Livanov's business qualities to help him build, revive economic relations with Ukraine
BELBEK AIRPORT, Sevastopol. Aug 19 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has called Dmitry Livanov a man with character, while Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Livanov's experience will be in demand, given his ministerial achievements.
At a working meeting with the prime minister, the president agreed to the appointment of presidential administration official Olga Vasilyeva as Russia's new Minister of Education and Science.
Livanov's experience "will, certainly, be in demand because has done a great deal of new and useful things in the Education Ministry's system," Medvedev said, noting among his achievements the development of secondary education, the reform of the Academy of Sciences, and several others.
Putin also noted Livanov's achievements, calling him "a man with character." "No doubt his experience must be used in other fields and spheres, too. He will be offered a job as the Russian president's special representative for trade and economic relations with Ukraine," the president said.
Livanov "is a non-military person. If our colleagues are frightened by people who served in the army, Dmitry Viktorovich is a purely civilian person, with substantial experience in public service," Putin said.
"I think his personal business qualities will help build and revive the economic relations with our neighbor, which is important for us," the president said.
"As for our diplomatic representative, the ambassador [to Ukraine], we'll talk about it separately. But the development of trade and economic relations must be within the field of our constant scrutiny," Putin said.
Dmitry Livanov was born in Moscow on February 15, 1967. He graduated with honors from the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys, with a major in the Physics of Metals (1990), received a postgraduate degree (1992), a law degree from the Moscow State Academy of Law (2003) and a doctorate degree in physics and mathematics (1997).
In 1992-2000, Livanov worked as a senior research fellow at a synthesis research laboratory of the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys and as associate professor at the Institute's Department of Theoretical Physics. In 1997-2000, he served as the Institute's deputy pro-rector in charge of scientific research.
In 2000-2004, he was promoted as Pro-rector for international cooperation and Professor at the Department of Theoretical Physics (both positions held simultaneously).
In April 2004, he became professor at the Institute's Department of non-ferrous metals.
From May 2004 to November 2005, he led the Department of State Scientific-Technical and Innovative Policies at the Russian Ministry of Education and Science.
From November 2005 to March 2007 - Deputy Minister of Education and Science.
In April 2007, Livanov was appointed Rector of the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys, re-elected to this position in February 2012.
On May 21, 2012, Livanov was appointed Russian Minister of Education and Science.
