Igor Ivanov requests visit with students at BSIS

Ex-Russian Foreign Minister Professor Igor Ivanov has requested a visit with students at the University of Kent's Brussels School of International Studies (BSIS) during his first visit to the city as a Director of Lukoil.

Professor Ivanov will speak to the students on Thursday 26 November about 'Russia's Role in Present World Politics'. His talk will be followed by a 30-40 minute Q&A.

Igor Ivanov is a Professor at Moscow State Institute for International Relations and a Director with Lukoil, Russia's largest oil and gas company. Previously, he was Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1998 to 2004, and from 2004 to 2007 Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. Of mixed Russian and Georgian parentage, he played a key role in mediating between the various sides during Georgia's 'Rose Revolution'. He was a vocal opponent of NATO intervention in Yugoslavia, as well as the US invasion of Iraq.

Professor Ivanov has also worked as a researcher at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations, USSR Academy of Sciences. He has published a number of studies and articles on the history of Russian foreign affairs and foreign policy. He regularly attends political and scientific gatherings both in Russia and abroad to speak on the most topical international issues. He has been honoured with numerous Russian and foreign orders.

Professor Roger Vickerman, Dean of the University of Kent at Brussels, said: 'I was pleased to learn that Professor Ivanov requested this visit with our students. I have no doubt that they will fulfil his expectations and provide him with a "dynamic, interesting, intelligent and well-informed audience" for what will undoubtedly be an insightful talk. I look forward to welcoming him to BSIS.'

BSIS is a specialist postgraduate institute for the study of international relations. It currently has 220 students from more than 60 countries. Previous guest speakers include: Lord Hannay, the former British Ambassador to the European Union and to the United Nations; Edward Mortimer, former Director of Communications in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations; and General Sir Mike Jackson, the former NATO commander in Kosovo and Head of the British Army.

Contact: mediaoffice@kent.ac.uk

Story published at 11:39am 17 November 2009