The Foreign Service Institute, in cooperation with the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste’s Institute of Diplomatic Studies (IDS), conducted a training program for diplomats and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MFAC) on 12-16 December 2016. A total of thirty-seven (37) officers and staff of the MFAC completed the five-day training on protocol and ceremonials, International Relations and Diplomacy, public diplomacy, and nation-branding.

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Timorese diplomats from various directorates of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
At the opening ceremony, Dr. Aurelio Gutteres, Secretary-General of IDS expressed his gratitude to the FSI and the Philippine Embassy in Dili for contributing to its human resources development. FSI Deputy Director-General Julio Amador III echoed Dr. Gutteres’s message and expressed gratitude towards IDS for the opportunity to work with the MFAC of Timor-Leste. Ambassador Evelyn Austria-Garcia, the Philippine Ambassador to Timor-Leste, gave an inspirational keynote address to the participants of the program during the opening session.  She highlighted the importance of the training as part of the cooperation agreement between the Philippines and Timor-Leste.

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Ambassador Eva G. Betita discusses the history of diplomatic correspondence.

 

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Ambassador Laura Q. Del Rosario shares her experience as APEC 2015 SOM Chair in a session on Advancing the National Interest.

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Mr. Amador shares a light moment with participants in a discussion on trends and developments in International Relations.
In addition to the seminar and workshops, a consultation meeting was also convened between FSI and IDS officials to provide technical advice on the establishment and management of the IDS. IDS and FSI agreed to look into the possibility of furthering cooperation in diplomatic training and institution building.

 

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Deputy Director-General Julio S. Amador III, Ambassador Betita, and Ambassador Del Rosario offer strategic advice on managing a diplomatic training and research institution to officials and staff of the Institute of Diplomatic Studies.

Former FSI Director and DFA Undersecretary Laura Q. Del Rosario, former ambassador to Brazil Eva Betita, and Deputy Director-General Amador served as resource persons for the workshop. DDG Amador, Ms. Jill Angeli Bacasmas, and Mr. Ken Edward Concepcion served as the training team from FSI.  The program is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of Asia and the Pacific through its Development Cooperation Program.

The training team is comprised of Mr. Julio S. Amador III, Deputy Director-General, Ambassador Laura Q. Del Rosario and Ambassador Eva G. Betita as consultants, and Jill Angeli V. Bacasmas and Ken Edward H. Concepcion as facilitators.