Major reshuffles expected at Russian Foreign Ministry soon - newspaper
MOSCOW. Feb 6 (Interfax) - The Russian Foreign Ministry system will see quite significant reshuffles in the near future, Kommersant reported on Wednesday with reference to sources at the presidential secretariat, the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry.
"Russian Ambassador to China Sergei Razov, who has served in this capacity since June 2005, may be appointed to fill the vacant position of ambassador to Italy in the near future," one of the sources said.
First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov is likely to become ambassador to China instead of Razov, he said.
"Considering how relations are developing with the U.S. now, it is extremely important for us to explore other avenues as well. China is among the priorities, and therefore we need a person understanding the region's specifics just as well," one of the sources said.
It is unclear so far who will replace Denisov.
Kommersant suggested that this could be Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov, who currently supervises relations with European countries.
If Titov is promoted, Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov, who is responsible for international cooperation, may be appointed in his stead, Kommersant said.
However, sources from the presidential secretariat said no final decision has yet been made regarding Antonov's return to the Foreign Ministry.
"This option is only being considered now," a Kommersant source said.
"There are other candidates in the Foreign Ministry system," he added.
Meanwhile, a source from Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's secretariat told Kommersant that no documents have so far been sent to the presidential secretariat on Antonov's transfer.
"He is quite a strong negotiator, and it would be difficult to find another such. But, if need be, we'll look for a replacement," the Defense Ministry source said.
Sources from the presidential secretariat and the Foreign Ministry told Kommersant that a decision on a candidate for a deputy foreign minister for relations with European countries will be made in summer.
