Yuriy Kochubey turns 90!
On the 9th of July 1932 in the picturesque town of Poltava was born a boy whose destiny was to become a diplomat and a philologist, a historian and cultureologist, a true effendi of Ukrainian Orientalism. The name of this wonderful and talented boy was Yuriy Kochubey.
Yuriy Kochubey’s life trajectory is wondrous and enticing. By his efforts, knowledge, steadfastness, talent, character and will he went from Poltava to Kyiv, from Paris to Geneva. Extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Ukraine to France, deputy director general of UNESCO organization, deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Ukrainian SSR, editor-in-chief of the Skhidnyi Svit (The World of the Orient) magazine, teacher and writer – the list goes on and on.
Yet first of all I should like to say that Mr. Kochubey preserved his, probably, most prominent skill – to be a great human being. Flamboyant and noble, always surrounded by young people with whom he has managed to share his life’s experience and creative knowledge. Yuriy Kochubey has become the symbol of the modern Ukrainian diplomatic corps. Nowadays more than ever, when our country is drawn into a war which is unparalleled by its violence and its high stakes, a war for the preservation of one’s political identity, cultural identity, people like Mr. Kochubey are especially valuable to us. It is him and his colleagues, who created the foundation of independent development of our country, were shaping and defending its right to self-determination before the international community, were educating and encouraging young politicians and scientists to commit to creative and spiritual betterment in the context of a deep moral paradigm.
On the day of Mr. Kochubey’s jubilee we feel it is especially important to speak about the incredible height to which he elevated the standing of what it is to be a Ukrainian diplomat and scientist, about how selflessly and how sincerely he defended the honor and dignity of our motherland. It seems that by their contribution to culture and science personalities like him are bringing closer Ukraine’s victory, are paving the way to its unique and illustrious future.
The last 20 years Mr. Kochubey works in the A. Krymsky Oriental Studies Institute of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences. In the field of science he proved himself a talented manager and a very pugnacious researcher. During this time he published in Ukraine and abroad a few monographs and dozens of articles dedicated to Arabic studies and Ukrainian Orientalism. He made a major contribution to the development of the magazine Skhidny Svit (The World of the Orient) to which he was editor–in–chief for 10 years. Thanks to his efforts the Institute received UNESCO’s support for conducting publishing and conference activities. For a long time Yury Kochubey was the head of the Institute’s scientific seminar. He is the member of the scientific council of the Institute, member of editorial boards of numerous scientific publications.
The team of the A. Krymsky Institute of Oriental Studies of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, friends and acquaintances all wish Mr. Yury Kochubey ever more fruitful years of life, good health. May you have clear and peaceful skies above your head! Happy birthday dear Yury!