Person of the Year: Benchmarks for Success

The winners of the international and special prizes of the 22nd nationwide program

Person of the Year – 2017 were designated

The international and special prizes of the nationwide program “Person of the Year”, launched in 2001, have always had a symbolic nature. With these prestigious awards, the Ukrainians pay a tribute of recognition and sincere gratitude to outstanding politicians and public figures on an international scale, authoritative diplomats and patrons, outstanding representatives of culture and arts on their sincere love of Ukraine, on respecting our history and our traditions, on their direct contribution to the formation of truly independent Ukrainian state. Since then, a pleiad of winners of these prizes has been added to with the names of leaders of European states, leading foreign diplomats, well-known patrons, and brightest representatives of culture and arts. This year is no exception and on the stage of the National Opera we are glad and proud to have the honor to welcome both the devout supporters of Ukraine including the representatives of the foreign political and business elite, and the bright and talented Ukrainians, who bring the Ukraine’s image by their work to the highest level on the scale of world culture.

We, on behalf of millions of Ukrainians, give the profound respect and reverence by naming the winners of the international and special prizes of the 22nd program Person of the Year – 2017. According to the decision of the Higher Academic Council of the nationwide program Person of the Year, the winners of the international and special prizes of the nationwide program “Person of the Year – 2017” were designated as follows:

1. International prize for social and political activity – President of the Republic of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca.

 The president of the Republic of Malta personally shows a decisive position of support for Ukraine related to the European integration intentions, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine at the highest international level. It was the Maltese presidency of the EU Council that was marked by an extremely important event in the cooperation of Ukraine and EU – the entry into force of the decision on the visa liberalization for Ukrainian citizens.

The legal and contractual framework expands and the cooperation in trade, economic and investment spheres, in transport, agriculture and tourism has been strengthened between Ukraine and the Republic of Malta. In May 2017, our countries signed the agreements on cooperation in diplomacy, sports and education, aimed at their mutual exchange of experience and information in education system management, establishment and development of direct cooperation between higher education institutions. In October, during the official visit of the President of the Republic of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, to Ukraine, the Ukrainian-Maltese Business Forum was held, where the issues of prospects and priorities of the Ukrainian-Maltese economic and investment cooperation were discussed.

The President of the Republic of Malta  was awarded the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise of the 1st class for her outstanding personal contribution to the development of the Malta-Ukraine interstate relations.

2. International Prize in diplomacy – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to Ukraine Lee Yang-Goo

With the direct assistance of Mr. Ambassador, the cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Korea in economic, scientific and technical fields, in education, culture and sports, and historic preservation, has been developed actively.

In the last year, 5 economic forums on the cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Korea have been organized in Kyiv and Seoul. In October 2016 – Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Korean Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation with the participation of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea. The Korean Educational Center was open in Ukraine. The Forum of Leaders of Korea and Ukraine and the Intergovernmental Commission on Scientific and Technical Cooperation were held in June 2017. The official visits of about 20 delegations of Korean representatives of business, science, government, mass media, culture, were arranged. The official visits were made to Korea by: deputy group of interparliamentary relations of Ukraine and the Republic of Korea, Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of Ukraine, Chairman of the National Council of Ukraine in Television and Radio Broadcasting, etc.

In July 2017, the cycling caravan of Ukraine-Korea friendship was held in Ukraine with the participation of Korean mountaineering stars, the “Ukraine as Korea” concert with the participation of Korean pop culture stars, and set of events dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Korea – Festivals of traditional and pop culture of Korea, concerts of Korean traditional branches of art and exhibitions were held.

3. International Prize for outstanding contribution to the development of culture and arts of Ukraine – People’s Artist of Ukraine, principal performer of the National Opera of Ukraine Liudmyla MONASTYRSKA

The Ukrainian opera singer Liudmyla Monastyrska is a laureate of international concerts, who performs on the best opera stages of the world. She is owner of a unique soprano, principal performer of the National Opera of Ukraine, and laureate of Shevchenko National Prize. She sings parts in the following Verdi operas: Aida, Un ballo in maschera, Macbeth, Don Carlos, Nabucco, in Tosca and Turandot by Giacomo Puccini. She performed on the stage of Metropolitan Opera (New York), La Scala (Milan), in Royal Opera House (London), on the stage of Deutsche Oper Berlin, in Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia. The vocal of Liudmyla Monastyrska is a true national heritage of Ukraine.

Her partners on the stage are such outstanding singers as Simon Keenlyside, Roberto Alagna, Leo Nucci, Plácido Domingo and others.

November 8, 2017, Liudmyla Monastyrska was awarded the title of People’s Artist of Ukraine.

5. International prize in culture and arts –
   – famous pop singers ROSE Sisters

Ella and Dina Rose are popular American pop singers of Ukrainian origin. They founded the “Double Delight” band in the USA. Their creativity is in demand and popular in the USA and Canada, where they tour frequently. And Rose Sisters got popularity in Ukraine and other CIS countries thanks to their songs written in collaboration with such composers as Igor Krutoy and Igor Nikolayev.

The most well-known among them are “Wedding flowers”, “You are me”, “Gold of love”, “The tramp”, “My angel”.

International and special awards for 2017 will be the 22nd Annual “2017 Man” award ceremony, which will be held on March 24, 2018 at the National Opera of Ukraine.

Contacts of the National Program “Person of the Year”:

(044) 254-47-86 ,

044) 254-47-85   info@ludinaroku.com.ua