Russian Foreign Ministry Holds Gala Reception at its Reception House on August 25, 2016 on Occasion of 95th Anniversary of GlavUpDK

The Russian Foreign Ministry held a gala reception at its Reception House in Spiridonovka Street in Moscow on August 25, 2016 on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Main Administration for Services to the Diplomatic Corps (GlavUpDK) to which the heads of diplomatic missions, accredited in Russia, the Russian Foreign Ministry leadership and Russian high-ranking officials were invited. The delegations of GlavUpDK’s affiliated organizations, engaged in the provision of services to diplomatic missions, as well as delegations from Belarus, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and a delegation of Inpredservice State Unitary Enterprise for Foreign Mission Services (St. Petersburg) were among the honorary guests at the event.

Welcoming the gala reception participants, Acting Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s GlavUpDK Elena Ryabtseva said that the history of the Main Administration dates back to August 24, 1921, when the Decree of the Labor and Defense Council “On the Establishment in Moscow of the Central Foreigners Services Bureau – Byurobin, under the People’s Commissariat of Foreign Affairs” was signed. Today, GlavUpDK continues dynamic development, and more than 180 embassies and representative offices of international organizations, more than 120 news bureaus of foreign media, more than 600 offices of foreign companies are among its customers, and the range of services it provides covers actually all the aspects of the foreign community’s stay in Russia.

Director General of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sergey Vyazalov announced a welcoming address from the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, to the personnel of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s GlavUpDK and read out the Order of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on awarding the Russian Foreign Ministry’s GlavUpDK with the Russian Government’s Certificate of Honor.   

Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Russia Li Hui congratulated GlavUpDK on behalf of the diplomatic corps on the 95th anniversary, saying that the Main Administration provides diligent services to diplomatic missions and creates favorable conditions for diplomats’ life. In addition, GlavUpDK regularly holds cultural and sports events, which immensely enriches the life of diplomats, as well as promotes friendship and mutual understanding between representatives of different countries. The ambassador also emphasized that GlavUpDK has close friendly contacts with Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions and conveyed congratulations on the 95th anniversary from the Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Qian Hongshan, wishing GlavUpDK great achievements on the way towards its 100th anniversary.          

After that Sergey Vyazalov held a ceremony of awarding the GlavUpDK employees with honorary diplomas and the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Badges for Distinction.

After the official part of the function, a gala reception was held at the courtyard of the mansion in Spiridonovka Street. The culmination of the evening and a pleasant surprise for the guests was a laser show, which colorfully presented the entire constellation of GlavUpDK’s united team under the motto “Hospitality - Our Profession.”