A Training Seminar on The Role and Place of Germany in the System of International Relations was Held in Berlin
January 5, 2020
From 5 to 10 January 2020 a training seminar was held in Berlin for students of the International School of Youth Diplomacy (ISYD) on the topic The Role and Place of Germany in the System of International Relations. Its tasks were to form a comprehensive understanding for seminar participants on the functioning of the German political system, as well as its current foreign policy.
The specialists of the international non-governmental organization Center for Political Analysis and Information Security developed the concept, and were involved in preparation and organization of the seminar in partnership with MGIMO (University) at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNA-Russia on the implementation of the programme Russian Regions and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
In drawing up the programme of the seminar, the specialists of the Center for Political Analysis and Information Security gave priority to the task of forming a comprehensive understanding among the participants of the seminar on the functioning of the German political system, as well as its significant role in the pan-European politics.
It seemed appropriate to inform the participants of the seminar that, despite the presence of certain political contradictions, Germany is the closest partner for Russia within the EU, and therefore it is necessary to strive to build long-term partnerships with Germany, without prejudice to Russia's national interests.
The seminar was attended by 21 students from the International School of Youth Diplomacy aged 15 to 17 years. Within the framework of the seminar, young people from different parts of Russia got a unique opportunity to meet German officials, politicians, along with outstanding scientists - experts on Eastern Europe.
The following events were prepared and carried out within the frameworks of the seminar:
1. A tour of the Office of the Federal Chancellor, followed by a meeting with Matthias Luttenberg, Head of Department 212 (Bilateral Relations with the States of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe as well as Central Asia and Southern Caucasus), who told them about the role of the Office of the Federal Chancellor in German foreign policy.
2. Lecture and discussion at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) on the topic “Think tanks” in the Process of Developing the Political Decisions in Europe and in the World with Dr.Gustav Gressel, Senior Policy Fellow and Executive Director of the Wider Europe Programme.
3. Meeting at the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (CDU Party) on the topic Political Foundations of Germany - a Unique Institution for the Development of the European Political System with Dr. Christina Catherine Krause, Head of the Department of Foreigners Service, and Philipp Dienstbier, Referent for Eastern Europe Affairs.
4. Visit to the Center for East European and International Studies (ZOiS). Lecture and discussion on the topic Historical Memory in Germany and Russia with Dr. Félix Krawatzek, Senior Researcher at ZOiS, and Dr. Volker Weichsel, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Osteuropa journal, published by the German Association for East European Studies (DGO e.V.).
5. Discussion at the German Federal Foreign Office on the topic The Role and Place of Germany in the System of International Relations with Stefan Biedermann, Head of Training for International Diplomats.
6. Reception with Sergey Yuryevich Nechaev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Germany, followed by a tour of the Russian Embassy in Berlin.
7. Tour of the Bundesrat on the topic The Importance of the Upper House of Parliament in the State Form of Government.
8. Tour of the Bundestag and meeting with Dr. Nils Schmid, Deputy Chairman of the Bundestag Committee on Foreign Affairs, Spokesperson on foreign policy issues of the SPD faction, on the topic The German Federal Parliament and its Impact on European Politics.
It should be remembered that the International School of Youth Diplomacy has been operating since 2008. It offers high school students a career guidance programme for admission to the university in the field of international relations, international economics, international journalism and international security.
The work of the School is divided into several on-site training sessions, usually during school holidays. To obtain a Certificate of the School, signed by the rector of MGIMO, it is necessary to attend 3 sessions:
- Basic (autumn and spring), MGIMO professors introduce aspects of international activity and features of the future profession,
- Language session (winter or summer), review lectures and consultations are held on passing the entrance exam at MGIMO,
- On-site session, which takes place in one of the diplomatic capitals, such as Geneva, Brussels, Vienna, New York and Berlin.
Since 2019, the Center for Political Analysis and Information Security has been the official partner of the School in organizing training seminars in Germany.
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