General consulate and honorary consulates of Ukraine in Bulgaria: contribution to development of public diplomacy

Abstract

The article analyses achievements of the General consulate and honorary consulates of Ukraine in Bulgaria in the field of public and cultural diplomacy, their contribution towards shaping a positive image of Ukraine among the Bulgarian people and intercultural communication between the Ukrainian and Bulgarian people. It focuses on the public activities of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Varna that operated from 2002 till 2014 as well as on the cultural diplomacy activities of the Honorary Consuls of Ukraine in Burgas, Plovdiv and Ruse. It analyses international agreements regulating the activities of the General consulate and honorary consulates in the area of cultural and humanitarian exchange. The article identifies priority areas of support for interliterary, musical and theatrical exchange, which have become dominant in the honorary consulates’ activities. It is important to highlight the assistance of the Honorary Consuls with consolidation and operation of the Ukrainian community in Bulgaria and in uniting the Ukrainian youth. It has been found that the activities of the Honorary Consuls of Ukraine to Bulgaria prove that it is important to appoint to such positions people who have relevant experience in establishing business contacts with the Ukrainian partners and wish to promote presentation of the Ukrainian cultural heritage in Bulgaria. The study shows that each Honorary Consul of Ukraine to Bulgaria is currently mostly independent in determining priority areas of development of intercultural contacts between Ukraine and Bulgaria. It also shows a difference in the qualitative and quantitative indicators of their performance in this area as well as in the content of the Ukrainian cultural products. In this regard, it may be relevant to strengthen coordination and leverage on the resources of the honorary consulates of Ukraine in their cooperation with public institutions that are responsible for popularization of the Ukrainian culture abroad. In addition, the honorary consulates can become additional tools in promoting the activities of the Ukrainian Institute established in 2018.