On 7 March 2014, the official launch of the EU-funded project “Capacity building in International Relations in Georgia” took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, in Tbilisi. The programme, organised by the Diplomatic Training Centre of the MFA and the project team, included welcome speeches from Ms Maia PANJIKIDZE, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, and Mr Boris LAROCHEVITCH, Minister Counsellor, and representative of the EU Delegation to Georgia.
Representatives of the consortium implementing the project were also present: the College of Europe Development Office (consortium leader), Estonian School of Diplomacy and Georgian Foundation of Strategic and International Studies.
Dr Ekke NOMM, Director of the Estonian School of Diplomacy and Key Expert in International Relations, explained to the audience the project objectives and the main activities to be implemented over the next two years. A press conference and a reception, attended by numerous representatives of various Georgian ministries, services and embassies, rounded up the event.
This two-year project – Capacity building in International Relations in Georgia – was awarded to the consortium led by the College of Europe Development Office in November 2013. The overall objective of this initiative is to support the strategic development, capacity building and promotion of the Diplomatic Training Centre (DTC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and by this to contribute to the implementation of the major part of the Institutional Reform Plan of the beneficiary institutions.
A large number of activities will be implemented including training seminars, study visits to Europe, curricula development of standard and short training courses on diplomacy related topics and skills, training of trainers and promotional events.