Vladimir Putin received letters of credence from
new foreign ambassadors in a ceremony at the Grand Kremlin
Palace’s Alexander Hall.
November 9, 2016
13:30
The Kremlin, Moscow
5 of 5
Presentation of foreign ambassadors’ letters
of credence.
Letters of credence
were presented by new ambassadors from nineteen countries: Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, Colombia, Equatorial Guinea,
Finland, Gambia, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, Mali, Montenegro,
the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Somalia, Turkmenistan,
and as well as the letter of credence
of the Apostolic Nuncio to Russia, the diplomatic
representative of the Vatican.
* * *
President of Russia
Vladimir Putin: Ladies and gentlemen,
I welcome you
to this ceremony of presentation of your letters
of credence and congratulate you on the official start
of your important and responsible diplomatic missions in Moscow.
I hope that your
efforts to develop relations between the countries you represent
and Russia will help to activate political dialogue, strengthen trade
and economic ties, and expand humanitarian contacts. You can count
on the support of the Russian government, our executive
and legislative authorities, business communities and public groups.
I want
to emphasise that Russia is ready to work together with all countries
in a spirit of honest and mutually beneficial partnership.
We seek to guarantee equal and indivisible security, resolve global
and regional problems, and settle conflicts on the solid
basis of international law and the UN Charter. These are our
guiding principles as we decide our approaches to the most
pressing issues on today’s agenda, including the Syrian crisis.
Syria is essentially
a test today for the international community’s ability
and readiness to join forces, together take a stand against
terrorism, a common threat for us all, and find adequate
responses to other global challenges to security and stability.
Russia will work together
with other interested countries to facilitate the launch
of dialogue between the Syrians themselves. We believe that only
a political solution can resolve this conflict, stop the bloodshed,
open the way for millions of refugees to return home,
and rebuild this country’s economy and social sector.
Ladies
and gentlemen, a few hours ago, the presidential election ended
in the United States of America. We followed this election
closely. I want to congratulate the American people
on the end of this election cycle and congratulate Mr
Donald Trump on his victory in the election.
We heard
the statements he made as candidate for president expressing
a desire to restore relations between our countries. We realise
and understand that this will not be an easy road given
the level to which our relations have degraded today, regrettably.
But, as I have said before, it is not Russia’s fault that our
relations with the United States have reached this point.
Russia is ready
to and seeks a return to full-format relations with
the United States. Let me say again, we know that this will not be easy,
but are ready to take this road, take steps on our side and do
all we can to set Russian-US relations back on a stable
development track.
This would benefit both
the Russian and American peoples and would have a positive
impact on the general climate in international affairs, given
the particular responsibility that Russia and the US share
for maintaining global stability and security.
