Russia for beginners :: Authors

Thirty year career as diplomat in New Zealand foreign service. Ambassadorial rank. New Zealand Ambassador to Russia 2003-2006.

extensively experienced in international negotiations, both political, economic and environmental (sustainable management) and international development assistance, including drafting and negotiation of international agreements;
effective promoter of educational, cultural, economic and people-to-people links and networks;
respected analyst of foreign policy and international affairs (including publications)..

Experienced university lecturer (Russian politics, history and literature).

Speaks English, French and Russian.

Based in Moscow, in 2007 he established New Zealand consulting company Prior Group (www.priorgroup.com) specialising in promoting business between New Zealand, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Prior Group offers a broad range of specialist expertise in business consulting, tourism, agriculture, commerce and education. In conjunction with New Zealand-based partners, also offers New Zealand migration and investment advice.

New Zealand Ambassador, Moscow, 2003-2006

2003 (January) - 2006 (February) Ambassador of New Zealand to the Russian Federation with concurrent accreditations to Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

Responsible for oversight and management of New Zealand/Russia bilateral relations. Highlights of tenure of position included:

- negotiation on Russia’s entry to the World Trade Organisation in 2003, resulting in conclusion of bilateral goods agreement in September 2003. The New Zealand agreement was the first negotiated agreement to be signed in the Russian accession process.

- Oversight and management of New Zealand contribution to the G8 international programme for chemical weapons destruction in the Russian Federation and identification of New Zealand project involvement.

- Negotiation of bilateral Antarctic cooperation arrangement between New Zealand and Russia, the first such bilateral agreement signed by the Russian Federation (2005).

- Coordination and management of high-level New Zealand visits to Moscow – namely by delegation of Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament (April 2004); the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Trade and Agriculture, with accompanying business delegation (May 2004); the Governor-General of New Zealand (the first such visit at head-of-state level) (May 2005).

- Coordination management of visit to Vladivostok by a New Zealand Navy contingent (June 2005), the first visit ever by the New Zealand Navy to Russia;

- Support and promotion of business links and commercial relations between New Zealand and Russia.

- Development of tertiary-level education sector links;

- Active and effective promotion of cultural relations (visits of artists and musicians to Moscow)

- Contributed to publication on the history of the Mindovsky Mansion (Giraffe Publishers), the building of the New Zealand Embassy in Moscow (2003).

International Development Assistance 1999-2002

1999 (February) – 2002 (December) Deputy Manager of New Zealand’s international aid programme responsible for oversight and evaluation, based in Wellington. Responsible for management of strategy and policy components (including economic and political evaluation) of Ministerial review of New Zealand’s international aid activities in 2001, resulting in the creation of a new management organization, the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID).

Antarctic Policy 1992 -1999

1992 (November) -1999 (February) Specialist in charge of New Zealand’s Antarctic policy. Responsible for management of 1994 Ministerial-level review of New Zealand Antarctic policies and activities, and consequent reorganization of activities and restructuring of management to create new Government agency, the New Zealand Antarctic Institute (Antarctica New Zealand, 1996).

Led New Zealand delegations to international Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCMs) from 1994-1998. Responsible for development of significant international policy initiatives in environmental management, international scientific collaboration and international legislative practice in Antarctica.

1997 Publication on New Zealand’s Antarctic policy for Centre for Strategic Studies, Victoria University of Wellington – “Antarctica – View from a Gateway”, published as CSS Working Paper 5/97

Head of New Zealand delegation and co-manager of international Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Christchurch, May 1997 – particular policy focus on environmental management, including management of marine environment.

Coordinated and managed visit by Ministers and high-level representatives from 23 countries to Antarctica for international summit (“The Ministerial on Ice”) on Antarctic environmental management, January 1999.

Responsible for preparation and conclusion of several bilateral Antarctic policy agreements between New Zealand and Antarctic partners, including with countries of south America, South Africa, Australia, and the Russian Federation.

2000 – Member of three-person international team conducting review of the South African National Antarctic programme in Pretoria and Cape Town at the invitation of the Government of South Africa..

1993-1998 – Led New Zealand delegations as New Zealand Commissioner to the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Significant involvement in coordination of CCAMLR action against illegal, unregulated and unreported fisheries activities in Southern Ocean waters managed under the Convention. Ground-breaking work on developing management of New Zealand fisheries in CCAMLR waters with emphasis on balance between environmental protection and sustainable exploitation of marine living resources.

Presented numerous lectures on seminars on New Zealand and international Antarctic policy and environmental and conservation issues, scientific activities, international scientific cooperation, and commercial activities, including tourism.

Edited or contributed to several New Zealand Antarctic policy monographs, including the 1993 monograph “New Zealand and Antarctica Scientific Strategy”, the Ross Dependency Research Committee; and the 2001 publication (ISBN 0-478-10961-X) “State of the Environment Report for the Ross Sea Region of Antarctica”, the first such published national report by an Antarctic Treaty Party.

University

1972 Graduated BA (Honours 1) from Department of Russian Language and Literature, Otago University, Dunedin, New Zealand. Studied under Professor Nicholas V. Zisserman. Subject of honours dissertation: “Byliny”.

Victoria University of Wellington 1973-1976

1973-1975 Lecturer in Russian literature (specializing in 19^th century), researcher in Russian folklore, Department of Russian, Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand.

1983-84 and 1991-1996 Guest lecturer Department of Russian, Victoria University, teaching courses in Russian 19^th century literature and history

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1976-2006

1976 Joined New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Specialised in foreign policy work relating to the Soviet Union and international politics (with particular focus on defence and disarmament and security issues, Antarctica, international development assistance, and bilateral and international trade and economic issues).

Served at the New Zealand Embassy in Moscow twice (1978-1980; 2003-2006), the second time as Ambassador. Served in New Zealand diplomatic missions in Canberra (1977) and London (1985-1989).

1981-1983 Published numerous internal monographs on the Soviet economy and development of agriculture sector and international trading patterns.

May 1991 Commissioned by New Zealand’s foreign trade organization to prepare study of New Zealand trading opportunities in the USSR and Kazakhstan. (Fieldwork in Moscow in May/June 1991.) Study published July 1991 under title “Doing Business in the New Soviet Union”.

Presented lectures and seminars on the Soviet economy, domestic and foreign politics and New Zealand trade policy with the USSR, including policy with respect to bilateral fisheries relations.

Chapters TIPS Authors Order the book	Stuart Prior Thirty year career as diplomat in New Zealand foreign service. Ambassadorial rank. New Zealand Ambassador to Russia 2003-2006. extensively experienced in international negotiations, both political, economic and environmental (sustainable management) and international development assistance, including drafting and negotiation of international agreements; effective promoter of educational, cultural, economic and people-to-people links and networks; respected analyst of foreign policy and international affairs (including publications).. Experienced university lecturer (Russian politics, history and literature). Speaks English, French and Russian. Based in Moscow, in 2007 he established New Zealand consulting company Prior Group (www.priorgroup.com) specialising in promoting business between New Zealand, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Prior Group offers a broad range of specialist expertise in business consulting, tourism, agriculture, commerce and education. In conjunction with New Zealand-based partners, also offers New Zealand migration and investment advice. New Zealand Ambassador, Moscow, 2003-2006 2003 (January) - 2006 (February) Ambassador of New Zealand to the Russian Federation with concurrent accreditations to Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Responsible for oversight and management of New Zealand/Russia bilateral relations. Highlights of tenure of position included: - negotiation on Russia’s entry to the World Trade Organisation in 2003, resulting in conclusion of bilateral goods agreement in September 2003. The New Zealand agreement was the first negotiated agreement to be signed in the Russian accession process. - Oversight and management of New Zealand contribution to the G8 international programme for chemical weapons destruction in the Russian Federation and identification of New Zealand project involvement. - Negotiation of bilateral Antarctic cooperation arrangement between New Zealand and Russia, the first such bilateral agreement signed by the Russian Federation (2005). - Coordination and management of high-level New Zealand visits to Moscow – namely by delegation of Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament (April 2004); the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Trade and Agriculture, with accompanying business delegation (May 2004); the Governor-General of New Zealand (the first such visit at head-of-state level) (May 2005). - Coordination management of visit to Vladivostok by a New Zealand Navy contingent (June 2005), the first visit ever by the New Zealand Navy to Russia; - Support and promotion of business links and commercial relations between New Zealand and Russia. - Development of tertiary-level education sector links; - Active and effective promotion of cultural relations (visits of artists and musicians to Moscow) - Contributed to publication on the history of the Mindovsky Mansion (Giraffe Publishers), the building of the New Zealand Embassy in Moscow (2003). International Development Assistance 1999-2002 1999 (February) – 2002 (December) Deputy Manager of New Zealand’s international aid programme responsible for oversight and evaluation, based in Wellington. Responsible for management of strategy and policy components (including economic and political evaluation) of Ministerial review of New Zealand’s international aid activities in 2001, resulting in the creation of a new management organization, the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID). Antarctic Policy 1992 -1999 1992 (November) -1999 (February) Specialist in charge of New Zealand’s Antarctic policy. Responsible for management of 1994 Ministerial-level review of New Zealand Antarctic policies and activities, and consequent reorganization of activities and restructuring of management to create new Government agency, the New Zealand Antarctic Institute (Antarctica New Zealand, 1996). Led New Zealand delegations to international Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCMs) from 1994-1998. Responsible for development of significant international policy initiatives in environmental management, international scientific collaboration and international legislative practice in Antarctica. 1997 Publication on New Zealand’s Antarctic policy for Centre for Strategic Studies, Victoria University of Wellington – “Antarctica – View from a Gateway”, published as CSS Working Paper 5/97 Head of New Zealand delegation and co-manager of international Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Christchurch, May 1997 – particular policy focus on environmental management, including management of marine environment. Coordinated and managed visit by Ministers and high-level representatives from 23 countries to Antarctica for international summit (“The Ministerial on Ice”) on Antarctic environmental management, January 1999. Responsible for preparation and conclusion of several bilateral Antarctic policy agreements between New Zealand and Antarctic partners, including with countries of south America, South Africa, Australia, and the Russian Federation. 2000 – Member of three-person international team conducting review of the South African National Antarctic programme in Pretoria and Cape Town at the invitation of the Government of South Africa.. 1993-1998 – Led New Zealand delegations as New Zealand Commissioner to the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Significant involvement in coordination of CCAMLR action against illegal, unregulated and unreported fisheries activities in Southern Ocean waters managed under the Convention. Ground-breaking work on developing management of New Zealand fisheries in CCAMLR waters with emphasis on balance between environmental protection and sustainable exploitation of marine living resources. Presented numerous lectures on seminars on New Zealand and international Antarctic policy and environmental and conservation issues, scientific activities, international scientific cooperation, and commercial activities, including tourism. Edited or contributed to several New Zealand Antarctic policy monographs, including the 1993 monograph “New Zealand and Antarctica Scientific Strategy”, the Ross Dependency Research Committee; and the 2001 publication (ISBN 0-478-10961-X) “State of the Environment Report for the Ross Sea Region of Antarctica”, the first such published national report by an Antarctic Treaty Party. University 1972 Graduated BA (Honours 1) from Department of Russian Language and Literature, Otago University, Dunedin, New Zealand. Studied under Professor Nicholas V. Zisserman. Subject of honours dissertation: “Byliny”. Victoria University of Wellington 1973-1976 1973-1975 Lecturer in Russian literature (specializing in 19^th century), researcher in Russian folklore, Department of Russian, Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand. 1983-84 and 1991-1996 Guest lecturer Department of Russian, Victoria University, teaching courses in Russian 19^th century literature and history New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1976-2006 1976 Joined New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Specialised in foreign policy work relating to the Soviet Union and international politics (with particular focus on defence and disarmament and security issues, Antarctica, international development assistance, and bilateral and international trade and economic issues). Served at the New Zealand Embassy in Moscow twice (1978-1980; 2003-2006), the second time as Ambassador. Served in New Zealand diplomatic missions in Canberra (1977) and London (1985-1989). 1981-1983 Published numerous internal monographs on the Soviet economy and development of agriculture sector and international trading patterns. May 1991 Commissioned by New Zealand’s foreign trade organization to prepare study of New Zealand trading opportunities in the USSR and Kazakhstan. (Fieldwork in Moscow in May/June 1991.) Study published July 1991 under title “Doing Business in the New Soviet Union”. Presented lectures and seminars on the Soviet economy, domestic and foreign politics and New Zealand trade policy with the USSR, including policy with respect to bilateral fisheries relations.
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Stuart Prior