International Forum ‘Diplomacy Today: Ukraine's Role in Global Politics’

Today, the International Forum ‘Diplomacy Today: Ukraine's Role in Global Politics’ was held at the Educational and Research Institute of International Relations. This event was one of the main ones in the framework of the celebrations on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of our Institute. The forum was truly festive, as the alumni visited their alma mater: Ukrainian officials, diplomats and statesmen of other countries who graduated from our Institute in different years.

In his welcoming remarks to the Forum participants, Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, a graduate of the IIR, noted the exceptional achievements of the Institute in training specialists for our country, as well as for many countries around the world. This is especially noticeable today, when Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine has not only caused enormous damage to our country, but also destroyed the international security architecture that was built over decades after the Second World War. This, according to Andriy Yermak, is the greatest challenge for diplomacy, which can only be met with dignity by properly trained professionals, such as IIR graduates. From the first days of the war, Ukrainian diplomacy has been successfully fighting against the aggressor: building a broad coalition in support of the state, prosecuting Russian war criminals, and defending the rights of Ukrainians affected by Russian aggression in international institutions.

The Educational and Research Institute of International Relations has always taken a comprehensive approach to the training of international experts, said Valerii Kopiika, Director of the Institute, and its walls have produced top classical diplomats, the best international lawyers, experts in economic diplomacy and international business, information security and countering disinformation. The Institute's scientific schools, recognised worldwide, guarantee the reproduction of the high-quality human resources of the national diplomacy and the development of innovative approaches to diplomacy, which are so necessary in the context of the crisis of the international order. Graduates of the Institute in different parts of the world, who have reached heights in politics, business, and science, are not only a reason to be proud of the Institute's work. Our alumni are one of the most valuable resources of Ukrainian diplomacy, a reliable friendly rear guard of Ukraine, which contributes significantly to the protection of the state's interests in the difficult years of war.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiga spoke about the extraordinary role of the professional diplomatic school in protecting Ukraine's interests. He thanked the Institute of International Relations for maintaining the highest standards of training and reminded that seven ministers of foreign affairs of independent Ukraine were graduates of the Institute, and about 15% of the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also graduated from the IIR today. They, like all Ukrainian diplomats, are now defending the interests of the state and bringing our victory closer. Their work is extremely important for the whole world, because today ‘Ukraine is the epicentre of global geopolitical processes that will determine the future world order’. 

Alumni of the Institute addressed the Forum with words of support for Ukraine: former President of the Comoros Hamada Madi, Azerbaijani diplomat and GUAM Secretary General Altai Efendiyev, former Minister of Defence and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Gela Bezhuashvili, Georgian diplomat and former Secretary General of GUAM and BSEC Valeriy Chechelashvili.

The Forum was also attended by Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications Mykola Tochytskyi, Minister of Youth and Sports Matviy Bidnyi, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsia, former Brazilian Ambassador to Ukraine Norton de Andrade Mello Rapesta and Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine Masashi Nakagome.

We sincerely thank the co-organisers of the Forum - the Office of the President of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine - for their invaluable contribution to the undoubted success of the Forum. It was our joint efforts that made this event possible - despite the dangers of wartime, complex logistics and exhausting air raids. 

The Forum was broadcast live on the official Youtube channel of the Institute of International Relations, the recording of the broadcast can be viewed here Forum ‘Diplomacy Today: Ukraine's Role in Global Politics’ (28.11.2024).