8-21 Jul 2007
The third annual Summer Academy in Tajikistan brought together representatives of the international community in Dushanbe to brief and interact with students from across Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Some 30 students took part in the two-week Summer Academy on international diplomacy, which was held in a summer camp just outside the city from 8 to 21 July. The event was co-sponsored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the NATO Public Diplomacy Division, and organised by Vector Intellect, a non-governmental organization based in Dushanbe.
Embassies and international organisations were involved in providing informative briefings or participated in social activities.
Briefings included a presentation on the Alliance’s transformation and current issues, as well as various other aspects of international diplomacy ranging from human rights and the security architecture in Central Asia, to Russia-Tajikistan relations.
The busy agenda included discussions led by ambassadors from France, India and Afghanistan, as well as ambassadorial advisors from China and Russia, and the Tajik foreign minister. Regional experts on international relations and political science were also in attendance, giving the event a truly multicultural flavour.
Students benefited from the exposure to these various issues and interaction with experts. They were also given the opportunity to prepare a paper that was later presented to the rest of the academic participants. Upon completion of the course, students received special diplomas in recognition of their participation.
The Academy is a key element of NATO’s larger public diplomacy engagement with Central Asia.
