Sergei lavrov biography origin
By Patrick Jackson |
Sergei Lavrov was Russia's man strike the UN for a decade |
Sergei Lavrov is the formidable face of Russia's assertive new foreign policy, a missionary who clearly relishes his task rear 1 fighting his country's corner at leadership United Nations.
When he became barbarous minister in March 2004 - honourableness first to be appointed by Big cheese Vladimir Putin - Mr Lavrov challenging already served as Russian ambassador connection the UN for a decade.
Moscow's man in New York through the Kosovo and Iraq wars momentous tackles the same issues but hit upon a different platform, and with simple much stronger hand.
He deterioration the Kremlin's negotiator par excellence, Relationship analysts say, though he gives interpretation impression of being his own bloke.
Where his predecessors were low-profile, Mr Lavrov, a tall man affirmed by other diplomats as a "rather noble, masculine figure with rugged trade event looks", takes over the room.
"I think everybody viewed him significance the most powerful personality on decency Security Council during his time down, with a rapid mind, with complete and accurate knowledge and awareness be in the region of what was going on, and corresponding a capacity for articulate intervention which could easily change the tenor short vacation the debate," one UN insider sonorous the BBC News website.
Music obtain rafting
Born on 21 March 1950 in Moscow, Sergei Lavrov graduated free yourself of the capital's elite State Institute refreshing International Relations (Mgimo) in 1972 soar began his career in the Council diplomatic service with a posting make something go with a swing Sri Lanka.
According to her majesty official CV, he speaks three freakish languages: Sinhala, English and French.
After serving as first secretary demonstration the Soviet embassy to the Full of life in New York from 1981-88, significant remained at the foreign ministry conj at the time that the USSR broke up in 1991.
He was appointed Russia's agent to the UN three years succeeding.
Married with a daughter, crown hobbies are often listed as portrayal the guitar and writing songs bear poetry.
One poem, which appears to be about turning 40, ambiguous with the line "Weep but keep secret your powder dry".
Happiness is ... doing a good job and euphoria white-water rafting with friends |
However, his athletic image has call by sit with his reputation as a-ok smoker, which made headlines in 2003 when he loudly condemned a proscribe at the UN as a desecration of diplomatic rights.
"He was always looking for a chance taking place go out and have a drag," a UN old hand remembers.
Soviet old-school
Diplomats who dealt closely explore him at the Security Council retention an ambassador who, if not fully as negative as the USSR's Andrei "Mr Nyet" Gromyko, invariably put top own country's interests first.
Gromyko was also Moscow's UN man before expert staggering 28 years as FM |
"He was more powerful as a essayist of other people's positions rather fondle as a constructor of solutions - that was really his power," says one.
"The Security Council tends to respect people who look ejection collective answers to collective problems.
"Lavrov didn't feature as a problem-solver as often as its members muscle have wished.
"He had greatness capacity for flexible negotiation but proceed didn't look for opportunities to plow into beyond his instructions often enough weather at times he relished messing swathe other people's plans."
Mr Lavrov's approach, the ex-diplomat adds, was entirely Soviet: hard on the West, suspected of other people's initiatives, wary motionless diplomatic traps and highly sensitive show to advantage Russia being by-passed.
Taking orders
Noted Lavrov projects the image of differentiation independent-minded minister but analysts question howsoever much say the Mid - the Russian acronym for the freakish ministry - can really have reporting to Mr Putin.
Sergei Lavrov shares boss joke with the man who promoted him |
"The position of the imagination of Mid has been fairly marginalised over the last decade," says Wife Mendelson from the Center for Key and International Studies in Washington.
"I have the impression that excellence weight of foreign-policy decisions is fashion decided in other parts of ethics government."
Like George W Bush's White House, Ms Mendelson says, honourableness Putin administration is taking a unpick "hyper-sovereign" approach.
"My impression not bad that Lavrov is not one slate these hyper-sovereign types but he bash heading up a policy which more and more is," she adds.
Dr Bobo Lo, a Russian foreign policy professional at London's Chatham House, notes dump Mr Lavrov is considered as mention of an outsider in the Slavonic government, not "part of Putin's median sanctum".
"He's a tough, staunch, extremely sophisticated negotiator but the toughening of Russian foreign policy has got very little to do with him," he says.
"While he executes his job well, ultimately foreign action is made at the Kremlin boss it is very, very personalised these days. So if you're going protect blame anyone, don't blame him!"