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Diplomacy in Ireland - The European Diplomat seeks to help people better understand the world through original interviews, news and analysis.

30/09/2025

Sandu's PAS earned an impressive victory in the face of tremendous Russian interference. The mobilisation of the Russian Orthodox Church to interfere in Moldovan domestic politics highlights the high stakes and 'no holds barred' attitude of the increasingly bellicose Russian engagement with Europe. Will the EU play its part in speeding on Moldova's integration into Europe before delays cause dissatisfaction in the Moldovan electorate?

by Miceál O’Hurley CHIȘINĂU — Upon her meteoric rise to lead Moldova in her 2000 landslide election victory to become

03/09/2025

A new article - from Guest Columnist Lin Chia-lung, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)

by Lin Chia-lung Guest Columnist TAIPEI CITY — Today, the world faces mounting uncertainties and challenges—from prolonged conflicts and democratic backsliding

18/08/2025

The failure of the Putin-Trump Alaska Summit to announce any tangible results isn't as benign as it may at first seem. Putin walked away the real winner at Ukraine and Europe's expense.

by Miceal O'Hurley KYIV — The Alaska Summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin ultimately served as little more than

04/07/2025

I'm bound to be misunderstood by the truth needed saying.

Metropolitan Onufry is the author of his many problems. His failure to shirk off the Russian yoke remains bewildering as he claims war to be an offense against God but he follows the Moscow Patriarch Kirill who declared a 'Holy War' on Ukraine. Metropolitan Onufriy has never resolved if he is part of the 'Holy Rus' or an Orthodox Christian bishop. His personal piety will not save him from God's judgment.

Still, it is his right to be wrong when it comes to religion. I know - the European Charter of Fundamental Freedoms guarantees it.
It was beneath the President of Ukraine to issue a Presidential Decree to deprive Metropolitan Onufry of his citizenship. A lower court could have achieved that goal with due process. The Presidential Decree makes it appear like political retribution and petty revenge.

The UN, EU, USA and World Council of Churches have already voiced their skepticism over the law banning the Moscow Patriarchate Church from operating in Ukraine. This won't help Ukraine's image at a critical junction where it needs all the support it can get.

The SBU should not have cited his opposition to the formation of the canonical Orthodox Church of Ukraine as a reason for depriving him of his citizenship. It is an offense against the European Charter of Fundamental Rights to deprive a person of their personal religious beliefs - no matter how bad, misguided or hypocritical they may be.

As holding the citizenship of an invader state is sufficient to deprive someone of Ukrainian citizenship the invocation of religious beliefs was unworthy and wrong. it is a binary issue - either he held a Russian passport in violation of Ukrainian law or he didn't. Religion shouldn't have been a factor.

Ukraine deserves to be part of the European Union. Violating the Charter of Fundamental Rights is no way of arguing for inclusion.

by Miceál O’Hurley KYIV – The decision of President Vladimir Zelenskii to terminate the Ukrainian citizenship of Metropolitan Onufry of

22/06/2025

My Opinion & Analysis on the US strikes on Iran's purported nuclear sites. Includes Friday's television interviews on why the Troika's diplomatic efforts were doomed to fail and my post-strike analysis for Al Qahera News Network this morning.

by Miceál O’Hurley GENEVA — If expectations were low for any real progress in Friday’s diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the

28/05/2025

Thousands of Palestinians, Ukrainians, Burmese, Sudanese and others die in conflicts each week. It happens because governments pursue peace with less zeal than they do war, commerce and economic prosperity. Media outlets are failing to engage the public in thoughtful, meaningful ways. Public indifference is the outcome. If we want wars and violence to stop, we must not forfeit the public space to violence by acquiescing to news as entertainment .

by Miceál O’Hurley GENEVA — Even the most cursory perusal of recent headlines in the morning news feed provides enough

15/05/2025

Syria's chances for success increased markedly with Trump's announcement the U.S. will end its 46-year old sanctions regime against Syria. The policy shift is a credit to Trump but Erdogan and Türkiye were the architects of this change and their stock as consequential regional and international leaders has risen - again.

by Miceál O’Hurley RIYADH — United States President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would be lifting its Syria sanctions regime.

09/05/2025

My report from Rome - Pope Leo XIV elected. I recount my lunch with the then Augustian Friar more than 20-years ago.

by Miceál O’Hurley ROME — I have returned from the Eternal City where the College of Cardinals have surprised the

30/04/2025

My reflections on Pope Francis, his funeral and the future of the Catholic Church under a new Pontificate

by Miceál O’Hurley VATICAN CITY — Standing outside Castel San Angelo, the medieval stronghold meant to protect popes during times

23/04/2025

The Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2025 hosted a most consequential panel on Syria, reconstruction and reconciliation. Despite measurable progress in forming an inclusive cabinet reflective of the diversity of Syrian society, restoring hope to the Syrian people (see info about recent poll by The Economist) and maintaining an improved security environment the West and Arab countries still fail to fully support Syria's transition from a dictatorship to fledgling democracy. The consequences of failure are real and would have severe outcomes for regional security and stability.

For the immediate, Israel needs to stop violating Syrian airspace to conduct raids on Gaza and Lebanon and the US and other nations need to relax the sanctions regimes imposed over 50-years ago to punish the former al-Assad dictatorships.

by Miceál O’Hurley ANTALYA — Foreign policy towards Syria bears on its future in meaningful ways in a

16/04/2025

Botswana's dynamic Minister for International Relations leads diplomatic and promotional activities at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2025. Full article and video interview.

by Miceál O'Hurley ANTALYA — Meeting on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2025 with Botswana’s Minister of International

15/04/2025

My interview with Dr. Phenyo Butale - Minister of International Relations - Botswana whom I caught-up with on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2025.

Botswana has emerged as the great African success story. With a genuine democratic tradition of governance it achieved greatness when it managed a successful transition of governance that no other African nation has managed so seamlessly.

Rich in mineral wealth, Botswana has taken its role as leaders seriously, empowering the population by extending free education through the first degree - an incredible achievement which feeds-into its growth both domestically and internationally. The security Botswana manages, the rising level of education, elevated standard of living of the average citizen and natural resources has marked Botswana as a destination for investment.

Dr. Butale was only one of the many Presidents, Prime Ministers and Ministers of Foreign Affairs from the Global South that participated in great numbers in the many forums of the ADF 2025.

Interview with the Honourable Minister of International Relations - Dr. Phenyo Butale of Botswana. From its Democratic tradition to a successful transition ...

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