Ukraine | Independence Day

Embassy Network | 30th November 2017

Ambassador Galibarenko addresses her guests

John Whittingdale, the newly elected chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Ukraine, pledges his support for the Ukraine

Edward Dick and Andrew Sabey of BMW Diplomatic Sales arrive at the Embassy

Julian Evans, the departing Director of Protocol at the Foreign Office, congratulates Ambassador Galibarenko

Ambassador for Slovenia Tadej Rupel and Ambassador Galibarenko

Ambassador Galibarenko and Renatas Norkus, the new Ambassador of Lithuania

The Ambassador of Iceland Thórdur Ægir Óskarsson and Ambassador Galibarenko

listair Harrison, Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, gets a warm welcome from Ambassador Galibarenko

Ambassador Galibarenko and Euripides Evriviades, the High Commissioner for Cyprus

Ambassador of Kuwait and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Khaled Al Duwaisan, John Whittingdale and Ambassador Galibarenko

Rebuilding Ukraine
Diplomats were welcomed back from their summer breaks in the best possible way with a wonderful garden party to celebrate Ukraine’s 26th year of independence. Addressing the throng of people assembled on the grass at the back of the embassy, Ambassador Natalia Galibarenko emphasised the important milestones her country’s reached in 2017 including the approval of the association agreement with the European Union, setting up new visa rules for its citizens to travel through EU countries and establishing a “professional, well-equipped and modern” military.

“We can proudly say we are a building a new country,” the Ambassador said before quoting Ukraine’s late spiritual father Archbishop Lubomyr Husar: “The destiny of Ukraine depends on all of us and Ukraine will be what we make of it.”

PHOTOS: PIERRE DE VILLIERS