Presentation of Viktor VOITOVICH's book "About the Official Unofficially. Behind the Scenes of High-Level Visits (Translation Notes of a Diplomat)"

On 30 September 2025, on the occasion of International Translation Day, a presentation of the book by Ukrainian career diplomat and translator Viktor VOITOVICH, "About the Official Unofficially. Behind the Scenes of High-Level Visits (Translation Notes of a Diplomat), organised by the Department of International Organisations in the Diplomatic Service and the Centre for Public and Cultural Diplomacy of the Institute of International Relations and Diplomacy.

The presentation was attended by the author of the book, Viktor Vasylovych VOITOVYCH, Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine to UNESCO (Paris, France, 2013-2017), Counsellor-Envoy of the Embassy of Ukraine in the French Republic, Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Envoy of the 2nd class, graduate of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Volodymyr Volodymyrovych YATSENKIVSKYI – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Ambassador-at-Large of the Political Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Valery Ivanovich TSYBUCH – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Association of Foreign Policy, teaching staff of the Department of Foreign Languages of the Institute of International Relations, headed by the head of the department, Professor Valentina Viktorovna DAINEKO, as well as Natalia PAVLYUK – Chair of the Ukrainian Association of Translators, representatives of the Ukrainian Institute, higher education institutions, and students. The event was moderated by the Head of the Department of International Organisations and Diplomatic Service, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Viktor Matvienko. The Department of International Organisations and Diplomatic Service was represented by Prof. Nataliia Leonidivna YAKOVENKO, Associate Prof. Vyacheslav Hryhorovych TSIVATYI, Associate Prof. Nataliia Mykhailivna RYLAKH, and others.

The author shared his memories, observations, comments, and experience of providing translation services for official negotiations during visits by heads of state, governments, parliaments, foreign ministries, and sectoral ministries as a direct participant in the most important foreign policy and diplomatic events of Ukraine's independence in the field of bilateral relations between Ukraine and France, as well as within the framework of leading international organisations in Kyiv, Paris, and Strasbourg.

It was extremely important for the participants of the meeting to receive answers to their questions and practical advice based on the translator's experience, in particular:

• the importance of preparing for each meeting and visit in advance, creating your own glossary of diplomatic and political terms, and working out the agenda for the upcoming meeting.

"A diplomatic translator must have maximum knowledge on a maximum range of issues" (Viktor Voitovich).

During the exchange of views, Ambassador-at-Large of the Political Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador Volodymyr YATSENKIVSKYI noted the extraordinary responsibility of a diplomatic interpreter not only for the correct transmission of the content of the conversation, but also for conveying the emotional component and attempting to predict the reaction of the interlocutor.

"A translator-diplomat is someone who is at the forefront of the diplomatic corps" (Viktor Voitovich).

Valerii TSYBUCH, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Association of International Relations, supported his colleague's words. He said that this publication is extremely useful for the future generation of diplomats, students of the Institute of International Relations and other higher education institutions, and students of the School of Young Ukrainian Diplomats, because the role of translators in political and diplomatic processes is significant.

The Department of International Organisations and Diplomatic Service and the Centre for Public and Cultural Diplomacy of the Institute of International Relations and Diplomacy would like to express their sincere gratitude to the author, Viktor VOITOVICH, and all participants in this inspiring presentation.