Стр. 34 - V

Электронное приложение к журналу «Международная жизнь»
Author : V. Nebenzya
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
EXACTLY 70 YEARS AGO, on September 7,
1944, an order was signed in the USSR People's
Commissariat of Foreign Affairs establishing
within it a new arm, the Economic Division.
The moment for organizing the economic service
in the foreign affairs agency was not accidental.
World War II was ending. The anti-Hitler coalition
governments had already been in discussions about
postwar arrangements for Europe, focusing, inter
alia, on economic issues, including the reconstruction of the war-ravaged European
economies. Preparations were under way for the creation of the United Nations along
with its socio-economic bodies and specialized agencies.
However, the MFA's economic service became particularly important in later years, in a
period of rapid development of a system of foreign economic relations, as well as con-
siderable strengthening of the role of economic diplomacy in international affairs.
Currently, the Department of Economic Cooperation is at the core of the economic ac-
tivity of the Ministry. The Department deals with a wide range of developments in the
world economy and international economic relations, including foreign economic strategy
and tactics, economic security, energy policy, developing new forms of international eco-
nomic cooperation, Russia's participation in international economic organizations, support
of Russian business abroad, etc.
I would especially like to mention the spirit of camaraderie, friendship and mutual support
that was born in this team long ago and remains not only among the current staff, but also
between those who for various reasons moved to other departments or are working now
outside the Foreign Ministry. This also applies to relations with the veterans who gave
many of us, then still very young, a start in great life ahead in the MFA, sharing not only
their professional expertise but also proper human communication skills. Hats off to them,
and wishing them health and a long life.
Today, the backbone of the economic service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consists
of highly qualified specialists capable of skillfully tackling the complex issues facing Russian
diplomacy.
I want to wish the staff in the Department continued success in their professional endeav-
ors.
70 Years of the MFA Department of Economic Cooperation