Fri | Jun 2, 2023

From Russia with love

Published:Friday | March 19, 2010 | 12:00 AM
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Deputy Head of Mission at the Venezuelan Embassy Madai Hernandez chats with Chilean Ambassador Alfredo Garcia.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Dr Ronald Robinson (left) toasts the continued good relations between Jamaica and Russia with Russian Ambassador Victor Zotin. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Ambassador Douglas Saunders (left) chats with Rusal's Igor Dorofeev and his wife Elena Dorofeev.
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Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

Jamaica's diplomatic relations with foreign powers has been in the spotlight recently for not-too-positive reasons.

But at least, the ties with Russia, from the days of the much wider USSR, remain friendly. That fact was underlined on Tuesday when representatives from both countries celebrated 35 years of diplomatic relations with a reception at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. Russian Ambassador Victor Zotin and State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Dr Ronald Robinson led the toasts to signify the profitable past and, hopefully, a bright future of relations.

Both men cited the fields of education, labour, industry and trade as major areas of co-operation. They pointed to the increasing number of graduates from the People's Friendship University of Russia and how those alumni have made indelible contributions to society. Ambassador Zotin also announced that 15 more scholarships will be offered this year to Jamaican students.

Guests out included Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda, Cuban Chinese Ambassador Chen Jinghua, Ambassador Yuri Gala Lopez, Senegalese Ambassador Dr Nafissatou Diagne, Argentine Ambassador Mario Pino, Belgian Ambassador Frederic Meurice, St Kitts and Nevis High Commissioner Cedric Harper, South African High Commissioner Faith Radebe, US charge d'affairs Isiah Parnell, French Ambassador Marc-Olivier Gendry, Ambassador Maxine Roberts and sister Valerie, Igor and Elena Dorofeev and Andrea C. Whyte.