IVANOV, IGOR SERGEYEVICH

(1945– )

The successor toYevgeny Primakov, Igor Ivanov served as the foreign minister of the Russian Federation from 1998 until 2004. He was previously Russia’s ambassador to Spain. Half Georgian, he played an important role in mediating betweenEduard Shevardnadzeand the opposition during the so-calledRose RevolutioninGeorgia. During his tenure, Russia took an increasingly critical opinion of Iran’s nuclear program, stating “the clock must be stopped”; he also spearheaded Russian condemnation of theUnited States–led invasion of Iraq.Vladimir Putinappointed Ivanov secretary of the Security Council in 2004; he was succeeded bySergey Lavrov. In 2007, he stepped down from government service.

See alsoForeign relations.