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 Monaco |  Russia |
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Monaco–Russia relations (Russian:российско-монакские отношения,French:Relations entre Monaco et la Russie) is thebilateral relationship between thePrincipality of Monaco and theRussian Federation.
Relations between the two countries date back to the reigns ofPrince Charles III of Monaco andTsarAlexander II ofRussia. During this period the two nations signed numerous treaties and agreements, including the extradition of criminals, mutual legal assistance, recognition of the civil status of people and for medical aid. After the establishment of theOrder of Saint-Charles in Monaco in 1858, Tsar Alexander II became the first member of a royal family to be bestowed the Monegasque award.[1] In 1877, Charles III appointed Chevalier Jean Plancher as the MonegasqueConsul inSaint Petersburg.[2]
Following theRussian Revolution of 1917 relations between the two states were suspended. Prior to the admission of Monaco into theUnited Nations in 1993, the establishment of diplomatic relations with theSoviet Union was not a priority, however, the two states maintained contacts via theSoviet Embassy in Paris and theEmbassy of France in Moscow.[1]
Monaco and the Russian Federation established consular relations in July 1996.[1] In 2002,Prince Rainier III appointed Nikolai Orlov as Monaco's honorary consulate inSaint Petersburg, and Albert II travelled to the city to open the honorary consulate on 31 July 2003.[1][2] On 13 April 2006,Russian presidentVladimir Putin signed apresidential decree directing theRussian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to begin negotiations with their Monegasque counterparts with a view to establishing full diplomatic relations between the two states.[3] Diplomatic relations between the two states were established on 11 July 2006 after the exchange of notes between the Russian and Monegasque embassies inParis.[4] On 16 March 2007,Aleksandr Avdeyev was appointed as Russian ambassador to Monaco, in concurrence with his posting asAmbassador of Russia to France.[5] Diplomatic relations between the two states were established on 10 April 2007.[6]
The current ambassador of Russia to Monaco is Alexander Orlov, who was appointed by Russian presidentDmitry Medvedev on 1 December 2008.[7] Orlov, who is resident of Paris, presented his credentials toAlbert II, Prince of Monaco on 24 March 2009 at thePrince's Palace of Monaco.[6][8] The current ambassador of Monaco to Russia is Claude Giordan, with residence inBerlin, who presented his credentials to Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Titov inMoscow on 12 June 2009.[8][9]
On 12 August 2007, Russian president Vladimir Putin hosted Albert II atPeterhof inSaint Petersburg, where Putin thanked the Monegasque prince for his support forRussia's successful bid for the2014 Winter Olympics inSochi on theBlack Sea.[10] In what was seen as a sign of Putin's gratitude, the following day the two leaders travelled toTuva in southernSiberia.[11] Whilst in Tuva, the two leaders visited thePor-Bazhyn fortress where an archaeological dig was underway, and went on a rafting and fishing trip on theYenisei River.[10] During the trip, Albert was presented with twoBaikal seals fromAlexander Tishanin, the governor of Irkutsk Oblast, which were later placed in a home at Monaco'sOceanographic Museum.[12]
According to a former adviser to Albert II, in a sign of the increasing friendship between Putin and Albert II, Russian officials sent a team of builders to Monaco in 2008 to erect a three-bedroomdacha in the garden of Albert's estate, located in the hills behindMonte Carlo.[13]
Monaco's status as atax haven has turned thePrincipality into a favourite playground for rich Russians.[13] There are currently four Russian enterprises doing business on the territory of Monaco.[1]
Trade turnover between the two nations is nominal, reaching approximately€1 million per year. Russian exports to Monaco are food products, optical instruments and devices, and clocks and watches. Monegasque exports to Russia are food products, clothing, automobiles and perfumery products.[1]
Cultural relations between Monaco and Russia date back to the beginning of the twentieth century. Between 1911 and 1929,Sergei Diaghilev'sBallets Russes was staged in Monaco.[1] To mark the centennial of Ballets Russes performances in Monaco, in 2009–2010, theMonte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra staged concerts marking the works of Diaghilev, which include performances ofPetrushka,Le Sacre du printemps,Daphnis et Chloé,Shéhérazade andL'Oiseau de feu. TheLouis Notari Library will also have an exhibition on Diaghilev and his troupe.[14]
Since thedissolution of the Soviet Union, various famous Russian cultural organisations have toured to Monaco, including theBolshoi Ballet,Mariinsky Ballet,Red Army Choir and Dance Ensemble, amongst others.[1]
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