The 4th edition of the Jagiellonian Diplomatic Encounters 2015/2016 – a project running since 2012 by the Faculty of International and Political Studies of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow – began with the visit of the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa in Poland, Mr. Simon Jabulani Ntombela, who visited the Jagiellonian University on December 1st, 2015.

The visit began with a tour of Collegium Maius. Then the Rector of the Jagiellonian University, Professor Wojciech Nowak received the honourable guest. The meeting was also attended by Professor Bogdan Szlachta, Dean of the Faculty of International and Political Studies and Professor Robert Kłosowicz, Director of the Institute of Political Science and International Relations, and Head of the Jagiellonian Centre for African Research.

Meeting of the Ambassador of RSA with the Rector of UJ and representatives of the Faculty of International and Political Studies

A highlight of the visit was the lecture given by the Ambassador of South Africa in Poland, entitled International Policy of South Africa. Ambassador Simon Jabulani Ntombela discussed the origins of South African politics and outlined the recent history of his country. Presenting the basic principles of foreign policy of South Africa, he stressed the commitment of the state in a number of multilateral political and economic initiatives, whose aim is to promote the development of the region and strengthen the position of Africa in its relations with other parts of the world. Concluding the lecture, Ambassador Simon Jabulani Ntombela also stressed the need for further development of economic and cultural cooperation between our two countries, saying, "our hearts beat to the same rhythm."

On January 12th, 2016, the Ambassador of Ireland in Poland, Dr. Gerard Keown, visited the Jagiellonian University on the invitation of "Jagiellonian Diplomatic Encounters". The Ambassador first visited Collegium Maius, and was then received by the Rector of the Jagiellonian University, Professor Wojciech Nowak. The meeting was also attended by Professor Bogdan Szlachta, Dean of the Department of International and Political Studies, representatives of the Department of Comparative Literary and Cultural Institute of English Philology, including Dr. Hab. Bożena Kucała, Head of the Department, Dr. Beata Piątek, Dr. Robert Kusek, and Professor Wawrzyniec Konarski from the Institute for Intercultural Studies at the Faculty of International and Political Studies.

The Ambassador of Ireland in Poland during the meeting in the office of the Rector of the Jagiellonian University

After the meeting, the Ambassador of Ireland in Poland gave a lecture entitled The Global Island - Ireland's Place in a Changing World, which began with the presentation of the origin of the title, referring to a document published in 2015 defining the foreign policy of Ireland, The Global Island: Ireland's Foreign Policy for the Changing World. Next, Dr. Gerard Keown briefly presented the five major subject areas discussed in this document ("People" , "Values", "Prosperity", "Place in Europe" and "Impact"), emphasizing the importance of all five areas for Ireland's membership of the European Union. In his speech, the Ambassador also spoke personally – among other memories, he spoke of his first visit to our country in 1990.

On March 30th, 2015, the Jagiellonian University played host to the Ambassador of the Philippines in Poland, Mrs. Patricia Ann V. Paez, accompanied by Embassy Attaché, Mrs. Evelyn Vega and Embassy Secretary, Mrs. Imelda de Joya. The delegation was received at Collegium Novum by the Rector of the Jagiellonian University, Professor Wojciech Nowak. The meeting was attended by the Dean of the Institute of Political Studies and International Relations, Professor Bogdan Szlachta and Head of the Department of East Asia and South America, Professor Adam Jelonek.

Among the highlights of the Ambassador's visit was her lecture, entitled An Overview of the Philippines and its Perspectives and Official Position on the Issue of Competing Claims in the South China Sea, delivered at the Institute of the Middle and Far East. In her speech, Patricia Ann V. Paez presented in detail the facts relating to the territorial dispute on the South China Sea between China and the Philippines. Outlining the actions taken to date on the side of the Philippines, the speaker stressed that her country is committed to a peaceful resolution of the conflict, and therefore seeks international arbitration, but cannot remain silent in the face of this blatant injustice.

Lecture from the Ambassador of the Philippines in Poland (Institute of the Middle and Far East, Jagiellonian University)

On June 6th, 2016, the guest of the "Jagiellonian Diplomatic Encounters" was the Ambassador of the Republic of Peru in Poland, Mr. Alberto Salas Barahona. The visit began with a tour of Collegium Maius. Next, our Guest met with the authorities and the academic community of the Institute of American Studies and Polish Diaspora of the Jagiellonian University. During the meeting, the Ambassador outlined the general situation of Peru, presenting a historical perspective from the earliest times to the present day and showing the relationship between the historical experience of Peruvians and the characteristics of the contemporary socio-cultural politics of Peru. He also drew attention to Peru's ethnic diversity, stressing the scale of measures taken to encourage integration. After the meeting at the Institute of American Studies and Polish Diaspora, the Ambassador of the Republic of Peru in Poland, Mr. Alberto Salas Barahona, met with the Dean of the Faculty of International and Political Studies, Professor Bogdan Szlachta. The meeting was also attended by Dr. Andrzej Krzanowski, Head of the Department of Latin America in the Institute of American Studies and Polish Diaspora and Honorary Consul of the Republic of Peru in Krakow.

The Ambassador of Peru in Poland meeting with the Dean of the Faculty of International and Political Studies of the Jagiellonian University

This June marks the second visit of the Ambassador of Peru to the Jagiellonian University. The Ambassador's first visit was in Autumn 2015, when he met with the Rector of the Jagiellonian University, Professor Wojciech Nowak.

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The fifth edition of the "Jagiellonian Diplomatic Encounters" are intended to take place in the academic year 2016/2017.

Further editions of the project are also planned.

The honorary Patron of this project is the Rector of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow.

Text: Dr. Hab. Renata Czekalska