by Miceál O’Hurley
DUBLIN – Diplomacy in Ireland – The European Diplomat would like to announce the further awards of the Diplomatic Service Medal. The Awards Committee has unanimously agreed to recognise the steadfast leadership and dedication of Mr. Mustafa Dzhemilev, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People & Crimean Tatar Community as a personal recipient of the Diplomatic Service Medal with Valour in the December 2021 awards. Additionally, the Committee has determined that Ms. Ayla Bakkalli, the Crimean Tatar Representative to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous People be the recipient of the Diplomatic Service Medal with Honours on behalf of the Crimean Tatar people. The conferral of the Diplomatic Service Medals will take place in December.
Mustafa Dzhemilev’s leadership of the Crimean Tatar people and community has served as a beacon of light and unity for the ancient, indigenous people of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula, the Crimean Tatars, in the rebuilding of their community on Crimean soil after Ukraine’s independence, and with the support of the Ukrainian government, and especially since the devastating, attempted annexation and occupation of Crimea by Russia in 2014. In the aftermath of Russia’s illegal attempt to annex Crimea, the Crimean Tatars have been singled-out as particular targets of Russian persecution and brutality. A steady stream of Crimean Tatars have been arrested under specious circumstances and illegally transported to Russia, despite being Ukrainian citizens. Once in Russia, the Crimean Tatars have been deprived of their fundamental rights to due process, enjoy an effective defense and consequently have suffered appalling injustices including long-detention for unfounded charges. In their native Crimea, the Tatars are subjected to ongoing oppression, violence, forced disappearances and even summary execution at the hands of Russian occupying forces.
In recognition of the Herculean efforts of Mustafa Dzhemilev to continue to advocate for the human and fundamental rights of the Crimean Tatar people, and the Crimean Tatar community’s commitment to endure until their freedom is restored in what they uniformly affirm, ‘Crimea is Ukraine’, the Diplomatic Service Medal with Valour will be conferred upon Mr. Mustafa Dzhemilev personally, and the Diplomatic Service Medal with Honours upon Ms. Ayla Bakkalli on behalf of the Crimean Tatar Community.
Patron Recalls His Grandfather
It is the distinct pleasure of Diplomacy in Ireland – The European Diplomat to announce that Sinan Utku has chosen to honour the memory of Bahattin Bereket by his generosity as Patron of this year’s awards to the distinguished and heroic Crimean Tatar leaders and people.
Dr. Utku will receive the Diplomatic Service Medal with Valour on behalf of Mr. Mustafa Dzhemilev and present it to him at a later date due to the pandemic. Michael Hrycak will present the Diplomatic Service Medal with Honours to Ms. Ayla Bakkalli, the Crimean Tatar Representative to the United Nation in New York in December on behalf of the Awards Committee.
About the Diplomatic Service Medal
The Diplomatic Service Medal is struck as a medallion suspended from a bar and ribbon of blue and yellow reflecting the colours adopted by the European Union of which Ireland is an integral member. Burnished silver in colour, the medal depicts Nike, the goddess of victory surrounded by the eleven of the twelve stars of the European Union signifying that the work of the European Union and diplomats everywhere is never complete. Tradition holds that Nike represents the mythic gods as the embodiment of victory in both war and peaceful competition. As uniquely depicted on the Diplomatic Service Medal, the goddess Nike, faithful to the foundational commission of diplomats, is rendered without her sword associated with military might and instead holds aloft the torch of truth, knowledge and service lit with the flame of wisdom in her left hand while in her right she embraces the laurel wreath of peace.
The Diplomatic Service Awards are an annual event hosted by Diplomacy in Ireland – The European Diplomat. The Certificate and Medal are of exceptional design depicting the victory of diplomacy over conflict. The awards are conferred by the Editor and the Awards Chairperson each December.
Two Types of Awards for Diplomacy, International Relations, Research, Teaching & Service
The Diplomatic Service Award is a certificate that can be awarded to individuals who merit special recognition owing to their exceptional contributions of service in the fields of diplomacy, foreign affairs or international relations, in research or teaching in the academy, or in distinguished service rendered to diplomats. When the Diplomatic Service Award is conferred it is done so by means of a certificate describing the acts that merit the award.
The Diplomatic Service Medal is a medal struck in metal suspended from a clasp and ribbon. It may be conferred upon those who serve in the domestic or foreign services, holding diplomatic rank, or those who have rendered exceptional service to diplomats and the cause of diplomacy. When the Diplomatic Service Medal is conferred it is accompanied by a certificate describing the reason for the award of the medal.
Medal Conferral Categories
Diplomatic Service Medal with Honours – This category is deferred solely upon those holding the dignity of Ambassadorial or Ministerial rank, or by those who discharged the rank of Chargé d’Affaires. It appears with a silver oak leaf device attached to the ribbon to denote the special dignity for which the medal was awarded. The medal is accompanied by a Certificate describing the reasons for the medal being conferred.
Diplomatic Service Medal – The medal suspended from the ribbon is awarded to all other recipients of the medal accompanied by a Certificate describing the reasons for the medal being conferred.
Diplomatic Service Medal with Valour Device – If any recipient is presented with the award for having exhibited exceptional valour in diplomatic service for the betterment of humanity, or the safety of civilians, which merits the award of the Diplomatic Service Medal with Valour. In this instance, a ‘V’ device surrounded by a laurel wreath is attached to the ribbon to denote this rare and special distinction. The medal is accompanied by a Certificate describing the reasons for the medal being conferred.
Award Certificate
Diplomatic Service Award – Those whose contributions are deserving of recognition may be awarded the Diplomatic Service Award – Certificate of Recognition.
Conferral of Medals and Awards
Annual December Awards – The Diplomatic Service Medals and Awards are generally presented annually in December. However, the medal or award may be awarded at any time by a decision of the Editor and Awards Chairperson.
Comments from Editor-in-Chief Miceál O’Hurley
“Few peoples have known the joy of living and thriving on their indigenous lands for so long And yet, beginning with the Russian invasion of their homeland under Catherine the Great, again under Soviet rule and yet once again with Russia’s illegal attempt to annex Crimea by force in 2014, the Crimean Tatars have known great suffering,” said O’Hurley. “By sheer will, determination and devotion to his people, Mustafa Dzhemilev has continued to bind his people together and give them hope for the future, through the peaceful and democratic demands for justice, and that is worth of our recognition,” O’Hurley concluded.
Comments from Awards Chairperson Oksana Shadrina
“The sadness we all experience by witnessing the plight of the Crimean Tatars pales in comparison to the persecution, death, deportation and injustices to which the are continually subjected by their Russian occupiers,” said Shadrina. “Witnessing the strength of the great Qirimoğlu (Mustafa Dzhemilev – ‘Son of Crimea’) and determination of the Crimean Tatars to endure and be restored to their lands, assisted by Ayla Bakkalli and people from all over the world, gives us all hope that ‘Crimea is Ukraine’ will be true in every sense soon,” Shadrina stated.
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For More Information Contact:
Miceál O’Hurley, Editor-in-Chief
Diplomacy in Ireland – The European Diplomat
Email: editor@diplomacyireland.eu
Telephone: (086) 107 0017 or (01) 254 4747
