21 Mar, 08:32

Russia’s top diplomat Lavrov receives highest state order as he turns 75

According to the Russian President's decree, the order was conferred to Sergey Lavrov to recognize his "outstanding services to the Fatherland, significant contribution to developing and implementing Russia’s foreign policy course, and years of dedicated activity as a statesman"

MOSCOW, March 21. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin ruled on Friday to bestow the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, Russia’s highest state award, to the country’s top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov.

The order was conferred to the Russian foreign minister to recognize his "outstanding services to the Fatherland, significant contribution to developing and implementing Russia’s foreign policy course, and years of dedicated activity as a statesman," according to Putin’s decree.

Lavrov turned 75 on Friday. He has held the post of Russia’s top diplomat for almost 22 years already, outrivaled only by a Soviet foreign minister, Andrey Gromyko, whose tenure lasted 28 years, and State Chancellor of the Russian Empire Alexander Gorchakov, who spent 26 years in diplomatic service. Also, Lavrov is Russia’s longest-serving government official.

Lavrov has been with the diplomatic service since 1972. Between 1992 and 1994, he served as a Russian deputy foreign minister and held the position of Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations for a decade from 1994.

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Foreign policy Sergey Lavrov Vladimir Putin

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