Ladies and Gentlemen!

Dear friends, colleagues, guests!

On the tables around you will find the April issue of the International Focus magazine with my interview in which I had an opportunity to cover in detail a wide range of questions including our consulate’s work in Houston, Russia-U.S. bilateral relations and more. This makes my task today much easier, so let me just briefly highlight a few points.

Russia Day, which we celebrate today, is in fact the birthday of a new, modern Russia which emerged in 1991 as a country with a new political and ideological system based on democracy and free market economy. It is not for the first time in our history that Russia undergoes radical changes. It happened in the 15^th century after the Mongol-Tartar invasion, in 1917 after the breakup of the Russian Empire and again 28 years ago as we opened a new page in our history book.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that today the world is undergoing tectonic shifts. The foundation of new multilateral relations and a polycentric international order is taking shape.No doubt, this will be a long period historically, but it is already in full swing. New centers of economic growth, financial power and political influence are emerging.

Clearly, multipolarity calls for a search for a balance of interests to maintain stability in the world. Here, of course, diplomacy should play a leading role, especially since we have a list of problems which require generally acceptable solutions: such as regional conflicts, international terrorism, food security, and the environment. So, Russia operates on the premise that we can reach agreements mainly through common efforts. Only solution that enjoy overwhelming support can be sustainable.

We are ready to search for such a solution! Needless to say, that the positions of different countries will never coincide completely, but we are ready to seek for compromises. The threats and ultimatums that are now used in international relations will not produce the desired results.

Russia is very pragmatic in its foreign policy. At least we are trying to act this way! We want our policy to be rooted in real life and respond to challenges and opportunities that emerge on the international arena. Our approaches are underpinned by the traditions of Russian diplomacy as well the inherent values of Russian culture, history and mentality. We always seek to stand up for justice, legality and equality of states which is one of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter.

Russia seeks to promote a positive agenda, which is essential. We contribute to multilateral efforts on climate, Millennium Development Goals and many other global problems. We also work constructively with all stakeholders hoping to find common ground with those of our partners with whom our relations are not smooth. We are open to dialogue and ready to be flexible as long as this does not contradict our interests and enables us to come to mutually acceptable compromises. Practically, this is the basis of our relations with Washington.

In general, we stick to the philosophy of mutual benefit and mutual respect. It is on these principles that our interaction with like-minded nations is based members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Commonwealth of Independent States, Eurasian Economic Union, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS.

Thanks for your attention, I wish you peace and prosperity.