His Excellency Victor Smirnov has recently presented his credentials to His Majesty King Hamad, and feels an enormous sense of pride and duty as he takes up his first post as the Russian Ambassador to Bahrain.

A bona fide Muscovite, it became clear in his youth that he would pursue a career in diplomacy when he attended and graduated from the Institute of International Relations in Moscow in 1977. Three years later as a postgraduate he wrote a doctorate covering Palestine- Israeli relations, the subject matter delving deeper into the Israeli political parties to gain an insight into the problems of the Arab occupied territories, Israeli settlemennts and Jerusalem.

It was a natural move for him to attend the Institute of International Relations in Moscow, as both of his parents are graduates of the Institute. Sadly his father passed away when he was quite young.

However, his mother was a great source of inspiration to him, as she was one of the first female graduates of the Institute just after the Second World War. She was a staunch women’s rights activist and traveled extensively promoting and rallying for the freedom and empowerment of women. Her last posting was as a bureau director in the ‘International Labour Organization’ based in Geneva.

He believes it was his mother who ignited his passion for diplomacy, and his intense interest in international relations was cultivated as a result of her valiant efforts in championing the rights of women.

The ambassador is emphatic in making a strict division between international relations and diplomacy as a profession. He says, “My philosophy is that diplomacy is like a mirror, it reflects development and communication. Diplomats are not politicians and that is something that has to be understood.”

His diplomatic career began with a posting to the Russian Embassy in Egypt in 1985, when he was the second secretary. Over a period of time, with dedication and determination, he progressed through the diplomatic ranks. As is customary, after four years he returned home to Moscow and began work in the Middle East and North Africa Department in the Foreign Ministry in Moscow.

His department is responsible for diplomatic relations with up to 20 Arab and North African countries and Israel, which involved special situations such as the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Iraq conflict and the situation in Darfur. In 1992 he later took up a post as political councellor in the Russian Embassy in Tel Aviv and remained there until 1996. He then returned to Israel as minister-counsellor, or deputy ambassador, until 2003.

For the last four years he has worked as the deputy director of the Department of Middle East and North Africa, until his posting to Bahrain.

His Excellency is extremely impressed with the wise and respected leadership of Bahrain, and lauds the forward vision of the Government of Bahrain in their sincere efforts to work towards a positive international agenda, for the good of Bahrain and its people. The ambassador believes that although the two countries are obviously very different in many ways, they also share many similarities.

“Both Russia and Bahrain have modern, progressive leaders who have created strategic social and economic plans for their countries for many decades to come. Since President Putin visited the region last year the Russian government has greatly increased its interest in continuing to nurture bilateral relations to promote commerce, industry and trade in the Gulf region,” he says.

His extensive experience of working within the Middle East has given him a more definitive perspective on the conflicts within the region. His ultimate goal is to play an important role in helping to resolve current conflicts improve stability in the region. His more immediate aims are to cultivate opportunities for both Bahrain and Russia that may have been missed out on up to now.

“For example, a significant task for our countries is the development of each as a financial centre. President Medvedev strives to promote Moscow as a financial hub in Russia and Bahrain has enormous significance as a financial centre in this region. Also, both are modern societies which share similar interests in oil, gas and aluminium production, along with social values and reforms which he believes are programmes for the successful future of both nations.

“Our nations also share common challenges such as inflation, which is very painful for the two countries, while another task is to provide better conditions for migrant workers in each country,” he says.

The ambassador describes how, at present, he is dissatisfied with the volume of trade exchange and wishes to increase it significantly in all areas to mutually benefit the people of both countries. He aims to promote tourism and commerce in Russia and Bahrain and, although there are no direct flights between Bahrain and Russia at present, this is something he would to see change. He considers this a rudimentary step in nurturing the development and successful growth of commercialism in each region.

There are also many economic options that could be beneficial possibilities for both countries, in particular the position of both countries as highly developed aluminum producers. The ambassador is interested in visiting companies like Alba and Bapco to establish and develop trade relations with Russia.

In fact, in an effort to promote trade relations there will be an Arabian Exhibition involving 15 Arab States including Bahrain in Moscow in October this year. The ambassador advocates upgrading the legal regulations that govern all aspects of trade between the two countries in order to reassure businesses and prevent obstacles such as double taxation and other problems incurred in the business sector.

The Russian community in Bahrain consists of approximately 150 Russian nationals. However, there are between five to six hundred Russian speakers on the island, many of whom would be from Belarus, the Ukraine and other CIS states. They all may receive the support and assistance of the Russian Embassy here.

While many know that Russia has a huge population, of around 150 million people, there are more than 100 different nationalities and ethnic groups. Many might be surprised to learn that among them are twenty million Muslims, who hold Russian citizenship.

The ambassador tells me “The Russian Federation of today is very different, with all efforts now directed towards having a diversified and modern economy. Russia has $520 billion in gold reserves alone, with $150 billion as a stabilisation fund and the gross national product is growing at a rate of 8% per annum.”

He also adds, “Russia should not just be associated with Kalashnikovs and Molotov cocktails. Russia will be hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics, in the city of Sotchi near the Black Sea, as well as the 2013 Universal Student Games in Kazan, on the banks of the Volga.” Precious talents, such as the Russian group who won the Eurovision Song contest in May this year and the hosting of the UEFA Champions League final in Moscow are all signs of a new and progressive generation of Russians.”

Spending time with family and loved ones is a top priority in his free time and he eagerly awaits the arrival of his wife to Bahrain in the near future. As his grown-up family have flown the nest, and pursue lives of their own, he is grateful for the antics of his beloved cat Ippolit and a cheeky little Yorkshire terrier named Dolci.

The most important message, though, His Excellency wishes to convey to the world is Russia’s involvement and endeavours in resolving regional conflicts is a top priority, and his agenda includes peace and stability in the region.

“Bahrain is calm and peaceful, but challenges and conflict are everywhere, in order to promote peace, diplomacy must flourish without suspicions and concealment of issues,” he says.