Students and faculty of Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy took part in the final (fourth) event of this year’s project “Women in Diplomacy: Challenge or Mission?”

The topic of the meeting was: “How much does knowledge of protocol and etiquette matter?”.

The Educational-Scientific Institute of International Relations, History and Philosophy is an academic partner of the second cycle of the mentioned project (the first was held in March–June 2024).

The moderator of the meeting was the project initiator, Professor Iryna Matiash, Head of the Scientific Society of History of Diplomacy and International Relations. The meeting was opened by Rostyslav Tronenko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Mozambique, and former Ambassador of Ukraine to the Portuguese Republic (2005–2010) and to the Federative Republic of Brazil (2012–2021). In his speech, he emphasized the importance of the project’s implementation and the relevance of the chosen topic, given the responsibility of diplomatic missions for establishing effective communication between heads of state. Adherence to ceremonial traditions and knowledge of a country’s history and culture, as a manifestation of respect for the people, play a significant role in building good neighbourly relations and communication between countries.

Prominent diplomats were invited to participate in the discussion:

• Oksana Dramaretska, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United Mexican States and, concurrently, to Guatemala, Costa Rica, Belize, and Panama. In her presentation, she outlined the specifics of diplomatic protocol in Central American countries and emphasized the strong support for Ukraine from the citizens of these states in its confrontation with russia.
• Liudmyla Nedilska, diplomat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (Department of Consular Service, First Territorial Department), Consul, Acting Consul General of Ukraine in Toronto (2014–2016), Associate Professor of the Department of Information and Socio-Cultural Activities of West Ukrainian National University, Candidate of Political Sciences. Ms. Liudmyla provided a solid theoretical basis for the principles of diplomatic protocol and shared her practical experience of diplomatic work in Turkey.
• Oleh Shamshur, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United States (2005–2010), to France (2014–2020), Permanent Delegate of Ukraine to UNESCO (2014–2020), Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (2004–2005). In his speech, the diplomat emphasized the importance of interpersonal contacts in the formation of interstate communication traditions. Understanding the country’s policy, he noted, comes through understanding one’s fellow diplomats.
• Tetiana Izhevska, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Holy See (2007–2020) and to the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta (2009–2020, part-time), Deputy Head of the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO. Ms. Tetiana spoke about the subtleties of diplomatic protocol at the Holy See, emphasizing the significance of traditions that have a special symbolic and substantive meaning.

The participants of the event had the opportunity to ask the speakers open questions, to agree on future public meetings and lectures. The first-year bachelor’s and master’s students of the educational programme “International Relations, Public Communications, and Regional Studies” were particularly active. Such communication formats contribute to the development of students’ educational, intellectual, and professional potential.

We invite you to watch all the meetings of the cycle on the YouTube channel of the Scientific Society of History of Diplomacy and International Relations:

The project coordinator from the Educational-Scientific Institute of International Relations, History and Philosophy at Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy is Professor Natalka Zemziulina.

The Educational-Scientific Institute of International Relations, History and Philosophy