NEW RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO PRESENT CREDENTIALS

Friday, September 19, 2003

H.E President Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão will receive the letter of credentials from the new Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Timor Leste, H.E Mr. Vladimir Yu. Plotnikov. Ambassador Plotnikov joined the Diplomatic Services in 1967, and served in the Embassies of the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republic) in Indonesia and Bangladesh. From 1993 to 1997, Ambassador Plotnikov was the Deputy Chief of mission for the Embassy of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Indonesia. Throughout his diplomatic career, he fulfilled several roles, including Deputy Director of the second Asian Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1997-1999, before being nominated as the Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia in October 1999.

Although resident in Jakarta, Ambassador Plotnikov is also accredited as Ambassador to the State of Papua New Guinea and to the Republic of Kiribati. Previously, he was the representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor. As of this morning, his accreditation will also include Timor-Leste.
Ambassador Plotnikov graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 1967 and is fluent in Indonesian and English.

“I welcome Ambassador Plotnikov to Timor-Leste. The Russian Federation has contributed to successive UN missions in Timor-Leste with the deployment of UN Police and Civilian volunteers. I look forward to building on that support and in further developing our bi-lateral relations.
There are many areas in which I believe the Russian Federation can assist us, especially in technical assistance. I look forward to a long and engaging relationship between our two countries”, stated President Xanana Gusmão.