conferences, organizing the work of the press center. The department is engaged in analytical activities, it provides services for all state visits. The Consular Service (CSS) is the most important functional unit that coordinates and directs the activities of consular offices abroad (consulates general, consulates, vice-consulates), consular departments of embassies.

Departments, departments, divisions and other subdivisions of an administrative and economic nature. Office of Affairs (MD), Monetary and Financial Department (VFD), etc.

E. Auxiliary units that provide the necessary conditions for the functioning of the central office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its subordinate institutions and organizations, as well as foreign missions.

A special place is occupied by the Historical and Documentary Department (IDD), which houses the archive of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Definition of diplomacy and history of its development.

Diplomacy is a means of implementing the foreign policy of states, which is a set of practical measures, techniques and methods applied taking into account specific conditions and the nature of the tasks being solved; official activities of the heads of states and governments, special bodies of external relations to implement the goals and objectives of the foreign policy of states, as well as to protect the interests of these states.

The concept of diplomacy is associated with the art of negotiating to prevent or resolve conflicts, search for compromises and mutually acceptable solutions, expand and deepen international cooperation.

The word "diplomacy" comes from the Greek word díplōma (in ancient Greece, this word was used for double tablets with letters printed on them, issued to envoys as credentials and documents confirming their authority). As a designation of state activity in the field of foreign relations, the word "diplomacy" came into use in Western Europe at the end of the 18th century.

History of diplomacy

In the slave-owning society, which constantly used military seizures to replenish the labor force, military means of implementing the foreign policy of states prevailed. Diplomatic relations were maintained only occasionally by embassies, which were sent to individual countries with a specific mission and returned after its completion.

Under the conditions of feudal fragmentation, the “private” diplomacy of feudal sovereigns became widespread, who, in the intervals between wars, concluded peace treaties, entered into military alliances, and arranged dynastic marriages. Byzantium maintained extensive diplomatic ties. In the middle of the 15th century, with the development of international relations, permanent representations of states abroad gradually appeared.

The features of the diplomacy of the bourgeois states of modern and recent history are determined by the new goals of their foreign policy - the struggle for the conquest of foreign markets, for the division, and then for the redivision of the world, for world economic and political domination. Under the new conditions, the scale of diplomatic activity is significantly expanding, which is becoming more dynamic and is used by the state to create a wider base among the leadership and ruling elite of foreign states, to establish contacts with certain political parties, the media. Diplomacy, along with military means, played an important role in the struggle to achieve the goals of anti-feudal, democratic and national liberation movements, in the formation of nation-states in Latin America and the Balkans, in the unification of Germany and Italy. The diplomacy of the big capitalist states served their aggressive expansionist aspirations.

History of the Russian Foreign Ministry began long before the formal establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Alexander I in 1802. The origins of the formation of the Russian diplomatic service date back to the period of Ancient Russia. Ancient Russia was an active subject of international relations from the moment of the creation of its statehood, i.e. from the 9th-13th centuries.

One of the initial milestones in the development of ancient Russian diplomacy was the sending of a Russian embassy to Constantinople in 838 in order to establish direct contacts with Byzantium. The first ever treaty "On Peace and Love" was concluded with the Byzantine Empire in 860 and meant the international recognition of Russia. By the IX-X centuries. the origin of the ancient Russian embassy service, the formation of a hierarchy of diplomats.

At the end of the 15th century, under Ivan III, Russian diplomacy faced such important tasks that it was necessary to create a special diplomatic department to solve them.

The structure and functions of the Ambassadorial Order acquired complete forms by the 50-70s of the 17th century.

The Petrine and Catherine eras occupy a special place in the history of Russian foreign policy. The victories in the Northern War, the adoption of the imperial title by Peter I (1721) marked fundamentally important changes in the international position of Russia. Diplomatically, this was supported by the creation of a network of permanent diplomatic missions of Russia in the leading European states.

In 1718-1720. The embassy order was transformed into the Collegium of Foreign Affairs (KID). The KID acted "according to special regulations" and was in charge of Russia's relations with foreign states. It was divided into two branches: the political department (or secret office) and the "public expedition". During the period of activity of the KID, a galaxy of talented diplomats grew up who laid down the basic principles and methods of Russian diplomacy for a long future period (Bestuzhev-Ryumin, Panin, Bezborodko, etc.).

During the reign of Catherine II (1762-1796), Russia's foreign economic and diplomatic efforts were focused on expanding positions in the Black Sea region, annexing Crimea (1783), ensuring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, completing the process of reunification of Ukraine and Belarus with Russia, protecting co-religionists in the Balkans, advancing to the Caucasus and Transcaucasia. A major success of Russian diplomacy was the Kyuchuk-Kaynarji peace treaty (1774), which ended the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-74.

In September 1802, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was formed by the Manifesto of Emperor Alexander I. The first minister of foreign affairs was AR Vorontsov. A number of new departments appeared in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the Expedition of Consular Affairs, the Educational Department of Oriental Languages, the Internal Economic Department, the Department of Internal Relations, the Department of Foreign Relations, etc. chancellor.

The overseas divisions were: embassies Russia in the great powers, missions, residency in small and dependent eastern countries, consulates general, consulates, vice consulates and consular agencies.

In 1846, the “Institution of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs” (Regulations on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) was adopted, which determined the new structure and functions of the Ministry. In 1856, the Foreign Ministry was headed by A. M. Gorchakov. He approved the new "Rules for appointment to the service and positions" in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

By 1913, Russia had created an extensive network of diplomatic and consular missions abroad. So, if in 1758 there were 11 Russian foreign missions, in 1903 - 173, then by the beginning of the First World War, Russia maintained diplomatic relations with 47 countries and had more than 200 missions abroad.

After the October Revolution of 1917, in accordance with the Decree of the II All-Russian Congress of Soviets of October 26 (November 8) "On the Establishment of the Council of People's Commissars", the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs was formed, headed by L. D. Trotsky.

statesman and diplomat G. V. Chicherin.

By the beginning of 1924, diplomatic relations existed with 10 states, and in 1925 - already with 22.

In the conditions of the formation of a hotbed of war in the center of Europe and the growing danger of war in the Far East, Soviet diplomacy consistently advocated the creation of a system of security collectives. Important steps were the establishment of diplomatic relations with the USA (1933), the entry of the USSR into the League of Nations (1934).

During the Second World War, Soviet diplomacy pursued a policy of creating and strengthening the anti-fascist coalition, opening a second front in Europe, and participating in the development of all fundamental inter-allied documents.

Soviet diplomacy made a significant contribution to the creation of the United Nations.

In 1941, the diplomatic ranks of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary were introduced, and in 1943, ranks for other diplomatic staff were introduced.

In March 1946, the name of the foreign economic department was changed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR. The structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that had taken shape by the mid-1950s corresponded to the state of international relations that existed at that time and in subsequent years. It was preserved without significant changes for 30 years - until 1986 by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR with February 1957 to July 1985., i.e. 28 years was a prominent Soviet diplomat A. A. Gromyko.

The perestroika processes that took place in the USSR in the second half of the 1980s were accompanied by fundamental shifts in its foreign policy, which was based on the vision of the unity and interdependence of the world community.

In November 1991, a decision was made to transform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs into the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations with the simultaneous transfer of the functions of the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations to it.

Since 1991, Russia's foreign policy has been developing as a new democratic state, the legal successor of the USSR.

On March 14, 1995, a new Regulation on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was approved by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation.

To date, the Russian Federation maintains diplomatic relations with 180 countries and has 145 embassies and 87 consulates in foreign countries, including general ones, 12 representative offices at international organizations.

More than 3,300 employees work in the central office of the Russian Foreign Ministry.