Maria Zakharova met with Samara students on the eve of Diplomatic Worker's Day

---

On February 10, Diplomatic Worker's Day is celebrated in Russia. On the eve of the holiday, a meeting with Maria Zakharova, Director of the Information and Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Official Representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, was held at the Samara region's stand at the RUSSIA EXPO. The meeting was attended by students of the Korolev Samara State University, as well as students from Samara who are studying at Moscow universities.

Maria Zakharova, who is an ambassador of the Samara region at the RUSSIA EXPO, spoke about the history of her family - her grandfather Yuri Ivanovich Zakharov was born on the Samara land, in the village of Stepnaya Shentala, she also shared with the students her memories of visiting the Samara region, her student life, studies and work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In her speech Maria Vladimirovna also touched upon the themes of love for the Motherland, the importance of knowing the history of one's country and understanding one's participation in its development.

Students addressed to the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a variety of questions - related to the professional activities of diplomats and interaction with foreign colleagues, as well as the prospects for the development of different spheres and industries in our country.

"Diplomacy is based not only on abilities and highly professional knowledge and skills. It is also a special responsibility to our historical past, to our ancestors who went through a difficult path so that we could live in this country, so that we would have these resources, so that we would be able to say what is good and what is bad for us," Maria Zakharova emphasized.

The students were also interested in the significance of such major projects as the RUSSIA EXPO not only for the country's residents, but also for foreigners.

"The fact that the exposition took place is a breakthrough. If employees of the Russian Foreign Ministry visit different regions of the country as part of their job, then for a foreign diplomatic corps, for example, the exposition is a unique opportunity to see the potential for cooperation," said Maria Zakharova.

Maria Zakharova has the diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia and is one of the most popular Russian diplomats. In 2015, she became the first woman in the history of the Foreign Ministry to be appointed to the post of the ministry's official representative.

"Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova is one of the diplomats that all foreign affairs specialists in the country and foreign affairs specialists at Samara University can look up to. It was very important to hear her opinion and learn from her," Polina Nechetova, a student of Samara State University shared her impressions of the meeting.