Over the last year, Russia has tried on several occasions to play a more visible diplomatic role in the Arab Spring uprisings, on several occasions dispatching diplomats to Libya in an ultimately futile effort to broker a deal between Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi and rebel fighters.
But with the United States likely to demand tougher sanctions against Iran next month in the United Nations Security Council if Iran does not comply with international controls on its nuclear activities, Mr. Putin's visit is seen by European diplomats as an attempt by Moscow to carve out some kind of diplomatic role on the nuclear issue.
Apart from his diplomatic role, Agricola took only limited interest in politics.
Museums do not usually play the kind of international, even diplomatic role MacGregor has carved out for the British Museum.
Russia still hopes to play a diplomatic role with Assad, a long-term ally and customer of Moscow's arms exports.
"We see this as a way of combining our passion for art with our new diplomatic role".
Against the backdrop of the Assad government's growing isolation, Russia appeared to be playing a more active diplomatic role.
He also played a major diplomatic role in the attempt to reconcile the Greek and Latin churches.
While a host of nations and international organizations have condemned the violence, China could play a unique diplomatic role.
The prince knows the emir and his wife extremely well and the meeting would have happened anyway as part of his royal and diplomatic role.
Of his first tour as captain – which has taken on an extra diplomatic role given the heavy security detail – Buttler said: "I have enjoyed the challenge.
