New Zealand Ambassador presents credentials to Russian President

The newly-arrived New Zealand Ambassador to Russia, Ian Hill, presented his credentials to the Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev on 12 October 2009 in a formal ceremony in the Alexander Hall at the Kremlin. The ceremony officially marked the start of Mr Hill’s three-year assignment in the Russian Federation. The new Ambassador will also be accredited to, and have responsibility for New Zealand’s relations with Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

President Medvedev commented during the ceremony that Russia and New Zealand have friendly relations, and expressed a desire in building trade, economic and people-to-people ties. The full text of President Medvedev’s speech can be found at the web-page of President of Russia.

Ian Hill is a career diplomat with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is his second assignment in Russia, his first being from 1982 - 1984. He is a Russian speaker. He has served most recently as Deputy Chief of Mission at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington D.C. (2004-2009), and in earlier assignments as New Zealand’s High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Tonga, and in New Zealand diplomatic missions in London and Fiji. Mr Hill was also the Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser in Wellington from 1993 to 1995.

Ambassador Hill replaces the previous Ambassador Chris Elder, who is now acting Ambassador to Germany.