Turkey starts training 67 young foreign diplomats

The Foreign Ministry on Monday kicked off a program to train 67 young foreign diplomats from 67 countries.

The International Young Diplomats Training Program began with a welcome speech from Deputy Foreign Minister Naci Koru in Ankara on Monday and will continue until April 24, according to a Foreign Ministry statement issued on Sunday.

In his address Koru said the world is witnessing historical changes such as the Middle East and North Africa struggling for greater democracy, liberty and trust. Noting that Turkey is a rising power with a fast-growing economy in the region, Koru said, “Economic and political transformation provide Turkey with opportunities to lead the way with a more active and dynamic foreign policy in its neighborhood.”

The diplomats will attend English-language academic platforms and conferences conducted by Foreign Ministry personnel and academics on issues ranging from Turkey’s core foreign policy principle of mediation in relations with the European Union, as well as Turkey’s history.

The aim of the program, according to the Foreign Ministry statement, is to provide these young diplomats coming from different corners of the world with the opportunity to increase their knowledge and share their professional experience and education through different social and cultural interactions.

Along with lectures related to the philosophy of policy development and international relations, the young diplomats will also visit Parliament, the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA), the Prime Minister’s Overseas Turks Agency (YTB), the Yunus Emre Institute and the Public Diplomacy Coordination office to attend various activities.

The program participants will also travel to Konya, Cappadocia and Istanbul to study Turkey’s economic, historical, cultural and touristic wealth.

The program was first held in 1992 and has hosted 785 young diplomats from 101 countries so far.

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