On April 30, the V International Diplomatic Forum “The Role of Diplomacy in the Current Conditions of Uncertainty” was held at the National University of Ostroh Academy.
Ukrainian and foreign diplomats representing 13 countries, various international organizations, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine gathered on the Academy’s platform. Among the participants were:
- Roben Herrero – Deputy Head of the Belgian Mission;
- Kayser Pimentel de Araujo – Advisor, Head of the Economic and Consular Departments of the Embassy of Brazil;
- Hossam Abdallah Nureldin Ali Kamaleldin – Consul of the Embassy of Egypt;
- Irakli Modebadze – Advisor at the Embassy of Georgia;
- Ravi Shankar – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India;
- Arief Muhammad Basalamah – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Indonesia;
- Audencio Contreras Gonzalez – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mexico;
- Nadir Khan – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Pakistan;
- Samir Abu Kharoub – Administrative Officer of the Embassy of Palestine;
- Dragomíra Trnovtsová – First Secretary of the Embassy of Slovakia;
- Volodymyr Ohryzko – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (2007–2009);
- Roman Mehela – Honorary Consul of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Zakarpattia, Lviv, and Rivne regions;
- Halyna Masliuk – Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan in Lviv;
- Iryna Ivashchuk – Honorary Consul of Senegal in Ukraine;
- Tetiana Sybiha – Founder of the Association of Spouses of Ukrainian Diplomats, Head of the Public Diplomacy Center of the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine named after Hennadiy Udovenko at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
The Forum was co-organized by the National University of Ostroh Academy and the State Enterprise “Directorate-General for Rendering Services to Diplomatic Missions.” Its main goal was to create a platform for discussion and exchange of ideas on the transformational challenges faced by next-generation diplomacy.
The event brought together leading public figures, government officials, representatives of foreign diplomatic missions, international organizations, professors, and students. The participants engaged in open dialogue, shared professional experiences, and expressed their views on how to overcome global challenges.
Opening remarks were delivered by:
- Ihor Pasichnyk, President of Ostroh Academy, Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Professor;
- Eduard Balashov, Rector of Ostroh Academy, Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Professor;
- Andriy Sybiha, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine;
- Oleksandr Koval, Head of Rivne Regional State Administration;
- Pavlo Kryvonos, Director General of SE “GDIP,” Honorary Professor of Ostroh Academy;
- Antonio Gazzanti Pugliese di Cotrone, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
“Ostroh Academy and the Directorate-General for Rendering Services to Diplomatic Missions have been implementing the diplomatic forum for five years now. During this time, we’ve seen how effective such events are in providing practical value for Ukraine and the participating countries. The Forum must play a significant role in strengthening economic, political, and cultural ties between our nations. This is a small, yet vital contribution to Ukraine’s victory,”
— stated Ihor Pasichnyk.“Ostroh Academy is proud of its achievements: international academic partnerships, innovative educational programs, high-level scientific research, and graduates who hold honorable positions in governments, corporations, and international organizations. Today's forum is a strong example of effective cooperation between science and diplomacy, enabling us to involve leading diplomats and international experts in our projects. This partnership creates unique opportunities for our students. I am confident that initiatives like this forum are shaping the future,”
— emphasized Eduard Balashov.
Students and professors of Ostroh Academy actively participated in the discussions, raising many relevant and insightful questions. The topics included building a successful diplomatic career, the influence of mass media on diplomacy, study opportunities within the philanthropic interdisciplinary master’s program “Global Communication Management” for students from participating countries, and implementation of joint youth projects.
Angelina Kyrychuk, a third-year student of the Institute of Linguistics, shared her impressions:
“Today’s forum is a valuable opportunity for us, students, to meet new people, learn from their experience, and get inspired. That’s the most valuable thing we can gain. I am grateful to Ostroh Academy for creating a space where ideas are born, futures are shaped, and new horizons open.”
