The Ivan Franko National University of Lviv the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv within the framework of his trip to Lviv region. the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, which is on the eve of his working visit to Poland.
The Polish theme was transversal during the stay of Pavlo Klimkin in Lviv.
Before visiting the University, the minister visited the Lychakiv cemetery, where he laid flowers to the graves of the Heavenly Hundreds and ATO participants, as well as to the memorial to the soldiers of the Ukrainian Galician Army and Polish military burials.
The latest gesture, in particular, testified Ukraine’s goodwill for understanding and cooperation with the people of the Republic of Poland, which Paul Klimkin repeatedly emphasized during his one-hour meeting with teachers and students of the LNU, and at a press conference for Lviv journalists, which took place in the Mirror Hall of the University.
Several hundred students and teachers from Lviv University came to the Assembly Hall to speak with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (for the record, the first during Pavlo Klimkin ’s term of office). Rector, Professor Volodymyr Melnyk, in his opening speech, emphasized that the desire to hold such a meeting both from the side of the university community and from the side of the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is a long-awaited and mutual one.
Moreover, Pavlo Klimkin, in his own words, feels certain reproaches of conscience, since he intended to personally congratulate the Faculty of international relations of the Lviv National University of Ivan Franko on its 25th birthday, but he could not do it because of a tight work schedule.
“I am often blamed for lobbying graduates of the University,” – Pavel Klimkin joked. – But we really have very successful “Lviv” ambassadors in the countries that are of primary importance to Ukraine – this is Turkey and Germany”. Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Vasyl Bondar, and also a graduate of the Lviv University “… Lviv Student Brotherhood though is not dominant but has a significant importance in the Ukrainian diplomatic service. After all, nobody doubts that the Lviv University has gained well-deserved recognition in Ukraine and, I believe, is highly recognized in Europe. And that’s good because the Ministry needs your drive, your knowledge. Personally, I try to promote the career development of ambitious people, those who are not indifferent … And I am convinced that only for such young people there is a future both in the world and in Ukraine, “- said Pavel Anatolyevich, addressing the students.
After a brief introductory speech, the minister proposed to transfer the meeting to the question and answer mode. Teachers and students who decided to take part in the conversation were interested in a productive, based on mutual respect and trust, cooperation with close Ukrainian neighbors – namely Poland and Hungary.
Associate Professor at the Department of International Relations and Diplomatic Service of the Faculty of International Relations Sofia Fedin highlighted the need for the creation and deployment of structures that would deal with the issues of Ukrainianity in the world, contributing to the greater involvement of Ukrainian foreign communities in the process of state building, as well as the more active participation of Ukraine in the project of Intermarium . Students of the Faculty of international relations were interested, of course, in the prospects of internship and further employment in the departments and services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. And Professor of the New Media and Journalism Department Borys Potiatynik violated the very painful issue of the weak representation of international issues in the Ukrainian mass media. Pavlo Klimkin tried, despite the protocol requirements of his office, to answer without euphemisms and streamlined phrases. As a result, the conversation came out sincere and truly informative.
The meeting ended with the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Ivan Franko Lviv National University. Having thanked the Minister for the thorough, open and human answers to the questions of students and staff of the University, Rector of the Lviv National University of Ivan Franko, Professor Volodymyr Melnyk made Pavlo Klimkin a present of the publication of Ivan Franko’s poem “Moses” in Ukrainian and English in the translation by an incomparable Vira Rich.
At the end of his stay at the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin held a press conference for Lviv media and visited the Museum of History of the University.
photos taken by Oleh Vivcharyk and Oleksandr Lavrynovych
