The Hon. Borys Tarasyuk

Ukrainian diplomat and politician, Member of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine of the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th convocations (since 2002 till now). Twice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (1998-2000; 2005-2007). Head of the Parliamentary Committee for European Integration (2002-2005, 2006 and 2007-2012). Deputy Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs (since 2014), Chair Parliamentary Groups for Poland and Turkey, Chair of Inter-factional Group “Ukraine in NATO”, Head of Ukrainian Parliamentary Delegation to the EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly, Vice-President of the EURONEST PA (since 2015). Has the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (since 1992). 

From September 1995 till April 1998 – Ambassador of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Belgium, to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and to the Great Duchy of Luxembourg. From October 1997 till April 1998 – Head of the Mission of Ukraine to NATO. From December 1994 to September 1995 – First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

Since March 1992 – Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Head of the National Committee on disarmament, Head of the State Interdepartmental Commission on Ukraine’s accession to the Council of Europe, Head of Ukrainian delegation on negotiations with Russia over the Black Sea Fleet.

Borys Tarasyuk joined diplomatic service of Ukraine in 1975. From 1981 till 1986 he served as Second, - First Secretary to the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations in New York. He contributed to the development of relations of Ukraine with Russia and the United States, Hungary and Poland, Romania and Moldova, Baltic and Nordic States, Latin America and the Black Sea region, the European Union and NATO, CIS and GUAM. In 1993 Ambassador Tarasyuk managed to forge the unanimous support of the UN Security Council for Ukraine in the dispute with Russia over the Ukrainian port city of Sevastopol.

He was one of the key figures in the negotiations of unprecedented complexity over the fate of Ukraine’s nuclear arsenal (world’s third largest), the Black Sea Fleet and conventional armaments. His efforts to activate the significant peacekeeping potential of Ukraine combined with proaktive diplomacy transformed Ukraine into a recognized contributor of European security and stability.

Borys Tarasyuk is active in Ukrainian politics. Leader of the People's Movement of Ukraine “Rukh” (2003-2012), Deputy Head of All-Ukraine Union “Batkivschyna” party (since 2013), participated in the leadership of two Ukrainian democratic revolutions (2004 and 2013-2014).

He is Founder and Director (since 2001) of the independent think tank and research centre - Institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation (IEAC).

Borys Tarasyuk graduated from Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University in 1975 with the diploma in international law. He is also Honorary Doctor of Lviv National University, Member of the Board of Trustees at the International Renaissance Foundation (Soros Foundation in Ukraine) and the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy, Co-Chairman of Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America, Member of the International Honorary Council at the European Academy of Diplomacy(Warsaw).

In 1997 Borys Tarasyuk was named Diplomat of the Year (nomination of the Nationwide Program “Person of the Year”). He is decorated with highest state awards of Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, France, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal and Sweden. Also decorated with Ukrainian “Order of Merits” of First, Second, and Third degrees and “The Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise” of Fifth degree.