Fashion of Diplomacy #15 ENG

“We were and we remain consistent and reliable partners for our friends in the world”

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY The President of Ukraine

GolfStream — a real paradise in the picturesque country nature

Green Tourism Center, GolfStream, is the largest ecoobject in Ukraine. The development of the project was launched in 2008. Since then it has occupied a privileged place in the field of sports and rest in Ukraine. A magnificent Club House with contemporary architecture and diverse locations, world-class grandiose golf courses, Golf Academy for all the players, regardless of age and gender, children’s recreation camp, comfortable and elite cottages and apartments of Golf Village. This is new quality elite rest! Here are the perfect conditions for organizing an interesting and active rest, living, studying and playing golf for the whole family.

+38 095 550 99 11 Event: +38 095 471 88 44 Golf Village: +38 095 471 77 88 Reception:

Ukraine, Kyiv region, Makariv district, Havronshchyna village KievGolfClub@gmail.com

Kyiv, Yaroslaviv Val Street, 58

EDITOR’S WORD: In June we celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the first release of the Fashion of Diplomacy.

For us, it was a very special and exciting moment. During this time, the magazine has grown into a large-scale project. And there is still a lot of interesting things ahead. The new stage begins not only for us, but also for our country. We have to withstand this period of political turbulence and meet it with dignity as a state, as a nation, as citizens, as people.

There are many challenges that everyone is facing – including the President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and each of us. But whatever we do, we must keep in mind our common goal – united and indivisible Ukraine. When we are together, nobody will overcome us.

Sincerely Yours, Editor-in-Chief of the “Fashion of Diplomacy” Anna Avramenko

«Fashion of Diplomacy» №15

Editorial adress: prosp. Stepana Bandery, 21, office 521, Kyiv

Editor-in-Chief — Anna Avramenko

Publisher — LLC «AMEDIA COMPANY»

The issue was realized by: Oleh Yanchenko, Alina Archypova, Nataliya Zatyshna, Kateryna Zavyalova, Karine Hevondyan, Olha Bilousova

Printed in LLC «Univest Marketing» Company

Designer — Artem Shulga Literary editor — Natalina Zelinska, Natalia Germanovich Translation into English — Aksinia Sinko Photographer — Yevhenii Zatyshny, Yurii Bondarev Additional photo materials are provided by: Google source, www.freepik.com, www.thenounproject.com Concerning advertising, please, call +38 /044/ 228 06 48; +38 /094/ 828 06 48 info@fashion-diplomacy.com www.fashion-diplomacy.com uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Модна_дипломатія

Circulation — 5 000 copies Certificate of State Registration of the print media KV № 22712-12612Р as of May 30, 2017 The editorial board of the magazine is not responsible for the stylistics and reliability of the information contained in the promotional materials.

The authors of the publications are responsible for the authenticity of the facts and personal names.

The opinion of the publisher and the editorial board may not coincide with the views of the authors of the materials published in the magazine.

Full or partial use of the materials is possible with the written consent of the editorial board and with reference to the magazine.

All materials are protected by the copyright law of Ukraine.

*Mayachok Event Hall (call cost according to tariffs of your operator)

IN THIS ISSUE:

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20 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE OF UDC UKRAINIAN DIAMOND CENTER David Ben Nun, President at UDC UKRAINIAN DIAMOND CENTER.

“TODAY, RELATIONS BETWEEN UKRAINE AND THE UAE ARE ACTIVELY DEVELOPING AND IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THEY HAVE REACHED THE STRATEGIC LEVEL”.

H.E. Eng. Salem Ahmed Al-Kaabi – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates in Ukraine.

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10 “KYIV REGION “KYIVSHCHYNA” IS, FIRST OF ALL, THE CAPITAL REGION IN THE CENTER OF UKRAINE, WHICH ALREADY A PRIORI HAS CERTAIN ADVANTAGES FOR THE INVESTOR”.

Oleksander Pokryshka, the Head of Investors Rights Protection Office of Kyiv Region.

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NEW INFI SOFTWARE PRODUCT IS ALREADY IN UKRAINE. Gerhard Frieze, the founder of the INFI project.

24 “UKRAINE BECAME KNOWN IN THE WORLD OF GOLF JUST AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS ORGANIZED IN OUR CLUB. OUR STATE WAS DISCUSSED NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF POLITICAL EVENTS”.

Anna Svets, Chief Manager of “GolfStream” Club

“WE’VE CREATED THE FIRST INNOVATIVE PROJECT OF PRESCHOOL ECO-EDUCATION IN UKRAINE. ACADEMY ECOLAND IS A SUCCESSFUL COMBINATION OF THE WORLD BEST METHODOLOGIES AND ORIGINAL PRACTICES.” Maryna Bondarenko, Director of the preschool educational establishment “Academy Ecoland”.

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“THE WORLD IS READY TO GIVE US A SHOULDER TO LEAN ON. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE HELP OF OUR WESTERN PARTNERS.” Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine.

“WE NEED TO BE UNITED. LIVE AND WORK AS IF WE ALREADY HAVE A COUNTRY WE DREAM OF.” Anna Avramenko, the founder and chief editor of the Fashion of Diplomacy magazine.

42 “THE TRANSITION FROM “UTR” TO THE UA|TV WAS EVOLUTIONARY, BUT THE START OF THE UA|TV WAS A REVOLUTIONARY ONE.” Liudmyla Berezovska, CEO of the “International Broadcasting Multimedia Platform of Ukraine”.

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36 “THE SPECTATOR COMES TO THE THEATER LIKE TO THE TEMPLE OF ART”.

Petro Avramenko, Merited Artist of Ukraine, director of the Zhytomyr Academic Music and Drama Theater named after Ivan Kocherha

48 XXIII AWARD CEREMONY OF THE NATIONWIDE PROGRAM “MAN OF THE YEAR 2018.”

AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF A NEW FORMAT “SOCIETY. THE LAST CHANCE.”

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BEFORE RELEASE Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in Ukraine H.E. Engineer. Salem Ahmed Al-Ka’abi

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Today, the Emirates-Ukraine relations are actively developing and it should be noted the we have reached the strategic level. A big deal of the development of direct contacts between the peoples of our countries was opened at the end of 2017, when we began to use the visa-free regime for traveling, which, among other things, has led to a rapid increase in the number of direct flights. In the same time, in 2017 another important one was signed – an agreement on cooperation in the field of culture between the Cabinet of the Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the United Arab Emirates. Thanks to the efforts of both parties, our cultural cooperation also flourishes.

Only in April the delegation of about 60 Ukrainian performers presented Ukrainian culture and traditions in the UAE during the Heritage Festival in Sharjah Emirates on April 26–27, 2019 In Dubai, the National Ballet of Ukraine presented the “Sleeping beauty “ performance. Thus, I am convinced, these actions confirm the thesis that in spite of the geographical distance, our people have become much more closer.

UAE and Ukraine have many common interests, such as education, health care, human resources, etc., and this allows to develop other levels of cooperation, because we have common basic values in the development of society. We have very good cooperation within the framework of the United Nations and other international organizations we are a member of. We exchange support and assistance in these areas.

I want to emphasize once again that the bilateral relations between the UAE and Ukraine are multi-faceted and fast growing ones, backed up with the wide trade relations. UAE is one of the largest trade partners of Ukraine in the Middle East with the volume Bilateral trade in goods and services is about $ 1 billion according to the 2018 results.

In this regard, in the light of the fact that an increasing number of Ukrainian companies take part in various exhibition events on the UAE territory – I want to emphasize the potential of Expo 2020. UAE has got an intention to make another exhibition in which the pavilions will not be divided by the regions, and where the participating countries themselves will choose among the following directions: mobility, stability and communication. Based on the chosen one themes, each country will develop its pavilion. Moreover, we want the countries to demonstrate their history and their vision of the future which they plan to achieve, and what they aspire to develop, more than their current economic achievements.

As you know, in the UAE this year has been determined as “The Year of Tolerance”, which we began with the historic visit of the head of the Catholic Church Pope Francis, who became the first Pope who visited the countries of the Arabian Gulf.

Another important event of the Year of the Tolerance in the UAE was the World Special Olympics in Abu Dhabi in March 2019, that is expected to become the biggest sports and humanitarian event in the world. Our embassy was happy to support the Ukrainian team, who returned from the UAE with a bunch of medals.

Therefore, I suggest to work together – thus we can achieve the most ambitious goals! #15, June 2019

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INTERNATIONAL VECTOR

UDC UKRAINIAN DIAMOND CENTER — DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER! The history of diamonds begins simultaneously with the history of adamants, because a diamond is a faceted adamant jewelry. It is extremely difficult to determine the exact time of diamond origin in the life of society, and it is impossible to find out when this mineral was treated as a precious stone. They are known to be brought to Europe in the 5th – 6th centuries BC, but they began to be used as a precious stone much later, only when the methods of its faceting appeared, which is about 550 years ago. Of course, this jewel was loved by all women. Subsequently, the expression, such as “Diamonds are girls’ best friends” appeared was coined.

At the moment, we are interviewing the president of the Ukrainian Diamond Center UDC David Ben Nun about the diamond business development in Ukraine.

David, How long has your company been working in the Ukrainian market?

– The Ukrainian Diamond Center Company has been engaged in cutting and selling diamonds, as well as has been successfully working in the field of jewelry with our products for more than 20 years.

What is Your main difference and what is the main advantage of your company in comparison with other similar structures?

– We ourselves outline our diamonds and, as manufacturers, we can offer a huge variety and reasonable prices for diamonds and jewelry.

The executives of The Ukrainian Diamond Center Company are full members of the Israel Diamond Exchange. We supply our own diamonds with fully accompanying documents and certificates to other jewelry companies to create jewelry.

Our company has a unique and largest showroom in Ukraine with samples of finished products and a wide range of products located in the central office of UDC Ukrainian Diamond Center.

Many successful companies have their own philosophy of success. What is Your philosophy of success?

– Our philosophy is DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER! We create beauty. We really appreciate

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and love the best half of humanity – the women.

Well-chosen jewelry makes the image more vivid.

Fashion is changing, and diamonds are always in fashion. A night out requires real treasures.

Women, as always, strive for luxury, which can raise their spirits and self-esteem, place accents and attract admiring glances, and which is also an excellent investment for the future. Moreover, the night seems more beautiful when diamonds shine around. The philosophy of our brand makes the love and the talent stronger in serving to a real high art. Love, like a sparkling diamond, plays with our feelings and inspires creativity. And the unique beauty of real diamonds is the main treasure of the jewelry masterpiece. Diamonds have always been considered as a symbol of eternity, love and status.

Is is it difficult to work in the Ukrainian diamond market?

– The Ukrainian diamond market has evolved and changed significantly over the period of the company’s existence. Ukrainians love to wear jewelry, including the ones with diamonds. In addition to the main jewelry factories in Ukraine, one hundred more companies got engaged in the production, import and sale of diamond jewelry.

Particularly, cheap and low-quality products appeared in Ukraine. Therefore, the competition in this field is not always fair and ethical. It is very important to know where to buy jewelry or

a must-have accessory. And, it is also treated as investments in jewelry, as well as in gold, which is a way to save savings.

Therefore, a lot of jewelry supermarkets and large jewelry neighborhoods got opened in each shopping center. There are no jewelry supermarkets in Europe, instead jewelry boutiques or shops are more common. European women have different approach to jewelry; they wear them more for special events.

Are you involved in charity or social activities?

– As the president of The Ukrainian Diamond Center Company and vicepresident of the Association of Jewelers of Ukraine, I constantly support the jewelry industry. Every year our company is a diamond partner of more than XII jewelry exhibitions in Ukraine. I am also on the board of the Ukraine-Israel Business Council. We help develop relations between the two countries, which have much in common. We participate in some public and social projects.

Are there any representatives of the Ukrainian political elite among your clients?

diamonds with accompanying documents and with whom to establish business relations. Many startup companies tried to sell diamonds, but they worked for a short period of time and got closed. We’ve been working for more than 20 years. And, as vice-president of the Association of Jewelers of Ukraine, I can proudly say that over the years we have managed to preserve the reputation and reliance of the company, as well as to establish cooperation with leading jewelry factories.

What is the main difference between the Ukrainian jewelry market and the European one?

– The main difference between the Ukrainian market and the European one is the difference in the culture of the people and life priorities, which leads to a different approach to jewelry. In Ukraine, women like to wear jewelry in different life circumstances – at work, in the evening, on holidays or on vacation, and treat them as

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– Different visitors come to UDC Ukrainian Diamond Center stores, wishing to purchase diamonds or diamond jewelry directly from the manufacturer at special prices. The portrait of our client is very different. And, let us mention that we guarantee confidentiality to every visitor. It can be successful and wealthy people, shareholders or politicians, and not only from Ukraine, since we have already participated in more than 150 international jewelry exhibitions. We also have customers who buy jewelry as a present or as a bequest for their beloved children and grandchildren.

What are Your plans for the future?

– I am sure that Ukraine will have better times and a calmer atmosphere for foreign investors, and that this difficult time will pass. As King Solomon wrote: “Everything goes by, this too shall pass.” We are planning to develop sales of diamonds for jewelry companies, expand the retail chain of stores and make diamonds more affordable for gifts to loved ones. DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER! Interviewed by Igor Skripnik

! t s e b e h t e v r e s e d You Office and exhibition space 8K Yakutska Str The city of Kyiv

Shopping centre Ocean Plaza 176 Antonovycha Str The city of Kyiv

Shopping centre Lavina 6D Berkovetska Str The city of Kyiv

UDC "Perlyna"

21 Khreshchatyk Str The city of Kyiv

UDC “Ukrzoloto”

Peremohy Avenue, 27A The city of Kyiv

INTERNATIONAL VECTOR

New software products are developing at a rapid pace and their number in this world is growing. Every day there is a new idea, a topic, a technology that quickly takes its place and usually in the economy too. The virtual world is consuming more and more of our personal time every day. People are getting immersed in the world of the latest technologies, the Internet and social networks, looking for the opportunity of contact and communication in order to find work, friends, and partners in social and personal life.

In the present moment, Mr. Gerhard Frieze, the founder of the INFI project, tells how to get productive and valuable communication using the new abilities of the online network, in the confined space, and he tells about the new USP program exclusively for FD.

Mr. Gerhard, what did your idea of creating a USP software start with? – Today, I will present to Ukraine a new project that I brought from Germany. This project makes it possible to organize communication at any level and in any country. My European colleagues call my project the next generation of Wi-Fi with new features. USP specialists work on our project, through USP you can establish contact with any person by installing an application on your phone. It’s like a social network, but in the form of a certain time when you are in a certain city. For example, if you come to some international conference and want to

get acquainted with a certain person, in order to negotiate, you go to the application, find that person there, see what his name is, what company he represents and his position... In such a way you facilitate communication and further negotiations. I can assure you that this program makes communicating with strangers easier and more creative.

What was the impetus to develop such a project? – My goal has always been to do something that brings some value to the user of this program at the highest level. I observe how people more #15, June 2019

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INTERNATIONAL VECTOR and more immerse in the Internet space and live in a virtual world. My project makes this virtual world a true and possible way to get rid of their fear of starting communication. I absolutely do not want to speak negatively about the Internet, because it gives some positive emotions and saves important moments of life, and then reminds us of them, I mean Facebook. However, I want to make my contribution to making people better able to cope with the real world and with certain tasks using Internet resources, and I now mean INFI program.

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What is the main competitive advantage of your company and this program?

– There are two features that represent our program: 1.

2.

We make it possible to establish contact through a smartphone for people that do not know each other and have no contact data from each other without the need for direct personal contact. This means that the communication barrier is overcome when you appeal directly to a foreign person.

In addition, we do not allow persecution by direct contact at an inappropriate moment. And yet, here we connect two real people who, for example, could see each other before, but have no contact or do not remember the name of this person.

Or, for example, they want to expand their connections. This is really necessary for businessmen, for their development, this program is also very important for HRspecialists, for participants of large events and seminars. For example, if we install our devices with our software at the stadium, this will really help to the security service in solving certain problems, in the case of a conflict or during fires for evacuation, etc.

We integrate all buildings in this program so that there is internal navigation through one program. In addition, you can move and communicate in one and the same program in all buildings simultaneously. That is all coming from one source. People are somewhat lazy and do not want to launch a new program for the new feature, so our software product is made so that you get

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all the functions from one source in all buildings and use it at your discretion.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement while being the head of a company?

– I have been in managerial counseling for over 10 years and advised very large companies (in the range of turnover from 4 to 30 billion Euros a year). In this segment, I always take upon myself projects that are very strong in the crisis time, and usually, they were out of the economy. I always brought these projects about success. In my professional life, I became acquainted with the positive and negative features of the new economy and the old economy. In addition, I have developed a concept that guarantees that the company can remain stable in the long run and generate high growth rates. All this in the international arena.

Now, I’m integrating my experience with my company, ensuring that this company will not only succeed but become one of the world’s leading companies and take a steady place in the global economy.

With higher education – an engineer, programmer, and an economist and having 5 children (25 years of age and younger is 2 years of age), I not only see, but I also play games

INTERNATIONAL VECTOR with my children, share their interests and see where we and our kids are going to in the future.

What trends will be there in the business and in the economy, how quickly and dynamically all spheres of our lives develop and what will be the requirements for instrumental management in the future.

I am convinced that this will be possible with the product we create and my competencies. In addition, I work with highly qualified partners who are the best in their areas and who have been selected according to specific criteria to implement this concept at the highest level.

What innovative strategies does your company employ?

– Our strategy includes the certain aim – to involve partners and clients in our growth and success in order to build our company together. We connect all the sides providing an advantageous cooperation. It sets up a system of ideas generation. Germans usually don’t enter the market without an excellent product. In such a way, they lose speed and markets in contrast to other countries. Understanding this idea, we decided to combine a German quality and a dynamics of the Ukrainian market development attracting our future customers to the initial processes of product branding. We’re not afraid of it, because we’ve got the superprofessional international team sorting out some broblems as quickly as possible. Only the constant demand leads to the permanent development. We’re eager to keep pace with the youth, as they really face a bright future ahead of them.

As I understand you are planning to conduct business in Ukraine. Why? – Yes, of course, we plan to expand our activities in Ukraine. We appreciate the professionalism of programmers and we are already actively working with them. Ukrainian experts are part of our international team.

We will now open our representation office in Ukraine. In general, we want to start our business in every country in the world. However, we have now set the goal of implementing this project in Ukraine, and there are two reasons for this.

The first is that I personally love Ukraine.

My father is a German, but I was born in Ukraine in Zaporizhzhia. And I have been working with Ukrainians for a long time in the business segment.

Secondly, I met Ukrainians who gladly accompany and support such topics and are

open to joint growth. I am glad that the new technologies do not hold back the Ukrainians, but on the contrary, they are welcomed in life and are developed.

What is the main difference between the Ukrainian and German markets?

– In Ukraine, people are more open to new technologies similar to this one. The people of Ukraine are looking into the future and want to develop. People in Ukraine are craving for something new and want to be part of it. So when we created this product, the first thing that came to my mind and it was my desire – to present and implement this project in Ukraine.

Interviewed by Alina Archypova #15, June 2019

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REGIONAL VECTOR How, above all, Kyiv region can attract foreign investors ? Actually you often hear about its agrarian potential…

– Kyiv region is in the first place, the capital area in the center of Ukraine having a priori certain advantages for investors, because the region has the most developed transport infrastructure in country: 3 international transport corridors and railways with 5 main directions stretching throughout the territory. The biggest international airport of Ukraine “Boryspil” and largest logistic centers are located in the region. The city Kyiv is within the territorial region. It’s the capital of Ukraine and megapolis, important political, business, industrial, scientific, technical, transport and cultural center of the country related to the region by strong entrepreneurial and social connections. There is also enough qualified labor force in contrast to other regions of Ukraine having scarce professional staff.

In addition, there are numerous high quality “brownfields”. Their exploitation speeds up the implementation of investment projects dramatically.

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Kyiv region set up a pilot project at the initiative of governor Oleksandr Tereshchuk and Ukrainian national committee of the international Chamber of Commerce (ICC Ukraine). It’s the first in Ukraine “Office for protection of investors and entrepreneurs in Kyiv region” functioning as an effective instrument for regional business and protector of legal rights.

Of course, it tends to be the competitive benefits of our region with respect to other regions of Ukraine but, actually, each region of our country is unique and has a number of its strong sides needed to be employed efficiently.

As for the agrarian potential, it’s undoubtedly an additional benefit, but a focus shouldn’t be placed on it today! We need to discard an idea of raw material supplier for Europe and world.

It’s rather shameful for Ukraine and in particular Kyiv region to play in this field. All the efforts should be focused on the establishment of enterprises with deep processing producing high added value goods. It should be a national trend but not only a strategy of Kyiv region.

The work of the first “Office for protection of investors and entrepreneurs in Kyiv region”, Oleksandr Pokryshka develops the idea for FD being the head of office for protection of investors in Kyiv region, the advisor of the Head of Kyiv Region State Administration, the Manager of ICCC Ukraine regional office in Kyiv region and Kyiv city, the Deputy Director “Business association of exporters and importers UKRAINE–CHINA”.

REGIONAL VECTOR What branches of Ukrainian national economy primarily need foreign investments?

– it’s not a very reasonable statement…

If we speak about direct foreign investments, any investor is predominantly a pragmatist here who contributes money not to the field that requires investment in our country but in the most lucrative sphere under the lowest risks and placement of funds in the shortest terms. Now you see a goal for the country that is to create favorable conditions for attracting investment in the very branches of strategic importance and significant for the country in this particular period of development.

It’s undoubtedly, the most perspective investment branches in Ukraine today are the ones targeted at import substitution or totally export-oriented subject to a closedloop production cycle using local raw materials.

It’s the market segment that embodies all the preconditions for rapid growth.

Talks about the creation of favorable investment climate have been in place since the first years of independent Ukraine, but attractiveness of this climate still requires improvement. Do you stick to this point of view?

– I absolutely agree ! Unfortunately, dealing with the issues of attracting investments on the local level for almost 10 years, I have to point out, that Ukraine has no a unified legislative policy in regard to preferences for foreign investors! I was asked only one simple question when having some presentations of our regions investment potential abroad in front of the biggest and most powerful investors of Asia and Europe: Why do we have to put money exactly in Ukraine and what benefits the country provides for foreign investors?” I have nothing to answer, except that an investor can be exempted from

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import duty bringing equipment for industrial needs as the contribution in share capital of foreign investment enterprise. But believe my experience, even this really efficient measure is extremely difficult to implement….

Taking all the risks into consideration foreign investors face in Ukraine generally, we have negative consequences nowadays. The transition from poor dynamics of direct foreign investments in the Ukrainian economy to the recession…

What do we need to do in order to improve the investment climate not only in Kyiv region but throughout the country?

– Attracting direct foreign investments in the Ukrainian economy must be a strategic goal for the central and local authorities! We need to turn from declaration to real actions! From my perspective, it’s the only chance for our country to recover from a long-lasting crisis, because internal resources and financial injections of international donors are likely to be scarce.

It’ll be enough to adopt a preferences policy for foreign investors and establish a special body engaged exclusively in the promotion of investment opportunities and investment friendly projects of the country. It should be a group of professional negotiators and speakers

REGIONAL VECTOR who will encourage Ukrainian promo-campaigns worldwide. We’re definitely not the country with a lot of investors to contribute money to. That’s why we should advertise ourselves, provide potential investors with information persuading them in our uniqueness and favorable investment conditions. If an investor doesn’t come to us, we should approach him ! And there is nothing shameful in this step, because the globalized world has a real competitive confrontation for financial resources and investments.

Unfortunately, we lose this fight. This philosophy the People’s Republic of China applied. The result of such policy we observe nowadays. It’s the second biggest economy of the world!

It’s also necessary to establish a special guidance group for investment projects, because now a foreign investor is alone with all the challenges and obstacles that emerge in the process of project implementation in regions. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of them ! That’s why today local authority itself doesn’t possess real mechanisms of support for investors except talks only. There should be an aide who literally takes an investor’s hand and guides him to the successful project launch. I always say: “Travel to any remote country, where you even don’t know a language not mentioning peculiarities of local legislation. Try to have a plant built there!“ And we are eager, in our turn, to see a rich investor from a faraway country who builds a modern enterprise for US, contributes to the budget, broadens job opportunities for US and even puts up a school for US. And we’ll just declare him support as representatives of local authority. It doesn’t work like that!

item is related to confidence in the future and improvement of economic situation! It’s two basic notions all of us need today – Ukrainians!

Because investments represent new job opportunities, filling local and national budgets, construction of new infrastructure and social guarantees. It’s the very instrument providing a progressive movement to the prosperous future of our country.

That’s why we need to fight for every investor! Possibly creating hothouse conditions on the initial stage to attract him to our country!

We also shouldn’t forget about investors and support them by all means, especially the ones who have already “entered”, remained standing and keep on working in these intricate economic conditions of modern Ukraine! Let us pay tribute to them!

Interviewed by Anna Avramenko

What pattern of foreign investment protection is the most reasonable for Ukrainian realities?

– There is no a common pattern of foreign investment protection. To put it mildly, It’s no secret that there are a lot of problems concerning this field in Ukraine. But a judicial branch and law enforcement system give rise to unfavorable criticism by foreign investors. They can’t protect their legal rights for today. That’s why central authority should work hard to improve a current state of things.

How a larger inflow of investments can make a better life for an ordinary Ukrainian citizen? What will people feel in their everyday life?

– Answering to this question, I don’t feel like saying any trivial stuff, but the most important #15, June 2019

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BUSINESS IN UKRAINE

GOLF IN UKRAINE IS A LIFESTYLE FOR MANY AND A SPORT FOR ITS FANS

Golf is not just a beautiful and refined sport. Golf is a lifestyle. Everyone who has tried this game at least once in his life gets back to it again and again.

Golf means new opportunities. And it doesn’t matter if you are a diplomat or a businessman, are engaged in politics or boxing. Are you a woman or a man?

Are you 18 or younger? These questions are irrelevant. Golf is about smart recreation.

In Ukraine, golf started developing in recent years, but its popularity is growing gradually. GolfStream Club Senior Manager Anna Svets knows everything about this kind of sports and recreation. Let’s talk to Mrs. Anna about the unique place for everyone who knows what golf actually is. It is GolfStream Club, the most large-scale eco-facility in Ukraine.

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— Ukraine has become known in the golf world immediately after the international competition in our club.

Our country caused a reason to be discussed not only due to political events, Anna is telling.

BUSINESS IN UKRAINE What makes your club special?

– The territory and the facility capacities make it possible to arrange events of any complexity and to host the unlimited number of guests. We are available for small family picnics, friendly games, but also for festivals with tenthousand-people audience.

GolfStream arranges events of any format: we have sculpture parks growing, handicraft exhibitions, shooting of commercials, movies and TV series, closed diplomatic receptions, corporate teambuilding, forums, conferences, music shows, numerous sports events, children’s birthdays, and personal golf tournaments. And this is far from being a full list of our event opportunities. In our facility, all conditions are created for comfortable family and friendly recreation. To get a complete restart and relaxation, one can just spend several days in our GolfVillage. Vital energy is charged through the local environment – its style, aesthetics, comfort, cosiness, and easy access to favourite leisure activities.

Golf is getting popular in Ukraine.

Athletes are better to start training in their early years. Do you have a program for children?

– We have not just one for children, but for juniors as well. The children’s program is for the age of 6 to 15. The junior’s program is for the age of 16 to 20. For everyone, a special training system is maintained, and there are tournaments.

We also have the GOLFCAMP. This season, the camp continues working. Today it’s the only chance for kids in Ukraine to undergo intensive professional golf training. There is also an opportunity to test one’s strength on the club’s champion courses. Training, recreation and accommodation for children are of the top level.

Somebody’s don’t matter. To the camp we admit boys and girls of 8 to 14 years old. Kids combine practical training with the game theory, golf etiquette rules, active sports recreation and accommodation in the modern campus inside the facility.

For such a range of large-scale events you need a mighty team.

– Right, we’ve formed a very strong team.

When hiring staff, our main criteria are accuracy, responsibility and professionalism. Over a hundred professionals serve the club on a daily basis. Their presence is mostly unnoticeable, but each of them honestly fulfils their scope of work #15, June 2019

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mood, and drinks accidentally crop up nearby right at the moment when you’ve thought of them. It is actually a laborious team work of our personnel.

How do you attract clients? Do you have any secrets?

– Our secret is always providing a little more than clients expect: in attitude, in bonuses, in gifts. I believe that, regardless of the scope of business and event budgets, much depends on personal relationships and human factor. We always try to hear our customers, offering them something unique and made especially for them.

Are golf events your major activity?

– Yes, golf is our love and trend. In GolfStream, all kinds of competitions in this sport are available: professional, amateur, fan, thematic, and official. Our grounds have 36 holes and 9 golf courses, which is a marker that in our club it is possible to arrange tournaments and rounds of any complexity and status.

in relevant places. It only seems that the grass is green by itself, the tracks are always wellgroomed, music amazingly corresponds to the

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Our event calendar embraces tournaments of famous aerial and automotive brands and banks, as well as private closed events. Yet, we have surely attained this level not within an instant. It was a decade of impetuous

BUSINESS IN UKRAINE development of Ukrainian golf, for thanks to our club there appeared the All-Ukrainian Golf Federation, and we’ve been admitted to the European Golf Association.

What kind of stereotypes are there in Ukraine regarding golf?

– Firstly, it’s the high game cost and the selection of players. In actual fact, prices at GolfStream are balanced and affordable to many people. There are various packages, various game levels, various clubs and courses. For a relatively small budget we provide basic game training. Do you know what a golf master class is called in English? Golf clinic. Perhaps, it’s because, should you just try to play, the game turns into a “disease” of your body and soul, and you no longer imagine your life without it.

The second stereotype is age. It’s never too late to learn to play golf: one can take a club into one’s hands at any age.

The third stereotype is that golf is a male sport. The notion that GOLF is an acronym for “Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden” is nonsense.

Golf is a unisex game. For instance, at GolfStream we arrange annual female tournaments Open Ladies Golf Cup. So, you can safely join.

American President Donald Trump has said at the White House that he keeps on doing business even on the golf course. Is golf more about sports or business?

— Rather about business.

There are people who play golf only for sporting achievements. They collect medals and records, and enhance their professional skills. However, they are only few, while for the majority it is recreation, entertainment, and work. Numerous contracts are concluded exactly on golf courses. Person’s behaviour, strategy and tactics in the game make it possible to quickly understand who you deal with. Many businessmen invite their partners to play golf in order to determine whether further business with them is worthwhile. You can get to know a person on a golf course very fast.

Interviewed by Oleh Yanchenko

EDUCATION IN UKRAINE

The dynamics of modern private educational institutions development in Ukraine is growing rapidly. This applies to universities, private schools and day care centers.

About the latest technologies of education and childrenrearing, what ideas should be taken into account when choosing the institution for your child, today we are talking with Marina Bondarenko, the head of “Academy Ecoland” preschool educational institution.

“We have created the first innovative project of preschool eco-education in Ukraine. Academy Ecoland is a successful combination of the world’s best practices and exceptional expertize.”

The world is changing rapidly. People are facing more and more new challenges that were unknown to our grandparents or even our parents. In addition, new horizons of opportunities open up for humanity. What parents should pay attention to in order to raise their kid to be a man of the future?

– First of all, parents should stop reflecting their unrealized dreams in their children. Children are the source of undiscovered revelations. The main thing is to see their personal talents and preferences in them. When kids are small, let them try a lot – music, sports, creativity, science, IT-achievements. It is good that nowadays there are many opportunities for this. For example, “Academy of Contemporary Education”, our

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educational network, adheres to the principle of “all under one roof”, through it children can get maximum of comprehensive development: singing, piano, choreography, rhythmic gymnastics, football, basketball, chess, cricket, eidetics, mental arithmetic, foreign languages, Lego Education, Robotics, 3D-Design, research studios, etc. In our network there are more than 50 directions for children, and in addition to fulltime pre-school, primary or secondary education, each child will be able to realize him- or herself more professionally either in sport, or in music.

This approach guarantees that in their adulthood, when children will have to choose, they will be sure to say “yes, I am a football player” or “I want to build a business”. Parents should stop fearing for the future, and show their own positive example, children always follow.

“In our educational institutions, we implement the bilingual education methodology based on the “Our World” Oxford program, developed jointly with National Geographic, where students learn to speak English in the play method and during the learning process.”

When is it better to take a child to kindergarten? Does it all depend on age or individuality plays the role in this matter?

– Undoubtedly, individuality plays the role.

The first recommendation to parents is to watch their kid. How he interacts with other children, what skills he has. In general, psychologists agree that overwhelmingly children ripen for kindergarten at the age of 2–3 years. In our network, we practise accepting children at such a young age, and experience shows that children are fully prepared both psychologically and physically. You can also prepare children for this period. For example, visit early development centers and children’s clubs for several hours several times a week. Let there be such a rehearsal, which will make it clear whether your child is ready for a full day’s kindergarten.

What is the difference between home education and education in a special children’s institution?

– Firstly, it is communication skills. Secondly, any educational institution will provide much more opportunities to realize intellectual abilities, creative potential. Thirdly, it is a rich training program, leisure organization, which is difficult to implement at home.

Some parents choose nannies or babysitters for home education. For they think that children will be more safe, well trained and well-groomed.

Then, they often install surveillance cameras in their houses, get nervous over nothing, spend time on monitoring.

It seems to me that it is easier to give your child to an educational institution, where everything will be taken care of on the highest level of safety and preparation, and the child’s leisure time will be organized. Isn’t it?

– On the one hand, such an approach to the first stage of education is likely to be positive.

But the moment of communication with peers and socialization, which now plays an extremely important role, is lost. Such children, in future, may have difficulties during the adaptation period when entering the school. In kindergarten children have the opportunity to observe each other, to see the successes and defeats of their peers, that forms a certain pattern of behavior #15, June 2019

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EDUCATION IN UKRAINE in different situations in them. In addition, kindergarten is the official establishment, which is fully responsible for the child’s stay at the institution.

obstacles for the child in the learning process.

In addition, testing helps parents identify their child’s intellectual abilities and choose a program for further education.

As for kindergartens, for example, we offer parents to take an interview with a psychologist regarding the child’s readiness when entering a preschool institution.

Why is it important to begin with studies, sports and art with a child from an early age?

What misperceptions have parents about preschool institutions?

– Apparently, the most common stereotype is that children in kindergarten are constantly ill, there are microbes and infections everywhere.

But no. With the right choice of licensed (it is important) educational pre-school institution, it is possible to avoid such problems. In our kindergartens, for example, daily check-up of children is conducted to detect the symptoms of diseases. In addition, sanitary standards for ventilation, quartz processing and damp cleaning must be adhered to in the institutions.

What should be taken into account when choosing an educational institution? What are the three questions to ask the principal of the kindergarten before giving your child for rearing there?

– In fact, work must be done before you get to the meeting with the principal. Collect the maximum of recommendations, get acquainted with the program, methods, check the licensing of the institution. And then just organizational matters and acquaintance with educators should remain.

Some day care centers have testing the child must take before being accepted.

Is this a necessary measure? What does it give?

– If we are talking about the entrance testing in primary school, then this method is used by many private institutions. This testing does not necessarily affect whether the child is accepted to the school. Sometimes psychological and physiological readiness is defined in this way.

Even the way the child is holding a pencil tells the specialist whether there are significant

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– In childhood, the formation of habits is laid, and if we instil love for a healthy lifestyle and contemplation of beauty through art, it will give future seeds for the harmonious and highquality formation of the individual. Education disciplines, uncovers the world from different directions, children never stop studying, in school it simply acquires another form.

My friend’s daughter is three years old.

She attends a private kindergarten in Kyiv. She freely speaks English and Russian for his age. Her native language is Ukrainian. She started learning foreign languages from the age of one and a half years. When is the best time to start learning foreign language for a child? Why is it worth starting with kindergarten? How not to lose time?

– Your friend did the right thing. Because the best time to study foreign languages is the period of brain growth – from 1.5 to 3 years.

There are different scientifical options, but we adhere to this one, because we already see the results on our pupils who study in bilingual groups. Such a method expands the vocabulary of not only the foreign language, but also the native language. We are currently introducing studying for children in bilingual groups, which makes it possible to create a comfortable English speaking environment with native speakers.

EDUCATION IN UKRAINE of several languages in the Oxford “Our World” learning program, developed jointly with National Geographic, where students learn to speak English in the play method and during the learning process. Together with the teacher they work, look for mistakes and accomplish tasks.

This makes children think logically and analyze.

Due to such a holistic approach in our institution pupils will receive harmonious physical, mental and intellectual development.

In September, you open “Academy Ecoland”, your children’s institution.

This is a modern kindergarten with the latest methods of education and studies. Tell us about the features of your institution?

– This is a really promising institution, we have been in love with it since the beginning of construction. We have created the first innovative project of preschool eco-education in Ukraine. Academy Ecoland is a successful combination of the world’s best practices and signature expertize.

Firstly, we adhere to the principles of ecological education. Our teachers work according to the Italian Reggio methodology.

We consider this approach the most natural way to direct the child on the path of harmonious development. It’s important to intrude less and give space to realize the potential, to direct in some cases, but not to interfere with the talent and reveal the universe of each child’s personality.

Secondly, we have arranged the ecological space. Interior, material and technical base, furniture, toys, didactic material, chosen in accordance with modern requirements and the latest technologies of education that meet the requirements of environmental friendliness and safety. We are getting ready to receive the International certificate of preschool ecoeducation from FEE International. Therefore, we have a priority: studying through action and learning about the world through projects and experiments, socialization and communication of a child, interactive games and work in a team of friends, development of emotional and cognitive skills.

Thirdly, we have implemented the bilingual teaching methodology. An ideal combination

You have well trained teachers and work experience. Some of them have foreign education. How did you select the people for the team?

– Teachers in our eco-kinderdarten pass multi-level testing and corporate training.

Professionalism, competence and love for children are the criteria for the initial selection of our educators. We have gathered a team of highly skilled, enthusiastic, result-oriented people. Most of the staff are involved from the institutions of our educational network, as we are sure that they have already been inspired by the philosophy and concept of A+, they will set the right tone in the team. In addition, at the Academy we arrrange ongoing activities to improve the professional level of our specialists: studies, trainings, education forums and festivals.

Before the beginning of the school year, we have a course for the team delivered by a specialist in reggio-pedagogy. We will pump up our skills.

Experienced parents say that rearing and educating children is the best investment. Will you agree with them?

– Of course, I agree. Children usually have one or two favorite toys, and they do not remember the rest of them after 2 years of age. A highquality education will have lifelong benefits.

Interviewed by Alina Archypova

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UKRAINIAN DIPLOMATICS

The International Diplomatic Magazine “Fashion of Diplomacy” celebrates two years anniversary since publishing of its first issue. Anna Avramenko, founder and Editor-in-Chief of FD magazine, founder of Parade of Nations, founder of Diplomatic Golf Cup, tells how the project of the country’s largest diplomatic magazine began. Today Anna and her team have united all their initiatives in the international project office – Ukraine Unites.

We need to be united. And to live and work as if we already live in the country we are dreaming of You started with a small project.

Will you tell us how you managed to grow into one of the most powerful representatives of Ukrainian cultural diplomacy?

– Three years ago, there were two of us – my husband and I. We were concerned about the situation that was going on in Ukraine and all over the world. So we understood: it is necessary to create something in order to provide credible information about Ukraine globally. We thought it should be an Internet portal. At first, there were no Ukraine unites. We were working on Fashion of Diplomacy. We wanted to unite diplomats.

I think every person is a diplomat, absolutely everyone. If we, as tourists, go abroad – we are diplomats, too. Because we, as Ukrainians, represent our culture and our traditions there: how we get dressed, how we speak, how we behave. We did not feel like becoming a kind of diplomatic Bible either, I mean, a collection of rules, prohibitions and explanations. Therefore, we added the word “fashion” and created a portal.

Just the two of us, started to fill it with quality news content after our workday. That is we were doing ordinary rewriting. Watched ukr.net, Google, searched for news, stories, and reports. Something positive about Ukraine.

Four months later, we began to see how people without a single penny spent on advertising international experts started reading us. And the portal itself began to be searched and read by people from other countries. Enquiries came from the US and Europe.

So we realized that the portal is just not enough, we needed something else. We received a certificate and created a magazine on the basis of the portal under the same brand. The first issue was released on June 1, 2017. We got it published as a “pilot” edition of one thousand copies and noticed that there was a demand for good information. Not just exclamations like: “Let’s believe in a bright future! Everything’s fine! Let’s smile!” No. If it’s analytics, then only a good one, if it’s an interview, then with someone

positive and worthwhile.

However, you went the extra mile.

– In just two months after the first issue of the magazine, getting ready for the third one, we organized the 1st International Round Table.

It was exactly following the 25 anniversary of independence of Ukraine (it was the 26th year already). We saw the reaction of the international community in Ukraine to our event, again without advertising. Everyone responded. People were stepping up. It became clear that it is necessary to do it. And 18 months later, last summer, we already got a big six-vector enterprise. We managed to launch the project office of Ukraine Unites.

Now we have three national issues: the magazine, web portal, International Diplomatic Internet portal dip.org.ua.

Ukraine Unites provides access to the knowledge base, the database of contacts for everyone who works within the development of diplomacy in Ukraine. We are ready to make it public, so that others also receive something positive, and the image of Ukraine gets better.

You work with international diplomats, communicating with them on a regular basis. How does the international community respond to the recent events in Ukraine?

– I can assure you that we have very active and loyal international friends. They are ready to provide their support and lend a shoulder at any time. This was before, and after the election of the President of Ukraine, our state has not lost support. So all we have to do is come and say: we need help, and we’re willing to work, not beg alms. On the contrary, we must show our worth.

Our nation has great potential. We are talented and successful in the IT sector, in the agricultural sector, in construction, in the arts, and needless to say – everywhere we can show the result.

Therefore, I am very pleased to hear the words of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who understands that it is necessary not to beg, but to unite us all together, into the Ukrainian nation and just do our job. #15, June 2019

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UKRAINIAN DIPLOMATICS to them and they help us. But this help is informational. There are programs supporting cultural diplomacy at the state level. But so far we have not succeeded to reach the level of such cooperation. We create our projects not for this, but contrary to this.

There is a very popular expression nowadays: public and cultural diplomacy. How do you treat it?

– The term has become popular recently.

The urgent need for such activities began to be felt with the beginning of the war in 2014. And it was necessary to fight at once on all fronts – both inside the country and to represent us in the world. Public and cultural diplomacy is soft power policy. Where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot push through officially, one can always find a common language in another way.

But recently this concept has been smoothened and lost its primary task – to defend interests of Ukraine. At every turn, those who do not deal with this activity attach themselves to it. I think there should be a limit; otherwise, we will lose not only the essence, but also opportunities, as a country in the first place. I mean that measures, information editions, and exhibitions done by Ukrainians and about Ukraine should be at such a level that nothing could be said against it.

Your projects bring together people from various countries and different cultures. What inspires you?

A significant part of your team’s work deals with the functions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Information Policy, DirectorateGeneral for Rendering Services to Diplomatic Missions, and sometimes the Ministry of culture. However, you are a commercial structure, are your initiatives supported by the Ministries and do you obtain any financial assistance from the state?

– Yes, indeed, if we consider all our work, projects, media, business meetings, let us say that this is partly the work of our ministries.

But we do not lay claims to receive recognition or someone’s benefits. As I’ve mentioned in my previous answers, we set our goal: to act, to unite and to help. That is, go ahead and do something and show an example to others. We are, of course, very pleased that we are supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they contribute to our cause informationally. If there are also issues related to other ministries, we address

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– When I started, there was anxiety because of what was going on. We started thinking that we need something good and positive in the information field, something that unites us.

To do something that will open people’s eyes.

To help to believe in that good, to see it well, to gather people together, to smile, to tell, to give the opportunity to express themselves. It inspires me!

Probably, it is one of the socially responsible points in one’s life – when you reach a certain level, a certain age with a certain knowledge. To the point when it is the time to change something by your own example. Not just say: “Let’s change.”

But exactly by your own example, slowly, bit by bit, to turn it into a positive experience. I really hope it helps people.

What personal principles and beliefs do you adhere to in your life and work?

– I have three rules, as cliché as it sounds.

They are simple. First, believe in what you’re doing. Second, go ahead and do it. Don’t talk,

don’t think, don’t analyze – just do it. If you believe, you just go ahead and make it happen.

Third, learn to enjoy what you’re doing.

What is the biggest problem of our society?

– People have ceased to believe and to trust.

We need, all of us need to do more – to give more opportunities to feel our love, our kindness.

We also need to take certain responsibility for our actions towards ourselves and others. It is crucial that changing the country and the world everyone started with themselves. Then other people would probably listen. They’d begin to share with one another. I believe in recent years there has been some loss of time and opportunities. This has been going on since about 1991–92. People did not continue to pass on their values. I mean, the more we took it up, believed, acted, felt only what is good, then perhaps it would turn in a good, human world without borders, so to speak.

we will be able to overcome the trouble that is approaching. The world cannot save us from ourselves – from discord, corruption, despondency, and populism. There are tasks that must be accomplished on our own. Civil duty is not only to come and vote once every five years.

But during these five years to live and work as if we already live in the country we are dreaming of. Then the dream will come true.

Interviewed by Alina Archypova

What way of development should Ukrainians choose to stand in the maelstrom of geopolitical confrontation?

– We need to be united. My great grandma (she always lived next to us, she had no children of her own, and we were like her grandchildren) always said: “Kids, you have to comprehend that a twig to a twig is already a broom. If we have a broom, we can sweep the house. That’s when we become unbreakable, because one twig can be broken, but when together it is not so easy to destroy it.” This applies to all Ukrainians: in the East and West, South and North, and beyond our state. Now there is a big threat to lose the most precious thing – freedom and independence, for which we fought for centuries. Only together #15, June 2019

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UKRAINIAN POLICY MAKERS

“THE WORLD IS READY TO LEND US A FRIENDLY SHOULDER TO LEAN ON. WE HIGHLY APPRECIATE OUR WESTERN PARTNERS SUPPORT” The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The world community positively reacts to some democratic changes in Ukraine. Our international partners support us in our confrontation with the Russian Federation. This support is probably not always the kind our country relies on. How do you predict a further development of relations with our partners?

– Predictability is extremely important in international relations.

Our partners always have a right to know what to expect from us, so we were and remain consistent as well as reliable partners for our friends all over the world. We highly appreciate the US and Europe support, however, we’ve got a great deal of projects and plans we are going to implement together with our partners. We already pursue some serious steps to inform national governments of friendly states concerning a flow of subsequent events and what we really need. We are very pleased to see our foreign partners expressing their readiness to lend us a friendly shoulder to lean on. I’ve already had numerous meetings with diplomats of partner countries and my pleasure to utter: we are engaged in a very constructive dialogue.

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Before a presidential run, you spent “Days of Ukraine” in Latvia. Many criticized you for this, but this event turned out to be the most successful presentation of Ukrainian culture abroad. How did you manage to do this without country’s assistance?

– Sometimes country’s non-interference serves as the best assistance. In Ukraine, fortunately, there are a lot of talented people who represent our country and culture with dignity abroad. I have the honor to be acquainted with and have friendly relations with such personalities and I know for sure, they will help to create a positive image of Ukraine worldwide.

I’m sure the most successful projects will continue to function and a lot of new ones are likely to emerge. In my turn, I will help according to my area of expertise to promote Ukraine as a cultural country in the world.

Do you think that a humanitarian policy and in particular policy focused on the improvement of our country image on the international scene should be within the competence of the President of Ukraine or it’s the scope of the government’s responsibility?

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– As you know, in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine the President represents a nation in international relations and supervises a country’s foreign policy. My part of the job I’ll be doing diligently and responsibly. I’m sure, we’ll cooperate with governments in this particular field constructively and effectively.

And not only with governments: a country’s image is created by various national institutions, private organizations, philanthropists and representatives of different spheres including culture and business etc.

Did you start working on the return of occupied territories even before your inauguration? What way are you going to do this in future?

– We’ve got a lot of things to do, it’s a difficult but rather a vital sphere of my activity. The main thing is: everybody needs to understand that OUR people live in occupied territories and speaking about the return of territories we must think primarily about the return of people. We’ve got a roadmap, a very skillful negotiator Leonid Kuchma proceeded to “the Minsk process” again.

Of course, we greatly appreciate our Western countries help. During my presidential term I really want to get a problem resolved in the Crimea and Donbass.

UKRAINIAN POLICY MAKERS How do you regard ways of returning Ukrainians emigrated from different reasons to other countries of the world?

– The way is only single: creation of economic conditions in order people are interested to come back to Ukraine. They need to be aware of they will find a decent job (of course, with decent salary) or set up their own business and run it freely. Many countries managed to do this including the ones used to be in the Soviet camp, we’ll also do this. By the way, we’d better learn experience of our Polish friends that established “Polish Card”.

It’s the first document to be admitted to citizenship and you can get it easily. “Polish Card” makes possible to be integrated in Poland quickly.

This presidential election was just democratic for the whole history of independence. It’s clear, people believed in you with a hope for changes, better life… But there should be enough professionals to carry out these changes. Do you have such people in your team?

– The president appoints not so many officials and people I want to have in my team I already know. I hope in parliamentary elections, citizens will elect the most worthy deputies who will form a professional and efficient government and all together we will stick to the one aim: European, prosperous and united Ukraine.

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UKRAINIAN POLICY MAKERS

Since 2014, the diplomacy of Ukraine has been experiencing really tough times according to many experts’ views. Some people say about a crisis in the foreign affairs institution of our country. Do you agree with this statement?

– I thoroughly explore the situation, as it’s an integral part of my responsibility. To talk about the crisis seems to be a great exaggeration, but everything isn’t the way I’d like to. Together with a new Minister of Foreign Affairs (I hope, the parliament won’t delay the process of

nomination) we’ll arrange the reform of our foreign affairs institution.

But I reiterate we had a lot of positive things and we’re going to preserve everything positive. It’s about high ranking officials. What we really need to do as quickly as possible is to appoint ambassadors in many important countries for us.

From your perspective, is Ukraine an attractive country ? What is this attractiveness about?

– I wouldn’t like to live in any other country. Is it the answer ? Ukrainians are incredible people!

That’s why we won’t fail.

What would you like to wish the readers of our publication?

– To love what you do. It’s the only way to achieve success. And good luck. #15, June 2019

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WHO ARE YOU, MRS. BEREZOVSKA?

Today, exclusively for FD, Liudmyla Berezovska, CEO of the “International Broadcasting Multimedia Platform of Ukraine”, tells about UTR restructuring into the modern TV channel UA|TV, announcing unbiased, relevant and interesting information about Ukraine to the world.

Ukrainian international broadcasting started functioning in relation to events in the Crimea and East of Ukraine in 2014 or the creation of such a channel was planned even earlier?

– In fact, Ukrainian international broadcasting existed before. In 2004, by Presidential Decree and the decision of the NSDC (National Security and Defence Council) of Ukraine, STRBC (State TV and Radio Broadcasting Company) “UTR”, which was under the supervision of the State Committee for Television and Radio-Broadcasting of Ukraine, was created. Its target audience was the Ukrainian diaspora. Accordingly, the broadcasting of the “UTR” channel was carried out in Ukrainian with a few hours of “highlights” in English.

The annexation of the Crimea in 2014, further bloody events in the Donbas and Russia’s info-war against Ukraine, revealed the Ukrainian international broadcasting low efficiency. On the one hand, it became apparent that Ukraine as a State loses the info-war to the aggressor country, spending a great deal of money on anti-Ukrainian propaganda, both in Ukraine and throughout the world. On the other hand, the Ukrainian diaspora, which was the target audience of the UTR, had and still has the opportunity to watch, in fact, all the national TV channels of Ukraine online only having access to the Internet. In other words, modern technologies enable Ukrainians living abroad to have information and cultural relations with their homeland, wherever they are. #15, June 2019

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The faces of the channel The restart of Ukrainian international broadcasting TV channel was obvious. Around mid-August 2015, the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine asked me to help the UTR team in this process.

The experience of Germany and Germany’s international broadcaster “Deutsche Welle”, operating under a separate law (Act), passed by the Bundestag as early as 1960, was taken as the basis. It is recalled that during intensive consultations on the future format of Ukraine’s international broadcaster, German partners warned us: “Do not repeat our mistakes!” “What are the mistakes?”, we wondered. “Half a century ago, we believed that the target audience of “Deutsche Welle” was the German diaspora that’s why television and radio broadcasting was carried out only in German... Decades have passed until we understood our biggest mistake was in the choice of language.”

When we asked advice what language or languages are the most appropriate solution for us, German colleagues shocked us: “Speak to the world in any languages you know except Ukrainian!”

Such an advice and a position , as it’s remembered, aroused the misunderstanding (if not the opposition) of some Ukrainian parliamentarians at that time...

Nevertheless, on December 8, 2015, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the Law Deutsche Welle Act in Ukraine”, which regulated activities of the newly created international broadcaster, the State Enterprise the “International Broadcasting Multimedia Platform of Ukraine” (IBMP), in particular, on the topic of languages: “IBMP programs are produced in English as well as in other languages, depending on the feasibility and urgency of using one or another language to achieve the goal of the IBMP”, clarifying that programs made in English should be at least 50% of the entire content in. Nowadays, English is the main language of the UATV channel, and the entire International Broadcasting Multimedia Platform.

We consider the birthday of the UATV channel is on October 1, 2015, when on the “UTR” frequencies instead of a simple, regular, narrative, largely song content of first Ukraine’s international broadcaster, appeared a modern, intense, multilingual, spectacular, rich of 3D graphics and visual effects content under the already familiar logotype “UA”. Said otherwise: the transition from “UTR” to the UATV was evolutionary, but the start of the UATV was a revolutionary one.

So, it can be argued that today the UATV channel is a carrier that popularizes Ukraine in the world, right?

– You’re right. We are talking about Ukraine, about our achievements and our problems in a calm way, without imposing our point of view upon someone and not humiliate anyone. Thus, we adapt news from Ukraine for a foreign audience. But we have no censors.

WHO ARE YOU, MRS. BEREZOVSKA? “Sieve” for news from Ukraine is our editorsnative speakers of languages, primarily English and Arabic. It happens that the editor of the English version says: “No, American won’t understand this news; lawit should be presented in a different way “, or Arabic editor: “This event has a different importance for us than for you, Ukrainians”. Therefore, newscasts in Russian, English, Ukrainian, Arabic and Crimean Tatar are not made on the principle of «copy/paste».

However, Ukraine, and so are we, have to say a lot more to the world! Therefore, in addition to current news (which in fact only takes 10 minutes each hour), our program is dominated by a new rethinking of Ukraine’s history, culture, traditions, and fashion, about tourism and traditional cuisine, about our contemporaries and about those thanks to whom now we are proudly called Ukrainians.

But again, I repeat, we just show today’s Ukraine and Ukrainians the way we are. If somewhere in some country the viewer watches the UATV channel online or our content in social networks, then they understand that Ukraine is a European, democratic, friendly, attractive country and it is worth seeing with their own eyes, so it means our efforts are not in vain.

From your answer, I realized that the TV channel is broadcasting in the English, Arabic, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages. That’s all? Are there any other languages of translation and broadcasting?

– UATV fully meets the requirements of the Law “On the system of international broadcasting in Ukraine”: 50% of TV channel content produced in English. Around 40% is Russian-language content. The remaining 10% are programs in the Ukrainian, Arabic and Crimean Tatar languages.

By the way, the Ukrainian-language unit is broadcasted late at night in Kyiv, but in the evening prime time in the USA and Canada, so, contacts with Ukrainian Diaspora, at least in the New World, are maintained.

Content for social networks is produced by the same five languages. After the premiere broadcast, UATV programs are uploaded and become available on official UATV monolingual channels on YouTube.

The main way of transmitting the online TV channel UATV is the satellite. Currently, Ukraine’s international broadcaster, according to the relevant licensing, is being rebroadcasted in Europe from the satellite “HotBird 13C”, in North

America from “Galaxy 19”, in Asia and Australia from “Asiasat 5”, in North Africa and the Middle East from “Eutelsat 3WA”.

The recent incorporation into the cable networks of Turkey (end of April this year) became possible thanks to the higher uploading of the UATV signal from the satellite “Turksat 3A”.

The UATV signal is also delivered to specific cable networks over the IP. Such a delivery has been established with partners in the US, Germany, Bulgaria, Poland, Czech Republic, etc.

Besides online broadcasting, the IBMP is a participant of several international news exchange platforms, primarily AVN (The AsiaPacific Broadcasting Union with headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) and BRNA (CCTV with headquarters in Beijing, China).

The news exchange (it is above all about the direct distribution of news stories from Ukraine and about Ukraine to the participants of these platforms) is also one of the strategic directions of the IBMP activity. In the case of highly regulated countries where UATV broadcasting in cable networks is impossible today (for example, China, India, Kazakhstan, etc.), our stories that fall into the news releases of the respective Chinese, Indian or Kazakh TV channels are currently the only way to convey information to the local viewer from and about Ukraine.

Let us mention that the Law “On the system of international broadcasting” prohibits the UATV broadcasting in cable networks of Ukraine (by the way, such a requirement is also prescribed in the Deutsche Welle Act in Germany). But there is a significant exception: the UATV can be broadcasted for “the audience in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, the territories where the state of emergency and martial law have been proclaimed, and also in the areas of counter-terrorism operations and in spheres of arrangement implementation to ensure National Security and Defense.” This is about Donetsk and Luhansk region, as well as the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. In this issue, Russian-language news, Russian-language programs of UATV (we are broadcasting more Russian language than other Ukrainian national TV channels) provide connections between Russian-speaking Ukrainians who are under occupation and Ukraine. According to the relevant licenses, UATV is broadcasting to the occupied territory of Donetsk, Luhansk regions and the ARC with the aid of analog and digital #15, June 2019

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WHO ARE YOU, MRS. BEREZOVSKA? such methods as insane distortions and lies. We are those who inform the world about Ukraine, we want to show the truth of the situation and we want to show Ukraine just the way we know it and love it.

The Ukrainian diaspora living abroad is your target audience?

What countries watch you the most?

– Not only the diaspora, which is very interested in our content but foreigners who are interested in obtaining direct information (without intermediaries) about and from Ukraine, are our target audience.

For more than three years, the UATV news format has been modified and expanded: today, the foreign viewer in our news can see the story of events in his country because we are talking about the news of Europe and the world, but news from Ukraine and news related to Ukraine are above all.

Speaking about the presence of UATV in cable networks, two months ago, Poland was the largest audience for Ukraine’s international broadcaster and here we are available to DTH, IPTV platforms, and classic cable television subscribers. However, in the last days of April this year UATV entered the telemarketers of Turkey by signing an agreement with “Türksat” company, the largest provider of satellite and cable television which services are used by more than 70% of households in Turkey.

transmitters located in Volnovakha city, Hirnyk city of the Donetsk region; Bakhmutivka city of Luhansk region; Chonhar city of Kherson region.

Broadcasting from the transmitters in Pokrovsk (Donetsk region) and the cities of Skadovsk and Chaplynka (Kherson region) will start soon.

Can we talk about competition with Russian International Broadcasting media means?

– With Russian MM we only share the object of interest which is Ukraine. Only Kremlinfriendly media try to form in their viewers hate and disregard for Ukraine without disdaining

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In late 2018, the UATV audience increased dramatically with the start of broadcasting from the new satellite “Eutelsat 7WA”, the beam of which covers the countries of the predominantly Arab world in northern Africa in the Middle East. You would probably be laughing, but right after the start we received very unexpected feedback from this region, we were “overwhelmed” by CVs of journalists from Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, etc. (written mostly in Arabic!) with a proposal to be UATV correspondents.

In summary... In 2015, it was quite difficult for us to “drill windows” to the world. It happened that negotiations with foreign cable networks

could last for years. However, water dripping day by day wears the hardest rock away. One of the biggest events this year was the emergence of UATV in the Republic of Belarus. It culminated in 4-year negotiations between Kyiv and Minsk.

Today, the UATV is available to subscribers of more than 20 cable networks of our northern neighbor.

Undoubtedly, there are still many gaps to fill, there are countries where the legislation on foreign broadcasters is highly regulated, but examples of such seemingly exotic countries like Indonesia or Kyrgyzstan, or Nepal, where UATV is available to local audiences, provide an idea (let me paraphrase original text a bit): “There’s a time and place in the sun for every... country” (smiles).

Is it hard to be a woman supervising this project? Today it is a very responsible mission to manage a carrier that is in charge of conveying credible information about Ukraine worldwide.

– It was difficult at the beginning, at the moment of launching the project. Because, after changing the target audience, it was really important for us to “drill the windows” to the television markets of even the neighboring countries. When we gradually received the result (it remained mostly unnoticed by the Ukrainian audience), it has taken my breath away sometimes. We couldn’t believe we did that! It only gives strength and confidence that we are moving in the right direction. Therefore, the question of strength and self-confidence was

solved somehow automatically: when you do what you know and what you love, and it brings you incredible pleasure because you feel that it is in demand in the world (this might sound immodest), gender is irrelevant.

How many people do you have in your office?

– Currently, there are more than 350 people...

Do you have enough time for your family, with such responsible work and so many tasks?

– I have a small family: son is 19 years old, he is quite a self-sufficient person. I spend little time on household chores. I should count myself as lucky in this respect. I cook rarely, but those who have tasted, say that it’s delicious.

What is your favorite dish?

– I like something that I can cook very well. In my case, it is a borshch (traditional Ukrainian dish which is a type of liquid food made by cooking vegetables, meat, etc. with water, where the main product is beetroot). I also like pancakes cooked by my son. This, incidentally, is also a partial answer to the question about family.

What would you like to wish our readers and all Ukrainians abroad?

– Peace. This is what I want for both readers and Ukrainians including all the people on the planet.

Interviewed by Anna Avramenko #15, June 2019

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ARTISTIC UKRAINE

A well-known Ukrainian theatre director that has recently got the title of Honoured Artist of Ukraine, Petro Avramenko, tells about his creative career on the stage, interesting and difficult relations with Ukrainian cinema and the statement of the most macabre performance that can only be imagined in the repertoire of Ukrainian theatres.

The performance “VIJ”, the creation of special effects that are not worse that the cinematic ones, prejudices and beliefs relating to this creative work

by M. Gogol – exclusively for FD.

Tell us, please, about your career. What has influenced you to become a theatre director?

– Frankly speaking, I have never had a problem whom to be – to be an actor or to be a theatre director. The occasion determined everything. The occasion that drives me through the path I have been going up to this day.

Later, when I started working at the professional stage, I got elder and I began to analyze my life, I came to understanding what I had been doing since my childhood what I do nowadays. I spent my childhood in the village. Right there at the school and cultural center of my village I played on the local stage. And there was no wonder, because many children used to do the same. But I did not just play roles, I tried to explain to my stage-mates what and how should be performed during the performance. It included the school performances and concerts at the cultural centre as well. The most interesting thing is that everybody followed my instruction then. Later on, I came to know that such job is a job of the theatre director.

What was your first role? What performance did you feel your first impressions in?

– My first role at the professional stage was the role of Figaro. It is quite difficult for me now to say whether I was lucky enough to embody this character created by the talent of Beaumarchais. I just remember that I was completely enchanted by the youngsters drive and by the hidden wisdom

ARTISTIC UKRAINE

his “Institute of Playwrighting”, I set up at this Institute my own experimental theatre “Bursaky” (The Seminarists).

Will you tell us about your first stage production, what performance was it?

of this character. After the premiere the grey-haired theatre critic came up to me and said the very warm words about my first role at the professional stage. After a short pause he added: “The great future at the stage is waiting for you if you are going to be cruelly demanding for yourself”! Frankly speaking, I was rather skeptical about good words addressed to my playing at the stage, but I remembered the advice. By the way, later, in 2012 this grey-haired theatre critic published his own book about me – “The metaphoric theatre of Petro Avramenko” in which he revealed the essence of the theatre I wanted to create. The name of this critic who I had never communicated before I played my first role is Professor O. Chyrkov. I studied at his postgraduate classes. When he founded

– My first directorial work was “Tartar” performance based on the dramatic poem

by Oles Berdnyk. We were working on the performance nightly, after work, as it simply was not included in the repertoire. It was 2005. Then, we, young actors, sought to involve the viewer in thinking about the complex processes that took place in real life. Later, the performance was shown at the artistic festival “Golden Ukraine”.

The first success came, and together with it – the considerations concerning the essence of the theatre, its purpose and mission. And the role of the director in theatre creation. Given it, the theatre, is the Temple, and Calvary, and the Cathedra, and the School. The spectator comes to the theatre as to the Temple of Art. The director and the actors, who make this art, should speak about the urgent problems of the present time from the stage, like from the Cathedra. And at the same time the theatre is Calvary: since everyone can throw a stone into the creator, believing that only they, the ones who throw a stone, are entitled to the truth #15, June 2019

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at the last instance. Although the stone is not so bad: the theatre cannot leave the viewer indifferent. If the viewer leaves the theatre in complete indifference, then it is necessary to sound the alarm.

And my first repertoire work was the play “Forget Herostratus” by Hryhorii Horin, whose premiere took place in 2005. Of course, the events of that time could not but affect my perception of the play. Therefore, the performance found loud resonance. But later, in 2011, when I created the second edition of this play, it also gained another tangible philosophical features. The time has changed and I have changed, and together with me the performance. And then… Then there were another performances that were made in the other times, and there were another problems that I could not help but respond to. After all, the artist lives at a certain time and talks to their contemporaries about their concerns. And it does not matter from the perspective of which drama material the director solves the urgent issues. Whether these are plays of the classical repertoire, or contemporary playwrights. The main thing is that the pulse sensation of time was inherent in the stage works that the director presents for the audience.

“Viy” is, probably, one of the most famous performances of your last ones. Why did you choose this rather complicated and macabre story by Gogol?

– This performance was prepared for a long time. Initially, the stylistics of the forthcoming performance were tested in the play “The

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evening before Ivan Kupala (Saint John Night)” that I produced at the Theatre “Bursaky”. And only after this, so to say, the “sketch» I started working on “Viy”. In this performance, I acted as a director as a scriptwriter and as a stage designer. In the scenario, I left as much as possible of a descriptive part of the Gogol text – and in the design I left the minimal scenery. At the forefront, I brought out the character with its ambiguous philosophy and inner world.

But with regard to the fact that “Viy” is a macabre story, then there is something to talk about. It depends upon your reading of the story and upon your perception of the story.

Nevertheless, our perception of the certain creative work (no matter of a book or of a performance) is a very personal one. We see what we want to see, what corresponds to our conception of the world we are doomed to live in. That is why the so popular slang word today as “macabre” finally means something rather depressive and gloomy. In such stories the death symbols dominate, anyway. But Gogol did not write horrors like Stephen King neither the poetizing of death like Edgar Poe did. And due to this Vij at my performance is not a mystical monster, but it is a... Well, I would not say – come to the performance. I would say just that the performance plunges the spectator into the magic world full of the Ukrainian folk melodies, relaxed humour and fantastic dramatism. Two suffering souls, two main heroes, the Seminarist and the Damsel try to find the exit, they cannot do it, because he is unable to repent and she is unable to forgive.

ARTISTIC UKRAINE This eternal confrontation curls them and all around them like in the whirlpool. All the characters become the hostages of their own horrors that drive their souls in the vicious cycle.

And only Vij... Well, І would not say once again. I invite everybody to the performance.

You make a film about such an interesting, but – unfortunately – not very well known person in Ukraine as Baron de Chaudoir…

– This film is a part of the project of the series of documentary films about prominent figures in history, culture and art. The first film of this series named as “The fire of self-sacrifice” we made about Oleh Olzhych – an outstanding Ukrainian poet, politician, scholar and archaeologist. The film is characterized by a large range of themes and subjects. We have followed the phenomenon of personality, which should be considered not only as a political figure but also as a person who has made a great contribution to science and art.

The film shows the life of Baron Ivan de Chaudoir is a film about an extraordinary chemist, collector, scientist, founder of a unique park in Zhytomyr about an incredibly rich person and I want to mention – about a generous patron and sincere philanthropist at the same time about a person that forged his treasures to establish the Chaudoir Prize for a significant contribution to

the development of science. Such a prize could be compared with the Nobel Prize if the will of the Baron had been fulfilled.

The plot of the film about Baron de Chaudoir is based upon the real historical facts, admonitions and mystic legends. The film poses many questions, and they all relate to one real and at the same time a mysterious person whose name is Baron Ivan Maximilianovitch de Chaudoir, the last of the Chaudoir family.

What is more difficult – a theatrical directing or filmmaking? And what is simpler?

– It’s simpler to do nothing. Although it’s difficult for me personally. I am accustomed to the movement, to constant searches. Cinema and theatre are the components that operate by the same principle. Nowadays, in the modern theatre the cinema techniques are very well used and thanks to which theatrical directors have the opportunity to express their vision more precisely and interestingly. Comparing the complexity of cinema and theatre is an impossible thing, because every art is complex and peculiar in its own way. But for sure we can say that the theatre combines all kinds of art in one synthetic action.

And while creating theatrical performances the director can no longer be limited to techniques that were inherent in the theatre from the time of his birth.

The government has awarded you with the title of Honoured Artist of Ukraine. How do you treat it?

– Of course it’s nice to be honoured. The moments of the sincere congratulations were extremely warm – I do emphasize – sincere congratulations – especially from those people i did not expect.

What performance will you offer to our spectators in the nearest future? What are your plans for the future?

– There are several projects at the moment and I’m in a creative search.

What would you like to wish the readers of our edition?

– Сonfidence in the future.

The conversation was held

by Anna Avramenko

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SOCIETY 2020 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF A NEW FORMAT ON THE ALLATRA PLATFORM #ALLATRAUNITES

On May 11, 2019, on the platform of ALLATRA International Public Movement, a unique international conference of a new format SOCIETY. THE LAST CHANCE took place.

The online teleconference has united a great number of people who gathered in conference halls, in conference and congress halls all over the world. The USA, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Italy, Canada, the UK, Czech Republic, UAE, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Latvia, New Zealand, and other countries were present at the event. The conference was attended by people of various nationalities, occupations, and social statuses, representatives of diplomatic and political circles, national and religious communities, public organizations.

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There were live broadcasts from such locations as the British Museum Conference Hall in London, Ostankino Congress Hall in Russia, Ibn Tofail University of Kenitra in Morocco, and others. In Kiev, the broadcast was maintained by the Coordination Centre of ALLATRA International Public Movement. The central location was a famous conference hall of the world’s largest Oceans Ballroom Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, USA.

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OVERALL RESULTS You can register for future events or suggest your ideas via the website:

allatraunites.com info@allatraunites.com

Official website of ALLATRA International Public Movement:

allatra.org

The main discussion topic was: “What is the threat of the consumer format of today’s society for the nearest future? What way can people themselves, all together, peacefully

reformat the vector of society development from a consumer to a beneficial one, in view of the global climatic and geopolitical issues and challenges?” The openness, truthfulness and honesty of the questions that people raised, as well as answers to those, amazed even experienced diplomats.

The conference has triggered off an unprecedented response in society.

Numerous reviews, opinions, comments in social media, international social surveys, and mass media reports are only the beginning of a tremendous wave this conference has resulted in.

The culmination of the event was a decision to carry out a historical broadscale conference SOCIETY 2020 on the second Saturday of May 2020, targeted at uniting more of people via an online teleconference and to change the vector of society development to a constructive one in practice.

Mr. Chander Gambhir, Indian diplomat, ex-consul of India to

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Washington, has stated that this initiative of ALLATRA is an example for all people of how to live and to unite so as to ensure that there is peace in the world. He has emphasized that activities of the ALLATRA Movement are truly wonderful, and he’s happy to be involved in this process because today it’s extremely important to raise the issues of national consolidation, of transition to the constructive development vector in a peaceful way. Much depends on everyone.

Mrs. Virginie Mottimo, expert with a multiyear working experience in UN, joined the teleconference from Geneva, Switzerland, along with her colleagues: “This year I participated in the ALLATRA global conference for the first time.

Such movement cannot remain unnoticed at the UN level and other international organizations.

As for subsequent actions, more people should know about this initiative, given its importance!”

Mrs. Alexandra, expert on technical projects from UAE (connected from the conference hall of the tallest residence house in Dubai): “The conference has given an impetus

and has encouraged a lot of people to act. I’m actively participating in ALLATRA IPM projects and get convinced that, when we unite, we can do plenty of useful things! We need to do a lot today, so that in 2020 as many people as possible would gather together. There is a rule of six handshakes. I will tell my friends, acquaintances, and colleagues, they will tell theirs, and thus everyone will find this outі!”

Mrs. Renata Poliakowa, media expert from Bratislava, Slovakia, has mentioned that everyone can join the Society 2020 initiative through notification of their friends and acquaintances both in person and via social networks, websites, and other media resources.

Any bold and creative ideas are great, especially related to a technical interpretation of the project! Meeting of the entire humanity together via Internet connection is an ambitious idea, but it is totally real and pressing, if we take into account the challenges that await humanity in the coming years. We welcome cooperation and interaction!

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We need to work today, not waiting for better times. These words are the key to the success of the winners of the nationwide program “Person of the Year–2018”. The 23rd award ceremony took place on March 23rd at the National Opera of Ukraine in Kyiv. The award is traditionally received by professionals, industry leaders, people who have managed to make significant progress in professional activities, care about Ukraine’s development and the future of the state.

In Ukraine, the winners of the “Person of the Year” Award were praised

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International Award “For Significant Contribution to the Development of Friendly and Economic Partnership with Ukraine” – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the OAU to Ukraine Salem Ahmed Al-Kaabi.

— This award is important to me. We will continue to work for the better future of our countries and development of relations between the states, - Mr. Salem Ahmed AlKaabi concludes.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Austria to Ukraine, Hermine Poppeller, received the International Diploma Award.

— Receiving this award is a great honor.

I really tried to make a contribution to the development of Ukraine and to the development of relations between our states, – Ms. Hermine says. – We have intense relations in economy, politics, and also in culture. And I am very glad that this year we celebrate the Ukrainian-Austrian year

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OVERALL RESULTS of culture. And this means that we will see many more young talents from Ukraine and Austria. It will also help to form a new image of Ukraine. Culture is one of the best ambassadors and one of the best transmitters of what’s happening in the country. Therefore, I am very pleased to be part of this.

Editor-in-chief of the “Fashion of Diplomacy in Ukraine” Anna Avramenko presented the award to the winner in the “Residential Complex of the Year” nomination. It was the RC “Podol Grad” of the Ukrbud corporation. The award was received by Director General Olexandr Lyatambor.

— Primarily, for us it is recognition of our team work, – Mr. Alexander says – We know what we are doing and for what reason – from the bricklayer to the president of the corporation – in order for everyone who has invested in the construction to get highquality housing. Ukrainians can be confident in the future of homes we build.

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— “Person of the Year” is recognition at the country level. A phenomenal event for winners and laureates, as we choose here the best of the best, – Mrs. Anna says. – I was very pleased to present the award to the best residential complex of the year.

This is a special nomination and a special responsibility, because building is investing in the future, taking care of future and successive generations. Modern, comfortable and extremely technological residential complexes – this is a calling card of Ukrbud.

Their numerous projects speak for them. Also, I am extremely pleased that Ms. Hermine Poppeller and Mr. Salem Ahmed Al-Kaabi have won the award. They make a great contribution to the way in which Ukraine sees the world and development of relations between our states. And also I would like to thank the organizers of the “Person of the Year” award. Our publication is happy to support genuine Ukrainian projects.

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The experts also praised the winners in “Regional Leader of the Year”, “City Mayor of the Year”, “Industrialist of the Year”, “Entrepreneur of the Year”, “Manager of the Year”, “Financier of the Year”, “Leader of Small and Medium Business of the Year”, “National Trademark of the Year”, “Investment of the Year”, “ Agrarium of the Year”, “ Leader of the logistics industry of the Year”, “Leader of the restaurant business of the year”, “Country recreation complex of the year”, “Hotel complex of the year”, “Television journalist of the year”, “TV-channel of the year”, “The artist of the year”, “The athlete of the year”, “The patron of the year”, “The new generation of the year” nominations. Annual Special Award named after M. Voronin “For a High Lifestyle” for year 2018 received the actress of the theater and cinema Ada Rohovtseva.

Editorial staff

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DIPLOMATIC CALENDAR

JUNE/2019

ВИЗНАЧНІ ДАТИ / ДНІ НЕЗАЛЕЖНОСТІ КРАЇН The Independence Day of the State of Samoa

1

SA

2

SU

The Kingdom of Tonga Independence Day

4

TU

5

WE

The Swedish Flag Day Celebration of the National Day of Sweden

6

MO

WE

SA

SU

MO

TU

SU

TU

WE

The Independence Day of The Republic of Madagascar

27 TH

28 FR

The Independence Day of The Democratic Republic of Congo

National Holiday of The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (The Grand Duck’s Official Birthday) United Nations Public Service Day

25 26

The Independence Day of The Republic of Djibouti

The Day of The Republic of Iceland

18 23

The Statehood of The Republic of Slovenia Independence Day of The Republic of Mozambique Independence Day of The Republic of Croatia

DIPLOMATIC GOLF CUP 2019

16 17

The Day of The Republic of Seychelles

The Day of Portugal, Camões, and the Portuguese Communities

12 15

National Holiday of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (The Queen’s Birthday)

The Constitution Day of the Kingdom of Denmark

TH

10 The Independence Day of the Philippines

The Day of the Italian Republic Proclamation

The Constitution Day of Ukraine

30 SU

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