@John: Sergey Lavrov --- Yes, I can confirm that Sergey Lavrov is an accomplished diplomat. I know him since the time he was the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United Nations - New York and I was serving in the Permanent Mission of Romania. In official circumstances mainly, but also in one or two working lunches or dinners.

He is indeed a diplomat who does not have to lie abroad for the good of his country. He has this gift to translate political language or national interest into international law language.

Unfortunately, in my part of the world, in the context of this new cold war, Sergey Lavrov is never quoted by the main stream media. We could hear what NATO or EU officials say, word by word, but never Lavrov. At the most, he is paraphrased in a way to suggest that Russia is always the devil who challenges the Western angels.

A good diplomat should not report like media, but in a balanced way, which would make the decision-makers know all the arguments of the interlocutor.

The old maxim 'Audiatur et altera pars!' is often ignored.

Source author: Petru Dumitriu PetruD@diplomacy.edu