Today, this Thursday September 18, 2008 in the morning, took place at The Kremlin in Moscow, Russian Federation, an official ceremony during which H.E. Prof. Dr. Slobodan Backović, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Montenegro to the Russian Federation, presented his letters of credence to the President of Russia, H.E. Mr. Dmitri Anatolievitch Medvedev.

Russian President Medvedev, after welcoming H.E. Ambassador Backović and congratulating him on the beginning of his diplomatic mission in the country, praised the friendly and dynamic development of relations between Russia and Montenegro, underscoring the warm hospitality accorded to the thousands of Russian tourists that already visited Montenegro. The Head of State also added that the common agenda of Russia with Montenegro notably includes the reinforcement of trade and economic ties based on the existing potential in the local economy and the favourable entrepreneurship environment, and the expansion of contacts in the cultural and educational spheres.

As for him, H.E. Ambassador Backović after extending his thanks to President Medvedev, stressed the historical and cultural values that link Slavic people from Southern and Eastern Europe, adding that he will work to further enhance the long-time anchored relationships between Montenegro and Russia, in all the fields of political co-operation as well as mutually beneficial economic partnerships.

Former Minister of Education and Science, notably responsible for the implementation of language reform in Montenegro’s elementary and secondary education, H.E. Prof. Dr. Slobodan Backović is the first Montenegrin Ambassador to the Russian Federation since the establishment of diplomatic relations on June 26, 2006, after Montenegro left the State Union with Serbia following the May 21 referendum. Russia was the third country to recognise Montenegro’s independence, on June 11, after Iceland and Switzerland.
PhD graduated in nuclear physics from the Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Belgrade, Ambassador Backović spent several years in Russia, working at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna. He is member, among other activities, of the Doclean Academy of Sciences and Arts and of the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts.