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CERTIFICATE
Mr Mohamed Abdulkarim Mohamed Thabit Mohamed Thabit
The six-weeks executive seminar was tailored to the current needs of Iraq's Foreign Service. It was
largely practice-oriented. The participants acquired expertise and skills in key areas of modern
dip'iomacy, established contacts and gained eiperience-fo1 their. future diplomatic careers. Using
post-war Germany as an example, the course plovided realistic inlights jntg the mechanisms of a
pluralistic, federaily structured, democratic Weitern state, its recent historical experience, its society
ind its interaction- within the European Union, other multilateral organisations and a globalised
world.
During the course, various formal and social meetings with Germans and citizens of other nations of
different backgrounds were organised, always with a view of providing opportunities.for
^q1r
op.el
dialogue betw6en regions and cultures. The young diplomats from kaq_re^sponded to this offer with
enthusiasm, with rational arguments, tolerance and respect for cultural difflerences.
Academics, goverrrment officials and international organisations working on Iraq's reform.process
played a part in the interactive seminars, discussions, role-playing sessions and visits. The
jlariicipanti were always actively involved, making their own speeches and taking part in debates.
The entire course was conducted in English.
The cuniculum included the following key components: Public diplomacy, negotiating techniques
and intercultural communication; internbtional law; international organisations; security and
peacekeeping; constitutional law and systems of government; human lghJs; nation-buildingand
democratisat'ion; civil society; economii systems; pblitical analysis and foreign policy; issues of the
European Union; recent German history.
The participants enhanced their political planning skills at two role-playing sessions (one full day
each) held at
- the Free University of Berlin: Together with German and international students t!r-e^ narticipants
simulated a speciil meeting of the UN Security Council on o'Nuclear Non-Proliferation: The
Chase of kan";
- the German Foreign Office on "Geopolitics in the Year 2030".
The participants were also given a comprehensive presentation of Germany_'s cooperation with and
assis^tance io Iraq against
-the political and economic backdrop and under the current security
situation.
The seminar in Berlin was supplemented by study trips to Geneva (UN and other international
organisations), Brussels (NATO
-and
the European Union) and to the Free State of Saxony (Dresden
Matthias Fischer
Head of Division
Training for lnternational Diplomats
-) ,/-)',!-+o
SAaDr. Peter Schmidt
Ambassador (ret.)
Programme Director