International Summer School for Junior Diplomats
On 27 June 2016, on the banks of Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan, the Head of the NATO Liaison Office (NLO) to Central Asia, Rosaria Puglisi, took part in the opening of the second edition of the International Summer School for Junior Diplomats. The event brought together 21 young representatives from the five Central Asian countries, Afghanistan and Mongolia.
In the span of a week, junior diplomats met ambassadors and heads of international organisations as well as senior Kyrgyz diplomats. They addressed issues ranging from regional security to peacebuilding, from sustainable development to human rights, from Islamic radicalism to the protection of refugees. The course provided also an opportunity for potential future decision-makers to establish connections with their counterparts and further their understanding of neighbouring countries.
Talking about the role of NATO in the region, the Head of the NLO stressed how good governance, effectiveness and accountability, also in the security sector, are crucial elements to guarantee the safety of a country. “By assisting in the fight against corruption in the armed forces or by helping reform the defence education system, NATO is engaged in increasing the defence capability of its partners, also in Central Asia,” Ms Puglisi said.
The summer school was organised by the Kyrgyz Diplomatic Academy and co-sponsored by NATO, the United Nations Development Programme and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.