The 19th “The Training Program for International Junior Diplomats” was inaugurated with the opening remarks of Ambassador Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey on 1 April, 2013 in Ankara Palas.

Pointing out that since its inception in 1992, approximately 900 diplomats from five continents and over 100 countries had participated in that program, Deputy Foreign Minister Koru emphasized that sharing of young diplomats with each other their knowledge and experience is of importance.

Deputy Foreign Minister Koru said that during the program, they would also have the chance to visit historical and cultural sites of Turkey. “I am confident that your efforts will be paid off to further enrich your knowledge and experience and contribute to your future diplomatic career” he added.

Underlining that the world has been changing in an incredible speed for the last two decades and it has now become a global village Deputy Foreign Minister Koru stated that today’s diplomacy deals with different problems such as global issues, international security, financial crises and international terrorism.

“Diplomacy entails engaging in a dialogue aimed at reaching solutions, promoting good governance, effecting change through cooperation, improving the human dignity, using the international framework to influence other countries’ actions” Deputy Minister Koru said. Therefore, he stressed that it is needed skilled diplomats on the ground in the places that matters and who are able to make a difference in the course of events; alert diplomats, particularly in the area of conflict prevention; visionary diplomats to tap into new opportunities for trade, commerce and development; effective diplomats who can build coalitions of different actors, namely the public, civil society, private sector.

Noting the world is witnessing a historical transformation, Deputy Minister Koru informed about the vision of the Turkish foreign policy referring that in tune with this fast changing international environment, Turkey has pursued a radical transformation process within the last ten years.

Opening Remarks by H.E. Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the International Junior Diplomats Training Program