On Thursday May 7, junior diplomats from Latin America and the Caribbean received their certificates for their successful participation during the training programme ‘Enabling Closer Cooperation’ at the Clingendael Academy.

For the first time in its history, the Clingendael Institute welcomed diplomats from six countries from Latin America and the Caribbean: Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago. The programme was aimed to promote regional cooperation in the region and deepen the already existing close connections with The Kingdom of The Netherlands.

For four weeks, the junior diplomats improved their diplomatic skills during diverse interactive sessions and simulations, such as trainings on negotiation skills, public speaking and intercultural communication. While staying in The Hague, the city of Security, Peace and Justice, the diplomats got the chance to visit a wide range of international organisations, as well as Brussels, the Capital of the European Union. which often served as an example for regional cooperation during the course.

Closing ceremony

During the closing ceremony, the Ambassadors of the Republic of Cuba, the Republic of Guatemala and the Minister Counsellors for the Republic of Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic were present to convey their congratulations, as well as representatives of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In addition, we were delighted and honored that the Ambassadors for Republic of Panamá, H.E. Willys Delvalle and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, H.E. Haifa Aissami Madah, were also present. We look forward to further cooperation with Panamá, Venezuela and the other participating countries.

The ceremony and training programme were closed by an impassioned speech by Ms. Joanne Brooks, one of the diplomats from Trinidad and Tobago, held on behalf of all the participants. Ms. Brooks stressed that “south-south cooperation is firmly on the radar of our respective governments as we seek to find strategic ways to navigate important issues, such as Environmental Degradation and Transnational Crime…… In recognition that no single country can solve these and many other global problems on its own. Additionally, our governments are committed to working together for the economic and social development of our countries and by extension our peoples” (Joanne Brooks, diplomat from Trinidad and Tobago, Thursday, May 7, 2015).

Action for closer cooperation

The participants emphasized that the training programme has increased the sense of action for closer cooperation and the development of the participating countries. In all their diversity, time and time again, the junior diplomats found their unity of interest in security and development. Now the programme has come to an end, we hope that the diplomats will bring all their acquired ideas and skills back home and develop and implement new practical plans for regional cooperation. Because, as intellectual Herbert Spencer once said, in the end, “the great aim of education is not knowledge, but action”.

In sum, the Clingendael Academy feels honored to have contributed to the construction of new professional relationships as well as lasting bonds of friendship between the junior diplomats, our institute and The Kingdom of The Netherlands.

- 13 May 2015

         [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"5264","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"281","width":"480"}}]]

Closing ceremony training programme ‘Enabling Closer Cooperation’, May 7, 2015, The Clingendael Institute.