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international

Walk in the Woods. It is about two disarmament It is imperative for our Western colleagues to
negotiators in Geneva, one from the United recognize this issue, so that normal diplomatic
States, the other from the Soviet Union, each communications can be restored. Until then,
highly suspicious of the other. To get away from their strategies remain overly politicized, aimed
the formal meetings that are dead-locked and predominantly at securing strategic dominance.
allow themselves to try to talk freely, they strike
out on a long walk into the countryside beyond Geneva is often considered as giving birth to
Geneva, and each -- to his surprise -- discovers multilateralism by establishing the League
what seems to be a real human being in the other. of Nations here in the 1920s. Russia is now at
So, they continue the walks and eventually, they the center of “a great leap forward” in the area
manage a break-through in the disarmament of multilateralism, in fact a historic shift in
talks that nobody thought possible. It was international relations. How does your work in
based on a real case. In your vast experience, Geneva fit into this development?
you certainly must have had to deal with such Geneva has indeed played a historic role in
a dead-lock, a situation where communication shaping multilateralism, and it remains a
seemed impossible. How did you deal with it? significant platform for cooperation. Even
though, from our perspective, Switzerland has
I will tell you frankly that the situation you lost its neutral status by openly siding with the
describe in your question is more from the realm West and joining all EU anti-Russian sanctions
of literature. In reality, it must be understood in the context of the Ukrainian crisis, there are
that diplomats, especially from countries like still plenty of important international events
the US and Russia (or the case you describe from taking place in the country.
the Soviet Union), always act within official
guidelines. Issues of disarmament, especially As Russia’s Permanent Representative here
concerning strategic weapons, missiles, or in Geneva, I see my role in ensuring that
nuclear non-proliferation, are very complex and our country’s stances on different issues, our
sensitive. Therefore, I cannot imagine a situation approaches to multilateralism are not only
where two diplomats from these countries, no heard, but also contribute to the evolving global
matter how talented and creative they may be, framework. Representing Russia at various
suddenly find a solution to complex problems, UN bodies and international organizations
on which these countries have no common in Geneva, we focus on addressing critical
ground, during a simple walk in the park. issues such as global health, human rights,
humanitarian challenges, and the principles
Of course, the negotiation process is very of international law. These areas are pivotal
important for finding the necessary solutions, in the current geopolitical context, where the
but diplomacy has no “quick” solutions, it global majority is seeking a greater voice and
requires a very long, professional, and expert influence.
coordination, readiness to make concessions. It
is on this basis that the US and the Soviet Union, Russia’s approach to multilateralism is rooted
and then Russia, were able to find ways to in the principles of sovereign equality, mutual
solve existing complex disarmament problems. respect, and non-interference. We advocate
Moreover, human connections are undoubtedly for a multipolar world where no single power
vital, particularly in diplomacy where dominates and where international institutions
negotiators are not just representatives of state serve the interests of all nations, not just a select
policies but individuals with human qualities few. Geneva provides the perfect platform to
and traits. Understanding one another on this advance these ideas, whether it is through our
personal level is essential for effective diplomacy. participation in the Human Rights Council, our
Regrettably, there is currently a significant trust work with specialized agencies like the WHO,
deficit between Russian and Western negotiators or our contributions to conflict resolution and
– a situation that we are not responsible for humanitarian efforts.
creating. For instance, how can we engage in
constructive dialogue when our counterparts at This “great leap forward” in multilateralism is
international forums consistently avoid direct characterized by the growing role of nations
human interactions and shun direct contacts? in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, whose

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