On Tuesday October 19, 2021
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I accompanied University Professor Dr Dr hc Jan DE MAERE in his journey to Ukraine.
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The next day he had a fruitful meeting with H.E. Ambassador Alex Lenaerts in Kyiv. The ambassador and the professor were present at the Belgian-Ukrainian Round Table Business Meeting in InterContinental Hotel in Kyiv. Later, the professor addressed a Laudatio to former ambassador of Ukraine in Belgium H.E. Mykola Tochytskyi, for his outstanding achievement in his mission. I gave an overview of the ambassador’s activities and congratulated him with his new position as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The professor gave then a short lecture about the necessity and difficulties of diplomacy and soft power. The more than 50 guest ended the evening with a walking dinner and drinks at the coctail reception.
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On Wednesday, the professor and myself had a successful meeting in the Музей Ханенків. The Khanenko Museum, discussing further collaboration with the general director Ms. Olena Zhivkova and the curator of the collections.
The professor gave a well attended lecture on ‘Artificial Intelligence, Trans-humanism and Post-humanism and the Arts’ in the renowned PinchukArtCentre in Kyiv. The lecture and powerpoint are made available by the center in English and Ukrainian on its website.
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HE excellency Antonio Vasco Machado, ambassador of Portugal in Ukraine hosted afterwards a delightful Portuguese diner at his residency for a select company.
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On Friday we drove by car to Odessa. Arrived there, he gave a Masterclass at the Odessa National Medical University on ’The Neurophysiology of Emotion and Quality in Art. Bosch-Bruegel and Brouwer’. The auditorium was as full as Covid-regulations allowed with the vice rector, the dean, professors and students. The text of the Masterclass and the powerpoint are available on the internet site of the university in English and Ukrainian.
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On Saturday we visited the outstanding winery SHABO. A knowledgeable and friendly expert guided us through the installations before a tasting of different years of production was offered to us.
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Honorary consul of Ukraine
Kris Beckers