diplomatic journal
Feb 6, 2024.
The Russian Ambassador Alexander Vikentyevich MANTYTSKIY Spoke to Sazzad Haider, Editor-in-Chief.
Excerpts here:
Question: How do you feel here as Ambassador of Russia?
The Ambassador: I feel blessed to work in such a friendly and hospitable country like yours. I am honoured to be making a contribution to stronger partnership between our countries.
It is a very challenging but rewarding job. For two and a half years that I have spent here, I have witnessed several milestones in our bilateral relations.
To name a few, the visit of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Bangladesh in September 2023, an official ceremony marking the delivery of fresh nuclear fuel for Rooppur NPP in October 2023 and a friendly visit of the Russian Pacific Fleet Squadron to the Chittagong Port in November 2023.
Q: What is the prime task of your tenure?
The Ambassador: In general, I have been implementing the political course set by the Russian President and the Government aimed at preserving and enhancing the long-standing friendship between our countries.
It includes facilitating political dialogue, enhancing business ties, promoting Russian culture and education, increasing general awareness about the opportunities for cooperation across multiple sectors.
On the day-to-day basis, it means numerous meetings, interviews and various engagements with Bangladeshi government and private circles.
Q: Tell us about the stance of your government on the elections held on January 7.
The Ambassador: The voting process and the results of the 12th parliamentary elections were evaluated by the team of Russian observers who came to Dhaka and toured several polling stations in the capital.
At the press briefing, Andei Shutov, the head of the delegation and a member of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, concluded that the elections were open and democratic.
I am confident that our bilateral relations will receive a fresh impetus during the renewed tenure of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Government.
Q: How do you evaluate the existing relations between Russia and Bangladesh?
The Ambassador: Our countries have a long-standing friendship. Its foundation was laid in 1971, when the Soviet Union supported the struggle of the Bengali people for independence and provided political and economic assistance to the new state.
In 1972, our country was one of the first to recognize Bangladesh’s independence. In 1972-1974, Soviet military sailors de-mined the Chittagong port and cleared its waters of shipwrecks.
Since then, our relations have always been built on the principles of equality, mutual respect and consideration of each other’s interests. Our countries are also united by respect for international law, rejection of interference in the internal affairs, and similarity of approaches to many contemporary global and regional problems.
Political dialogue is progressively developing, including at the highest level. Thus, in 2013, President Vladimir Putin held talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Moscow.
In September 2023, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Dhaka, where he met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and had talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart AK Abdul Momen.
Speaking about economic cooperation, Bangladesh is the second largest Russia’s trade partner in South Asia after India. In 2021, trade turnover reached the historic height of $2,9 billion. In 2023 (as of November), it reached the $2,3 billion mark.
Q: Would you elaborate on key points about the opportunity for manpower employment in Russia from Bangladesh?
The Ambassador: Skilled manpower from Bangladesh is in demand in many countries, and Russia is no exception. In June, the first batch of Bangladeshi specialists left for Russia to work in shipbuilding and construction industries in the Primorye Territory in the Russian Far East.
We are ready to employ more Bangladeshi workers for construction, agriculture, hospitality sectors, etc.
However, this process should be in full compliance with national legislation, which requires certain agreements to be signed, such as the Intergovernmental Agreement on Readmission and its Implementing Protocol, which have been under consideration with the Bangladeshi side since 2011.
Q: How do you defy the allegation of a nuclear threat coming from Rooppur NPP?
The Ambassador: The Russian Federation is a renowned nuclear power, holding leading positions in the development of nuclear power. In our country, nuclear power plants have demonstrated reliable and safe operation in all areas of their activities throughout the entire period of operation. Since 1999, not a single serious safety violation has been recorded at Russian NPPs.
The high level of security of Russian NPPs, including in terms of anti-terrorist robustness, is based on many factors. These include the principle of reactor plant self-protection, the presence of several safety barriers and multiple duplication of control channels.
For example, the double protective shell of the reactor building is capable of withstanding the fall of a 400-tonne Boeing or a tsunami wave, while the melt trap located directly under the reactor reliably holds core melt fragments and prevents them from escaping beyond the hermetically sealed shell of the reactor building.
By most indicators, the integrated protection systems for generation III+ VVER reactors (pressurized water type reactor), which are used at the Rooppur NPP, are the best in the world.
NPPs are by far the most environmentally friendly source of energy. They do not pollute the environment with flue gases and ash, as well as do not discharge water that contain petroleum products.
Annual global consumption of uranium is about 70,000 tones, coal – 2 million tones, gas – more than 4 trillion cubic meters. NPPs generate significantly more electricity, while occupying smaller areas than, for example, wind and solar power plants.
To summarize, in terms of accident rates, modern nuclear power plants have very good reliability indicators, provided that the operator complies with the relevant international norms and standards.
Q: What is your observation about the livelihood and culture of the Bangladeshi people?
The Ambassador: The Bangladeshi people are friendly and open-minded, curious about many things, including Russian culture. It is always a pleasure to hear locals speaking and understanding Russian.
I am touched when my interlocutor says he has read Maxim Gorky, Anton Chekhov and Leo Tosltoy, or in the childhood used to watch Soviet films at our cultural center in Dhanmondi. Indeed, peoples of our countries have close spiritual affinity.
Bangladeshi culture is rich and special. Local artisans can create unique items from seemingly ordinary things.
It is remarkable that rickshaws and rickshaw painting in Dhaka have been inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
About Ambassador: Alexander Vikentyevich MANTYTSKIY was Born in 1955. He graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR in 1984. He speaks Hindi and English.
On May 19, 2021, MANTYTSKIY has been appointed as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Bangladesh. He is married and has two adult sons.
