My Path to Diplomacy

Abstract

The article analyzes the life path of Heorhii I. Khodorovskyi − Ukrainian public figure, diplomat, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine, People’s Deputy of Ukraine. The major areas of his activity at different life stages, academic interests, contribution to the development of medicine and diplomacy are studied. The paper examines the childhood of Heorhii Khodorovskyi, his parents, educators and school years. After school, Heorhii studied at Chernivtsi Medical Institute, pursued post-graduate studies and gained a degree of Doctor of Medicine. From 1961 to 1969, Heorhii Khodorovskyi – a postgraduate student, assistant professor, Associate Professor at Chernivtsi National University. In 1968, he was assigned to the Institute for Doctors Improvement in Moscow and later to the USSR Academy of Sciences to study foreign languages. Between 1969 and 1973, he was Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Zambia. Heorhii also held position of a chairman of the local committee of the Embassy of the USSR in Zambia. The following stage of Heorhii’s life went in Afghanistan, where he gained experience of people management in a foreign country under hazardous environment, terrorist acts, kidnapping and military operations. Between 1987 and 1990, Khodorovskyi was an advisor to the Rector of Kabul Medical Institute, head of a group of scientific and pedagogical staff of the USSR in Afghanistan, advisor to the Minister for Health of Afghanistan; worked in the trade mission of the USSR in Kabul. In February 1989, he returned from Afghanistan to Chernivtsi, where the staff of the Medical Institute nominated him as a candidate for the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine deputy. From 1990 till 1992, Heorhii acted as People’s Deputy of Ukraine of the 1st calling, was Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Women Affairs, Family Protection, Motherhood and Childhood. Heorhii was also engaged in operations on eliminating consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, worked with foreign delegations, was a member of the escort group during the visit of the President of Ukraine to Kyrgyzstan. He frequently went on foreign business trips, in the course of which took part in international conferences. At the Verkhovna Rada sessions, Khodorovskyi invariably put an emphasis on the issues of health protection of Ukrainian women and children, working and recreation environment, labour compensation and family support. The Ministry of Health of Ukraine Committee headed by Heorhii Khodorovskyi adopted a decision on the creation of the National Family Planning Program. In October 1992, he was transferred from the Verkhovna Rada to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. From 1992 to 1998, Heorhii Khodorovskyi served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of India. Keywords: Verkhovna Rada, Afghanistan, University of Zambia, Chernivtsi, People’s Deputy.