Intensive Diplomatic English Training Concludes
The closing ceremony for the second round Intensive Diplomatic English Training was held on Friday August 29, 2014 at Ethiopian Civil Service University Renaissance Hall. Ambassador Birhane Gebrechristos, State Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other dignitaries were in attendance. The training was organized by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ethiopian Civil Service University School of Graduate Studies, and British Council carried out the Training Programme.
Ato Fekade Beyene, Director for School of Diplomacy and International Relations and Foreign Service Training Institute officially welcomed the participants of the closing ceremony. He thanked them for honoring the invitation and be able to attend the closing Ceremony.
Ambassador Birhane Gebrekirstos on his part expressed his heartfelt gratitude and deep appreciation for the continued support of the UNDP in Sponsoring the training programme and to the British council for carrying out actual training. He also said
" I would note the continued effort of ECSU, its staff and in particular its president Dr. Hailemichael Abera who have so early started assisting the programme in all areas. The whole process has been remarkably successful and I am very grateful for your efforts and your hard work."
He also congratulated the trainees for successful completion of the training programme.
In his explanation about his Ministry`s activities to enhance diplomatic relations, Ambassador Birhane said
" In order to promote our national interest, we must inhance our diplomatic relations. As part of the process, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with ECSU established a school of Diplomacy and International Relations for graduate program. We also set up a Foreign Service Training Institute to provide a one your program for Diplomates to build their capacity on Specific issues "
said Ambassador Birhane in conclusion.
Dr. Samuel Bwalye UNDP Ethiopian country director on his part said UNDP is Committed to capacity Development programmes that are well aligned with the government programme of capacitating different institutions to be able to discharge their mandates .
He also said you don`t have effective diplomacy, if you can`t have effective communications and be able to establish a strong linkage with other countries. He expressed the UNDP’S Commitment to work with MoFA to assist the Diplomats to acquire those skills. He finally congratulated the trainees and said MoFA is looking forword to working together with the British council.
Mr Tom Miscioscia British Council Country Directer Thanked MoFA, UNDP and Foreign Service Training Institute for allowing the British Council to provide this training course. There had been numerous discussions as to how we might support the programme. Big thanks to the UNDP, British Council Training team with out whom this would not be Able to happen, said Mr Tom.
The training was conducted for one month and sixty two trainee diplomats took part in the training.