The first International Day of Diplomats was celebrated in Brasilia on October 24 with participation from the diplomats of Bangladesh, Brazil, France, Ghana, India, Israel, Italy, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey.
The idea of celebrating International Day of Diplomats on October 24, also the United Nations Day - to recognise the hard work and sacrifices of diplomats and their families - was proposed by Indian poet-diplomat Abhay K. in his piece for a leading online daily titled 'Why the World needs International Day of Diplomats' on October 11 this year. Since then, the idea has gathered wide support from a cross-section of the international community, including diplomats of several countries.
Speaking on the occasion of the celebrations of the first International Day of Diplomats in Brasilia on October 24, Rodrigo Alexandre de Carvalho, the head of the Central Asia Division of the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, said, "Diplomats Day is an excellent way of bringing different cultures together and I hope the idea flourishes."
Eleazar Velasco Navarro, the Deputy Chief of Mission of Mexico in Brazil, said, "It is important to have a day to celebrate diplomacy and the efforts of diplomats towards making a better world."
Nahida Rahman Shumona, the Charge de Affaires and Minister of Bangladesh Embassy in Brazil, said, "International Day of Diplomats should be celebrated every year to congratulate diplomats for their hard work."
Gilles Pecassou, the Minister Counsellor and the Deputy Chief of Mission of France in Brazil, said, "International Day of Diplomats is a great idea and he hope that it is organized every year."
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Roye Ende, the Head of Administration of the Israel Embassy in Brazil, said, "Celebrating International Diplomats Day is a great way to bring the diplomatic community closer and I hope that it is celebrated regularly."
Eunice Amponash, Consul and the Head of Administration from Ghana Embassy in Brazil, said, "It is great to take some time off from busy schedule for diplomats to share their culture on such a occasion."
Solly Sebola from the South African Embassy said, "It is important to celebrate diplomacy."
Abhay K., who coordinated the event in Brasilia, said, "The families of diplomats have to face immense hardships. Diplomats have to move from one continent to another every three to four years, overcome language and cultural barriers, make friends quickly, only to leave all this behind at the time of departure. Their work remains largely invisible to the public back home. Diplomats are often stereotyped as privileged lotus-eaters. These perceptions need to be changed. Celebrating International Diplomats Day can provide an opportunity for the general public to know more about the vital work diplomats do to keep peace and to bring our world closer."
"It was a very short time between the conception of the idea and its execution this year. I hope that the next year the International Diplomats Day will be celebrated on 24 October all across the world," he added.