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Security Council? There are, of course, other graphic, social, educational, better understanding of the
elements that should be cultural. It is of crucial impor- world and having established
It is a very good question looked at and maybe tance that these programmes several new relationships. We
We have a very good working enhanced, but this is a very are implemented successfully. are now in a good position to
relationship with practically valuable asset that has been It takes time and one has to be try to utilize them for the
all of the delegations, heads of developed over the years by careful because the worst benefit of our own country
the and for the international com-
delegations
and the international community. thing is to waste money.
permanent representatives. The idea is that we should try Unfortunately, Russia can be munity.
We have fun even during to make it more and more the kind of country that is not
some very tense discussions effective. careful about how money is Q: How many hours a day
among the Permanent Five on spent -- and it can then do you work?
some thorny issues -- jokes Q: The UN has been disappear into the sand.
and pulling each others' legs. criticized for being ineffi- I seldom leave the office
The atmosphere is very good. cient with far too much Secondly, I think that we are before 9 p.m. Sometimes I
Really, the lines of communi- bureaucracy. What is your going to see a continued must attend a dinner, and then
cations are open and nobody opinion? enhancement of Russia's I come back here to do some
is hiding a knife behind his or international profile. The work and return home at 11
her back. So you can really Everybody should always be good news for the inter- p.m. or even later. Now I
communicate and deal with criticized for not being national community is that think things are improving
people. It's an excellent effective. This way you Russia is thinking very much and I'm trying to organize
atmosphere! provide incentives to examine in co-operative ways. We are something better for my col-
your method of operation. not pushing our own agenda leagues. I told them that they
Q: It is also secret! This is something we are very anywhere. Of course, we have have to get back to their fami-
mindful about. Let me tell our interests, we have our lies before midnight and we
Yes, it is! But I'm sure you can you that right now we are dis- neighbours, but we do not are trying to make this work!
talk with people who are cussing the initiative of the have any ulterior hidden
present in consultations, and UN Secretary-General to motives. We are not working Q:
Mr.
Finally,
they can tell you that all this reform the Department of against anybody. We are Ambassador, what do you
happens in very good P e a c e - trying to build as broad an do when you have some
humour. There are no hard keeping Operations. We have international co-operation as time off?
feelings and people do not our experts sitting on various possible in each case to tackle
take things personally. This committees looking at this the serious problems that Well, I try to play some ten-
does not affect personal and very carefully and making confront us. This is good nis, walk or go to a concert.
working relationships at all. sure that no unnecessary news for the international One of my colleagues here is
As I said, it is a very good positions are created. That's community and it can be very a helicopter pilot, but unfortu-
atmosphere. the mechanisms and that's comfortable with Russian nately I cannot brag that I
why it has taken so long. The diplomats under such cir- have such an exotic hobby! I
Q: Some of your colleagues SG made a proposal several cumstances. do not even travel much -- too
have told me that they think months ago, and then they busy. This is ajob where your
multilateralism is in danger. started looking at the finer Q: So Russia is a rising mind is preoccupied with so
Do you share their point of points and cutting out things star? many things.
view? that are not necessary, not
rational, avoiding duplication, We are in a much better shape
No, I do not think so. We etc. This is something that than we were ten years ago.
experienced a uni-polar world should continue to happen in The financial and economic
after the end of the Cold War, the United Nations. situation is much better, but
and I think that people now also I think about the
realise that it has pretty much Q: Looking at the recent experience gained
failed. Given the dynamics of history of your country, it over the last fifteen
the world, we need to work in may be said that Russia is years. After all, it was
multilateral fora. There is back in the international an unexpected deve-
simply no other way! No arena. Where would you lopment for Russia. It
solution can be achieved by like to see your country in took a while to adapt
the rule of one or two powers. the near future? to the geopolitical
This is simply not possible! environment in which
I think that this is absolutely we found ourselves to
First of all, I think that the accurate. We are, of course, adapt, to see what the
importance of the United very fortunate that the limitations were for
Nations should not be economic situation has our co-operation with
underestimated as it is doing improved. This has enabled some countries. I think
many important things. There the government to put this is a combination
are eighteen or nineteen together a number of very both of our newly
peacekeeping missions alone. serious programmes: demo- acquired strength, a

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