Turkey to school Namibian diplomats

Namibian diplomats will for the first time this year take part in the International Junior Diplomats Training Programme in Turkey. Turkish ambassador to Namibia, Deniz Cakar, told Namibian Sun the Comprehensive training programme is organised annually by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Diplomacy Academy, where junior diplomats gather from all over the world. The history of the training programme dates back to 1992 when it was initiated with the purpose of providing support to the newly independent republics of Central Asia and the Caucasus. “Over time the programme has extended its content and geographical scope to different countries around the world and has gradually encompassed 5 continents and more than 100 countries welcoming around 1 000 junior diplomats under the age of 35 since its inception,” said Cakar. Junior diplomats from the Balkans, East Europe, Middle East, Central Asia and the Caucasus, Latin America, South East Asia and Africa meet every year in Turkey within the context of the programme. The training combines academic perspectives with practical issues and insights in a multinational setting, at the same time offering opportunities to discover the culture, history and art of Turkey. Cakar said the programme covers disciplines of foreign policy, diplomacy, politics, society, economics, history, art and literature. With a specific focus on Turkey in these fields of study, the participants also have the opportunity to take lectures on multilateral and bilateral negotiation techniques, protocol issues, and current trends in world politics, society and economics as well as the global issues within the context of conflict resolution and mediation, and environmental diplomacy. According to her, lectures are given by academics from prominent universities, experts from think-tanks and NGOs, and high level bureaucrats. In addition to these lectures, briefings are also given by Turkish diplomats concerning that country’s bilateral relations in a regional and global perspective, in order to give an overview of foreign policy in practical terms. Participants in the programme are trained not only academically, but also in practical terms. The programme provides a multinational setting for free and dynamic discussions and interactions. Within a wide-ranging framework, each representative of a participating country will be expected not only to show active participation in all sessions, but also to present their views in a roundtable discussion titled ‘Current Challenges to Regional and Global Security: Perceptions and Responses’. Participants will also enjoy cultural and tourist visits to the cities of Denizli, Pamukkale, Izmir and Istanbul. Junior diplomats working in Namibia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who are more senior than first secretary, are eligible for the programme. Travel expenses and board and lodging will be covered by Turkey. Only one representative from each invited country will be accepted although countries may offer more than one candidate. The programme takes place between April 6 and 22. Meanwhile, training will be offered to 10 senior Namibian diplomats this year in Istanbul and Ankara on politics, economics, conference negotiations and international law, among other subjects. “This programme will be a continuous one and comes as a result of a memorandum of understanding signed between various countries, including Namibia. Economics will be one of the main features of the programme, as we all know it is the key to bilateral relations for any country and thus very imperative for diplomats,” said Cakar. WINDHOEK NAMENE HELMICH