Online education

Summary

This transcript covers the opening of the 50th International Forum on Diplomatic Training in Montenegro. The event brought together representatives from 40 countries to discuss the importance of diplomatic training and competencies in today’s complex global landscape.

Deputy Prime Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic welcomed participants, emphasizing Montenegro’s role as a meeting place for knowledge and experiences. He stressed the paramount importance of diplomacy in maintaining global peace and the need for diplomats to be skilled negotiators and bridge-builders between nations.

Emil Brix, Director of the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna, highlighted the forum’s growth from a small Western-focused meeting to a global affair, reflecting the changing world order. He expressed support for Montenegro’s EU aspirations and the importance of adapting diplomatic education to current challenges.

Barbara Bodine, co-chair of the IFDT, underscored the critical role of diplomacy in addressing complex global issues like climate change and pandemics. She emphasized the need for well-trained, motivated diplomats to navigate these challenges and the indispensable nature of diplomacy for the future of societies and governments.

Ekaterina Paniklova from UNDP Montenegro congratulated the forum on its 50th anniversary and linked the event to recent global initiatives like the Summit for the Future. She highlighted the evolving nature of diplomacy and the need for diplomats to possess adaptive leadership skills and proficiency in leveraging technology.

The speakers collectively emphasized the importance of diplomatic training in addressing global challenges, the need for collaboration between nations, and the role of diplomacy in shaping a peaceful and prosperous future.

Keypoints

Major discussion points:

– The 50th anniversary of the International Forum on Diplomatic Training (IFDT)

– The importance of diplomacy and diplomatic training in addressing global challenges

– Montenegro’s role as host and its aspirations to join the EU

– The evolution and growth of the IFDT over the past 50 years

– The need for diplomats to develop new skills and competencies for the modern world

Overall purpose/goal:

The purpose of this discussion was to open the 50th International Forum on Diplomatic Training, highlighting the importance of diplomatic training in today’s complex global environment and celebrating the growth and achievements of the IFDT over the past five decades.

Tone:

The overall tone was formal yet warm and celebratory. Speakers expressed pride in the IFDT’s accomplishments and gratitude towards the host country, Montenegro. There was an underlying sense of urgency regarding the need for skilled diplomacy in addressing global challenges, but the tone remained optimistic about the future of diplomacy and diplomatic training. The tone remained consistent throughout the discussion, with each speaker building upon the themes introduced by previous speakers.

Speakers

– Moderator: No specific role or title mentioned

– Ervin Ibrahimovic: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro

– Emil Brix: Director of the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna

– Barbara Bodine: Director of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, IFDT co-chair

– Ekaterina Paniklova: Resident Representative of UNDP office in Montenegro

Additional speakers:

– None identified

The 50th International Forum on Diplomatic Training (IFDT) in Montenegro marked a significant milestone in diplomatic education and international cooperation. This event brought together representatives from 40 countries to discuss the importance of diplomatic training in today’s complex global landscape.

Deputy Prime Minister Ervin Ibrahimović warmly welcomed participants, emphasizing Montenegro’s role as a meeting place for knowledge and experiences. He stressed the importance of diplomacy in maintaining global peace and highlighted Montenegro’s aspirations to become the next EU member. Ibrahimović also mentioned the Summer School for Young Diplomats, underscoring Montenegro’s commitment to nurturing future diplomatic talent.

Emil Brix, Director of the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna, provided historical context for the IFDT. He noted its growth from a small Western-focused meeting to a global affair, reflecting the changing world order. Brix highlighted new members from Kuwait, the Dominican Republic, and the Oriental School in Paris, demonstrating the forum’s expanding reach. He expressed Austria’s support for Montenegro’s EU candidacy, emphasizing the significance of holding the meeting in a Western Balkan country for the first time.

Barbara Bodine, co-chair of the IFDT and Director of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, underscored the indispensable nature of diplomacy for the future of societies and governments. She shared her personal journey to Montenegro and first impressions of the Balkans, adding a touch of warmth to her remarks. Bodine emphasized that well-trained and motivated diplomats are crucial for navigating complex global challenges that cannot be addressed bilaterally, such as climate change and pandemics.

Ekaterina Paniklova, Resident Representative of UNDP Montenegro, congratulated the forum on its 50th anniversary and linked the event to recent global initiatives like the Summit for the Future and the pact for the future. She highlighted the evolving nature of diplomacy and the need for diplomats to possess adaptive leadership skills, cross-cultural communication proficiency, and the ability to leverage technology effectively. Paniklova emphasized the importance of engaging with younger generations of diplomats, noting their unique perspectives on technology and communication.

All speakers expressed gratitude towards Montenegro for hosting the event and reiterated the crucial role of diplomatic academies in preparing diplomats and fostering international cooperation. They collectively emphasized the need for diplomatic education to adapt to current challenges and the fragmented nature of international relations.

In conclusion, the 50th IFDT in Montenegro served as a platform for reaffirming the critical role of diplomacy in today’s world while highlighting the need for continuous adaptation and skill development. The event showcased a shared commitment to enhancing diplomatic competencies and fostering global dialogue in the face of complex challenges, setting a positive tone for future collaboration and innovation in the field of diplomatic training.

Moderator: Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the official opening of the 50th International Forum on Diplomatic Training. It is a distinct pleasure and honor for all of us in Montenegro to be the hosts of the Jubilee Gathering of the Directors of Diplomatic Academies and Institutes around the globe. I believe that Montenegro is a country of rich culture and history, and exceptional natural beauties will serve as an additional inspiration for discussion, exchanging views and experiences over these two days. I invite now Mr. Ibrahimović, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, to address the audience. Dear Minister, please take the floor.

Ervin Ibrahimovic: Thank you. Your Excellencies, distinguished ambassadors, dear Ms. Paniklova, dear friend, dear ladies and gentlemen, with distinct pleasure on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, I am facing over 50 representatives of 40 different countries. Your huge outcome underscores the importance of this event and is a testimony to our joint commitment to honing skills, competencies and abilities of diplomats in the face of numerous challenges. Montenegro is proud to be the host of the Jubilee 50th International Forum on Diplomatic Training Gathering Directors of Diplomatic Academies around the globe. With this, we further testify to our hospitality of football and openness. During this Jubilee, this reinforces our role as a meeting place of knowledges and experiences. The role of diplomacy is paramount for keeping peace around the globe. In this dynamic environment, diplomats are expected to be more than mere representatives of their nations. They are there to build bridges between nations. They are skilled negotiators and strategists that surpass their national borders. So the topic of today’s event, elevating diplomatic success, unleashing the power of competencies, is particularly important. Emerging problems become ever more complex, so building the skills of diplomats becomes key for successful diplomacy. To a certain degree, everyone is a diplomat. Whenever we travel or cooperate with someone from abroad, we represent our country. Nevertheless, professional diplomats require specific skills, skills to build bonds among people and nations, building trust, representing the interests of our nations, and deep understanding of global context. Our task is to recognize, cherish, and develop such talents. Diplomatic Academy has a key role in preparing the diplomats for the pending tasks. They offer tools to understand context, recognize challenges, and seek solutions. In this dynamic and changing world, the training is not only gaining knowledge to do our job, but an opportunity for continuous professional development. Against this backdrop, the cooperation between countries and among countries that share their experiences and knowledge is paramount. Diplomatic Academies serve as an important link in this process. They serve as a platform for exchanges. Through joint training, seminars, and projects, they enable diplomats to develop their skills and to hone their competencies. This cherishes bilateral and multilateral relations towards our common goal of preserving peace and stability. Montenegro, as a country that aspires to be the first next member of EU, this is one of the key processes or cornerstone for our future accession. One of the cooperation programs that we are particularly proud of is the Summer School for Young Diplomats, Gábor Vukovic. For the past 17 years, it’s been gathering young diplomats from all parts of the world. It is a place of future leaders where they learn about the topical issues in the area of diplomacy. But one of the main values is the opportunity to build bridges of future cooperation. Montenegro is a country of rich history and cultural heritage. At the border and frontier between the West and the East, the meeting place of different cultures, rich in natural beauties. We hope you will use this opportunity to learn about Montenegro and return at your own convenience. I wish to thank Ambassador Briggs and Ambassador Barton for their trust and the colleagues from the Secretariat for preparation of this event, particularly the UN Institute for Training and Development and Diplo-Foundation that have provided their support and our traditional partner, UNDP. Obviously, all of you as well who came to Montenegro on this occasion. I wish you fruitful work and thank you for your attention.

Moderator: Thank you. It is a pleasure now to give the floor to the Director of the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna, Mr. Brix.

Emil Brix: Mr. Minister, Excellencies, dear colleagues, 50 is a very special number. 50 means that we, you, did something right. And when I think about how this network started in 1973 with an informal meeting of someone from Georgetown in Washington and someone from the institution in Vienna, it was meant to be simply let’s have a few Western countries talk about diplomacy in a stable situation of the Cold War. Totally different. And when I look now at the number of people attending here, it has become a global affair and very necessarily so. So having such a network in the fragmented world order that we have, with nobody knowing who is really calling the shots. Well, maybe some people know who is calling the shots. I’m looking at Mr. Ischinger. He knows who’s calling the shots, probably. Or Federica Mogherini. She may know who’s calling the shots. So we need to adapt our diplomatic education to what is going on here. And we are thankful that for the first time, this meeting can take place in a country of the Western Balkans. And we are happily supporting that this country hosts this because within Europe, there’s also so much dynamics. Sometimes, as we know, the dynamics is a terrible one when we look into Ukraine. But in the Western Balkans, there is a lot of positive dynamism as well. And when there is a country where you can prove that, that’s Montenegro. And as an Austrian, I support personally, and my country supports, the front-runner status of Montenegro. And you teach to join the European Union by 2028, which is a very ambitious objective. But you have friends who support your endeavors. So thank you for having us all here in Montenegro for this occasion. As I said, it’s growing. And Barbara and me, we try to coordinate a little bit this growth. There are a few new members here for the first time. Colleagues from Kuwait, and colleagues also from the Dominican Republic are new here and also a colleague from the Oriental School in Paris, if I understand it rightly. So it’s a slowly growing undertaking. Let us hope that what we do here, gaining more competencies is really helpful. And for doing so, I again promise that we will help Diplomatic Academy of Montenegro wherever we can. To my friends in Montenegro, it’s not far to Vienna. There are daily direct connections to Vienna. And if we can do something, we will do it. But here now, I wish us all simply a very interesting, successful, and hopefully informative also about this country. Meeting the 50th meeting of the IFDT. Welcome from my side.

Moderator: It’s a pleasure to have with us the director of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and the IFDT co-chair, Ms. Bodine.

Barbara Bodine: Thank you all. And thank you, Mr. Minister. Pleasure. And to be hosted in this beautiful country. I got in last night to Dubrovnik. And while it was probably not the closest airport, it did afford me an opportunity to take a windchill tour of a little bit of the Balkans my first time here. And it was absolutely beautiful. I want to underscore what my colleague Emil has said, is that this is a milestone meeting. And I think it’s appropriate that it be in Montenegro, in a country that is emerging, growing, engaging, and about to join the EU. Because it did start 50 years ago, as Emil said, with a very small group of people sitting in Vienna, thinking it would be nice to get together every once in a while and just chat about how do we train and prepare our diplomats. It was a good idea. But it was a very small group and a very narrow group. And our membership now, we have 40 here today. Our membership is, I think, well over 60. And it goes from the smallest Pacific Island states to some of the largest countries in the world. I’ve been coming to these now for 10 years. And one other delight is the number of members who do come routinely and regularly, now becomes kind of an alumni or a friendship society. What is critical about the IFDT is that it recognizes the critical role of diplomacy in the world. We all know, too tragically, that wars are easy to start. They’re very hard to end. We know that trade disputes are very easy to start. And they’re very hard to end. And almost any problem, you can get started trying to figure out how do you bring it back in a way that brings not just peace, but brings stability and justice and prosperity to the people who are affected. How do you protect states from some of the worst ravages in our current world? And now we’re up against some enemies who we can’t even sit down at the table and talk to them. We have climate change. We have a number of, we have pandemics. So we’re facing threats to our survival, our stability, our prosperity, our very existence that we cannot talk to. But we need to be able to talk about. And we need to understand that maybe once upon a time, two governments could sit down and work out their differences and hopefully avoid or end a conflict. Now we know that we all need to sit down together and talk about how do we deal with threats to our very existence that cannot be done bilaterally, cannot be done by one government, cannot be done even by government in some cases. And so the complexity of the world demands that we have the best and the brightest, the best trained, the best educated, and the best motivated diplomats. I have been asked by my students, you know, well, what will happen to diplomacy in the future? And I said, well, we will either go one of two ways. Either we will continue to spiral into some of the conflicts and chaos that we seem to be collecting right now, in which case we will definitely need diplomats. Or we can be Pollyannic and peace will break out and we will all cooperate on climate change and pandemics and kleptocracy and everything. And it will be a wonderful world. And we will still need diplomats because human nature being what it is, there will still be disputes if not conflicts. So putting the effort, putting the commitment, putting the political will behind the need to recruit, to train, to educate, to advance solid diplomats. is one of the most critical jobs in the world today. We tend to be the smallest ministries in our governments, we tend to be less funded, just airplanes cost more. But we are irreplaceable and indispensable to borrow from a former Secretary of State. She referred to us as an indispensable nation, and I would with all due respect to her say it is not any one nation that is indispensable, but I would say that diplomacy and diplomats are indispensable to the future of our societies, our governments, and our future. So being a part of this organization, having the honor to be one of the two co-chairs, and having the opportunity to travel the world once a year and meet my colleagues is one of the best parts of my job. Because this is the 50th anniversary, I will say that also my dean has asked me to convey the school’s very deep commitment and very strong encouragement to the forum and to Georgetown University’s involvement in the IFDT going forward. So thank you all very much, I look forward to this week, I look forward to being able to talk with my colleagues, and much more importantly, I look forward to being able to learn from my colleagues this week. So thank you all.

Moderator: Thank you, last but not least, our longstanding partner in diplomatic training, in particular in organizing the School for Young Diplomats, Gavro Vukovic, UNDP, office in Montenegro would like to ask Ms. Paniklova, resident representative, to take the floor.

Ekaterina Paniklova: Good morning, Dobro jutro, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ibrahimovic, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Directors of Diplomatic Academies, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of United Nations Development Program in Montenegro, let me convey our best wishes, congratulations on your gathering, and congratulate all of you with your 50th anniversary, although 50 is still young, I think this is a very nice chapter in the forum’s life, considering the number of members, the number of prominent leaders coming in this very difficult and interesting times that we live in. And I also want to thank our very long-term partner, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, for being such a gracious and generous host and creating this opportunity and space to meet not only professionals and experts, but very prominent leaders coming to Montenegro. It’s also very significant that this event is taking place just a few weeks after the summit of the future, which took place on 22nd of September in New York, and was leaders of our nations accepted, adopted one of the first probably in the history of humankind pact for the future, which includes a global digital compact and a declaration for future generations. And it gives us signs and milestones of what we are looking at in today’s very challenging world. It was not an easy conversation, we understood from our colleagues in New York, but those diplomats that worked, your colleagues in the ministries and permanent missions made it happen. And it again talks to the importance of diplomacy. Over years, we saw and we know that diplomacy demands more than just experience or traditional skills. It requires real strategic mastery of competencies that can adapt to the new global realities. We often, as humankind, find ourselves at critical crossroads where traditional methods of crafting states or crafting future roadmaps for our lives are facing global challenges, climate change, digital transformation, economic inequality, shifting geopolitics, and we can continue the list on and on. And whenever we have this, this is basically for the nations, for the states to effectively address these issues. Diplomats are always on the front line, and they need to be not only just knowledgeable, but they need to be agile and they need to be equipped with adaptive leadership skills, cross-cultural communication skills, proficiency in leveraging data technology, and much more. And I speak – and I think that today’s conference, the title, Elevating Diplomatic Success, Unleashing the Power of Competence, speak for itself, very forward-looking motto of the conversation. For us, obviously, Diplomatic Academies, with whom UNDP has been working in many countries of the world, and particularly here in Montenegro, is not just a lecture or learning from best practices, it’s also a laboratory where a transformation begins, where diplomats are learning about the world from the global point of view and trying to translate global agenda to regional, to local, to their own country, to the last – not last, but the only person known in the world that actually is looking into the freedom of choice of human life. In this moment, I want to really go back to June, July, when we had a summer school of young diplomats coming to Montenegro. There were around representatives of 46 countries, many diplomats from your countries. And when they were gathering, we had the first opening event. For them, they wanted to learn about the world, but we wanted to learn from them, because they are looking at the world from a completely different point of view. They didn’t know how to play in the streets during summer, just knocking at the door or shouting, can you come out and play? They learned, they grew up with technology, they are typing faster than us, they are working with AI, they are looking at social media. This is a completely new generation. So here I think whenever we are working with diplomacy, our plea as United Nations Development Program is also to not only to teach, to train young people, but also to listen to them, to see their aspirations and needs as they are evolving according to the, of course, human life, development of human life, but they are also giving interesting spaces for us to expand and put our expertise forward. In closing, I want to again express our deepest gratitude for the partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for the International Forum of Diplomacy. Thank you for bringing it to Montenegro. This is a very nice event for us to see such a number of prominent leaders and experts and we hope that it will give another opportunity and space for Montenegro to host even more, where we will be happy to help and contribute. I wish the conference best of success and I hope that you will enjoy the beauty of Montenegro, which is, in my humble opinion, one of the most beautiful countries in the world. With all respect to all, but you will see yourselves today, tomorrow and the day after. Thank you very much. Hvala puno.

Agreement Points

Importance of diplomatic training and competencies

Ervin Ibrahimovic

Emil Brix

Barbara Bodine

Ekaterina Paniklova

Diplomats need specific skills to build bonds and represent national interests

Diplomatic education must adapt to the fragmented world order

Best trained and motivated diplomats are crucial for addressing complex global challenges

Diplomats require adaptive leadership skills and cross-cultural communication proficiency

All speakers emphasized the critical need for well-trained diplomats with specialized skills to address complex global challenges in a rapidly changing world.

Role of diplomatic academies in fostering international cooperation

Ervin Ibrahimovic

Emil Brix

Barbara Bodine

Ekaterina Paniklova

Diplomatic academies are key in preparing diplomats and fostering exchanges

The IFDT network has grown to become a global affair

IFDT recognizes the critical role of diplomacy in the world

Diplomatic academies serve as laboratories for transformation

Speakers agreed on the crucial role of diplomatic academies and forums like IFDT in preparing diplomats and fostering international cooperation through exchanges and training programs.

Evolving nature of global challenges

Ervin Ibrahimovic

Barbara Bodine

Ekaterina Paniklova

Emerging problems are becoming more complex

The world faces threats that cannot be addressed bilaterally

Diplomacy must adapt to new global realities like climate change and digital transformation

Speakers concurred that global challenges are becoming increasingly complex, requiring multilateral approaches and adaptation of diplomatic practices.

Similar Viewpoints

Both speakers expressed support for Montenegro’s aspirations to join the European Union, highlighting the country’s progress and the importance of this goal.

Ervin Ibrahimovic

Emil Brix

Montenegro aspires to be the next EU member

Austria supports Montenegro’s EU candidacy

Both speakers emphasized Montenegro’s role as a gracious host and its natural beauty, showcasing the country’s hospitality and attractiveness for international events.

Ervin Ibrahimovic

Ekaterina Paniklova

Montenegro is proud to host the 50th IFDT gathering

Montenegro’s beauty and hospitality are highlighted

Unexpected Consensus

Importance of engaging with younger generations of diplomats

Ervin Ibrahimovic

Ekaterina Paniklova

Diplomatic academies are key in preparing diplomats and fostering exchanges

The importance of engaging with younger generations of diplomats

While most speakers focused on traditional diplomatic training, Paniklova unexpectedly emphasized the need to learn from younger diplomats, particularly regarding their perspectives on technology and communication. This aligns with Ibrahimovic’s mention of the Summer School for Young Diplomats, suggesting a shared recognition of the value of engaging with emerging diplomatic talent.

Overall Assessment

Summary

The speakers demonstrated strong agreement on the importance of diplomatic training, the role of diplomatic academies, and the need to adapt to evolving global challenges. There was also consensus on Montenegro’s role as a host and its EU aspirations.

Consensus level

High level of consensus among speakers, implying a shared vision for the future of diplomatic training and international cooperation. This agreement suggests a collective commitment to enhancing diplomatic competencies and fostering global dialogue in the face of complex challenges.

Overall Assessment

Summary

There were no significant areas of disagreement identified among the speakers.

Disagreement level

The level of disagreement was minimal to non-existent. All speakers generally agreed on the importance of diplomatic training, the role of diplomatic academies, and the need for adapting to global challenges. This consensus suggests a unified approach to addressing the challenges in modern diplomacy and diplomatic training.

Similar Viewpoints

Both speakers expressed support for Montenegro’s aspirations to join the European Union, highlighting the country’s progress and the importance of this goal.

Ervin Ibrahimovic

Emil Brix

Montenegro aspires to be the next EU member

Austria supports Montenegro’s EU candidacy

Both speakers emphasized Montenegro’s role as a gracious host and its natural beauty, showcasing the country’s hospitality and attractiveness for international events.

Ervin Ibrahimovic

Ekaterina Paniklova

Montenegro is proud to host the 50th IFDT gathering

Montenegro’s beauty and hospitality are highlighted

Key Takeaways

The importance of diplomatic training and competencies is paramount in addressing complex global challenges

Diplomatic academies play a crucial role in preparing diplomats and fostering international cooperation

Montenegro’s hosting of the 50th IFDT gathering highlights its aspirations for EU membership and role in international diplomacy

The nature of global challenges is evolving, requiring diplomats to adapt and develop new skills

Engaging with younger generations of diplomats is essential for the future of diplomacy

Resolutions and Action Items

Continue to support and expand the IFDT network to foster global cooperation in diplomatic training

Adapt diplomatic education to address emerging global challenges and new realities

Support Montenegro’s efforts to join the European Union

Unresolved Issues

Specific strategies for addressing complex global threats like climate change and pandemics

How to effectively integrate new technologies and digital competencies into diplomatic training

Ways to increase funding and resources for diplomatic academies and training programs

Suggested Compromises

None identified

To a certain degree, everyone is a diplomat. Whenever we travel or cooperate with someone from abroad, we represent our country.

Speaker

Ervin Ibrahimovic

Reason

This comment broadens the concept of diplomacy beyond professional diplomats, suggesting that all citizens have a role in international relations.

Impact

It set a tone of inclusivity and highlighted the importance of cultural understanding for all, not just professional diplomats.

So we need to adapt our diplomatic education to what is going on here. And we are thankful that for the first time, this meeting can take place in a country of the Western Balkans.

Speaker

Emil Brix

Reason

This comment emphasizes the need for diplomatic training to evolve with global changes and recognizes the significance of holding the meeting in Montenegro.

Impact

It shifted the focus to the importance of adapting diplomatic education and highlighted the role of emerging nations in international diplomacy.

We know that trade disputes are very easy to start. And they’re very hard to end. And almost any problem, you can get started trying to figure out how do you bring it back in a way that brings not just peace, but brings stability and justice and prosperity to the people who are affected.

Speaker

Barbara Bodine

Reason

This comment provides a nuanced view of diplomatic challenges, emphasizing the complexity of resolving conflicts and the broader goals of diplomacy beyond just ending disputes.

Impact

It deepened the conversation by highlighting the multifaceted nature of diplomatic work and its impact on people’s lives.

And now we’re up against some enemies who we can’t even sit down at the table and talk to them. We have climate change. We have a number of, we have pandemics. So we’re facing threats to our survival, our stability, our prosperity, our very existence that we cannot talk to. But we need to be able to talk about.

Speaker

Barbara Bodine

Reason

This comment introduces the concept of global challenges that transcend traditional diplomatic frameworks, highlighting the need for new approaches.

Impact

It expanded the scope of the discussion to include non-traditional diplomatic challenges and the need for innovative solutions.

Diplomats are always on the front line, and they need to be not only just knowledgeable, but they need to be agile and they need to be equipped with adaptive leadership skills, cross-cultural communication skills, proficiency in leveraging data technology, and much more.

Speaker

Ekaterina Paniklova

Reason

This comment outlines the evolving skill set required for modern diplomats, emphasizing the need for adaptability and technological proficiency.

Impact

It shifted the conversation towards the specific competencies needed in modern diplomacy and the role of diplomatic academies in developing these skills.

Overall Assessment

These key comments shaped the discussion by broadening the concept of diplomacy, emphasizing the need for adaptation in diplomatic education, highlighting the complexity of modern global challenges, and outlining the evolving skill set required for diplomats. The conversation progressed from general observations about the importance of diplomacy to specific discussions about the competencies needed in the face of emerging global issues. This evolution reflected a shared recognition of the changing nature of international relations and the need for diplomatic training to keep pace with these changes.