28 April 2016, 16:17
Over 200 diplomats, politicians, experts and public activists were brought together in the II forum of cultural diplomacy of Ukraine organized by the Kennan Institute and the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Ukraine. The event took place in Kyiv.
The major topic of the forum was the cooperation between the state and representatives of the society in promoting Ukrainian culture and positive image of the country abroad.
"Cultural diplomacy is in fact the instrument that has to promote modern, attractive image of Ukraine throughout the world," Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Affairs Hanna Hopko said at the forum. She added: "The state has done little to make the knowledge of [painter and art theoretician Kazimir Severinovich] Malevich, [avant-garde artist, sculptor, and graphic artist Alexander Porfyrovych] Archipenko, modern [Ukrainian] art, tourism and investment opportunities dominate over the image of the country that once suffered from the Chornobyl [nuclear power plant disaster], the country associated with poverty and corruption."
Hanna Hopko stated, that abroad Ukraine is promoted only by artists and enthusiasts themselves despite positive steps such as the establishment of a department on public diplomacy under the Foreign Affairs Ministry or joining the Creative Europe Agreement. She said that to get the things moving Ukraine has to establish the Ukrainian institute with a network of foreign offices, effectively use already existing cultural centers abroad, radically boost the financing of the cultural diplomacy (currently the funding is only UAH 7 million a year).
"The Parliament, Government and civil society have to combine their efforts to promote Ukraine's attractive image and culture," the parliamentarian said.