On the eve of International Women's Day, Ivan Volynkin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Turkmenistan, has prepared a special article for ORIENT readers. In his opinion piece, the head of the Russian diplomatic mission reflects on how women have changed the face of global politics, combining a steely will and sensitive soul. The Russian Ambassador's article explores the great predecessors, the current leaders of the two countries' Foreign Ministries, and why "new-era diplomacy" is impossible without women's participation.

Extraordinary and Successful Women in Diplomacy

In anticipation of International Women's Day, a holiday that has become a symbol of femininity, beauty, and tenderness and is warmly celebrated in both Russia and Turkmenistan, I would like to highlight several outstanding representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

A prominent place among these women is occupied by Alexandra Mikhailovna Kollontai, a prominent statesman and political figure, and the world's first female ambassador. Her name is directly linked to the origins of Women's Day. In 1910, Kollontai represented Russia at the Second International Conference of Socialist Women in Copenhagen, where March 8th received its international status.

Subsequently, having headed the Soviet mission in Norway, Alexandra Mikhailovna radically changed the image of diplomacy, previously considered an exclusively male domain. Among her foreign policy victories, one can note the establishment of economic ties between the young Soviet state and the Land of the Fjords, which ultimately led to Norway's official recognition of the Soviet Union. She also actively worked to neutralize Nazi Germany's influence in the Scandinavian Peninsula, facilitated the conclusion of a peace treaty between the USSR and Finland in 1940, and participated in the negotiations for Helsinki's withdrawal from World War II in 1944. The recognition of her achievements and professionalism in Northern Europe is eloquently demonstrated by the fact that A.M. Kollontai was twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1946 and 1947, on the initiative of Finnish, Swedish, and Norwegian parliamentarians and public figures.

Moreover, thanks to the reforms she initiated as People's Commissar for Public Welfare (as the Minister of Social Protection was then known), paid maternity leave was legally mandated for the first time in the world in the young Soviet republic in 1917-1918, and nurseries, kindergartens, and free maternity hospitals were established.

As the years passed, other successful female diplomats began to represent our country on the international stage. Among them is Valentina Ivanovna Matviyenko, who is currently the Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and continues to actively work on maternal and child welfare as the head of the Presidential Council for the Implementation of State Demographic Policy. During her service at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she held high-ranking positions in the Ministry's Central Office and also headed Russian diplomatic missions in Malta and Greece.

It's worth noting that Valentina Ivanovna has known and maintained a good relationship with National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Myalikgulyevich Berdimuhamedov, for many years. For her exceptional contributions to strengthening friendly ties between the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan and expanding political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries, she was awarded the title of "Honorary Citizen of the City of Ashgabat."

A prominent representative of the "diplomacy of the new era" is the first female official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova. She is rightfully considered one of the most prominent figures in our profession. Having personally known her, I can say that Maria Vladimirovna has always been distinguished by her incredible work ethic, broad perspective, and sincere dedication to her work. These qualities, coupled with other extraordinary talents, have enabled her to elevate the information support of our country's foreign policy activities to the highest level. In her own unrivaled style, M.V. Zakharova makes a significant contribution to strengthening Russia's position in the global media landscape, exposing Russophobic fakes, and masterfully parrying even the most challenging and inconvenient questions during briefings.

These women have proven that, having experienced the joys of motherhood while remaining women, one can become successful leaders and diplomats, combining sensitivity and flexibility, phenomenal energy, and the highest level of competence. They are role models for our Embassy staff and other young women who have chosen the path of serving their homeland.

I would also like to point out that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan also employs talented female diplomats who make a significant contribution to the development of the country's foreign policy. Among them are Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Myahri Khozhamgulyevna Byashimova, who was included in the top 40 female leaders of Central Asia in 2023, and Aksoltan Toreyevna Atayeva, who headed Turkmenistan's Permanent Mission to the UN for over 30 years and served as the dean of the diplomatic corps in New York.

During major international events in Turkmenistan, our Embassy is pleased to collaborate with other outstanding representatives of the Turkmen Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who consistently demonstrate their skills as highly qualified specialists and talented organizers.

In general, diplomacy has become a highly multifaceted profession. In today's world, establishing humanitarian ties between states doesn't necessarily require working directly in the foreign ministry. A striking example of this is the work of Oguljahan Gurbangulyyevna Atabayeva as Vice President for Medical Affairs at the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Care. Numerous events organized by this organization traditionally feature broad international participation and are aimed, among other things, at developing cultural and humanitarian cooperation between countries. The foundation's noble efforts to assist minors, regardless of their place of residence, have received the highest praise in the Russian Federation.

...In conclusion, I would like to turn to one of A.M. Kollontai's quotes, revealing her perspective on our challenging yet rewarding service. She said that "a diplomat who has not made friends for his country cannot be called a diplomat." In this regard, it is significant that relations between Russia and Turkmenistan have always developed successfully in a spirit of friendship and mutual respect. I have every reason to believe that our diplomatic efforts will continue to make a significant contribution to strengthening our bilateral strategic partnership.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the fair sex reading these lines on International Women's Day. On this festive day, I sincerely wish you a springtime mood, prosperity, harmony, and unfading beauty. May love and mutual understanding always reign in your homes, and may each new day be filled with joy and smiles.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Turkmenistan Ivan Volynkin