"We are satisfied with the good start that Russia-Korea relations made as the result of two summits of Presidents Putin and Park Geun-hye held last year", Amb. Vnukov
Friends of Russia in Seoul including diplomatic missions gathered at the Grand Hall of the Russian Embassy to celebrate the Day of Russia on June 11th evening, 2014.
National Assembly Member Jasmine Lee, Director RADM Lee Beom-rim of Foreign Intelligence from the Ministry of National Defense, Chairman Moon Chong-Keum of Korea Sambo Federation, former Korea Amb. Lee In-ho to the Russian Federation etc. showed off among Korean guests. Diplomatic missions who joined the function, included Amb. Rolf Mafael of Germany, Amb. Luis Arias-Romero of Spain, Amb. Scott Wightman of the U.K. and Amb. Matti Heimonen of Finland in addition to envoys from the East Europe in particular and other regions.
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| ▲ To observe the Day of Russia 2014, Amb. & Mme. Vnukov (center & third from left) pose with guests including National Assembly Member Jasmine Lee (third from right) & chair professor Park Jin at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (second from left) at their garden. (From right, prof. Um Gu-ho, International Studies Graduate School of Hanyang University, Mrs. Park Jin, National Assembly Jasmine Lee, Amb. & Mme. Vnukov, professor Park and prof. Lee Yeon-sung of Korea National University of Arts) | ||
Photo scenes of Sochi Winter Olympic Games reminded guests of the fever of last Winter Olympic Games and Seoul Cyber University prepared its booths at the gate of the Grand Hall to introduce merits of cyber education.
The following is an address, delivered by H.E. Konstantin V. Vnukov, Amb. of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Korea at the opening ceremony. -Ed
Starting our reception I would like to suggest a minute of silence in the memory of the victims of the bitter tragedy of the Sewol Ferry, that took away so many human lives. We deeply mourn together with the people of Korea.
Let us remember them.
Esteemed Speaker of the National Assembly Your Excellency Chung Ui-hwa,
Esteemed Senior Secretary of the President of the Republic of Korea Mr. Ju Chul-ki,
Esteemed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea Mr. Lee Kyung-soo,
Dear head of the Russian Parliament delegation Mr.Ignatenko and senators,
Dear colleagues, fellow ambassadors and officials of the ministries and government structures of the Republic of Korea, members of the public organizations,
Dear friends,
I am glad to welcome you all at the reception on the occasion of our National Holiday – the Day of Russia.
24 years ago, after adopting the Declaration of State Sovereignty, our nation resolutely took the route of respecting law and human rights, developing democracy, competitive market economy, independent and multi-vector foreign policy. As a result Russia has considerably transformed in a quarter of a century and now is playing a growing role on the international arena, including the UN and its bodies, the G20, the APEC, East Asia Summit, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and many other integration bodies.
We are confident of the bright prospects of the idea of Russian President Vladimir Putin to create an integrated economic and humanitarian zone from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean, where Russia can act not only a connecting, but also a prominent role. We are ready to cooperate in this sphere with all the countries concerned, including the Republic of Korea, with President H.E.Park Geun-hye suggesting such ideas as the Eurasia Initiative, North-East Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative and Trustpolitik on the Korean Peninsula. We believe that the realization of these important initiatives requires direct and active interaction with Moscow.
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| ▲ From left, chair professor Park Jin at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Amb. Vnukov & professor Lee Yeon-sung at Korea National University of Arts sing together to congratulate the Day of Russia | ||
On the agenda of Russian-Korean relations now there is the fulfillment of all the agreements reached at the highest level, including the realization of trilateral economic projects (with the participation of DPRK), as well as interaction with the Republic of Korea on setting the atmosphere of peace, security and cooperation in North-East Asia and on the Korean Peninsula. We are ready to do this and expect the same active response from our South Korean friends, many of whom are present today at our reception.
and I would like to propose a toast
-to the bright future of the relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Korea!
-to happiness and prosperity of the people of our two countries!
-to health and success of all of you - our friends, who came to the reception in honour of Russia!
Chears!