Baku,Azerbaijan-The Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy’s Advanced Foreign Service Program (AFSP) concluded its 3rd training program for civil servants since its launch in 2006. 24 employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Customs Committee, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Ministry of Economic Development participated in courses on international relations, international economics and trade, consular affairs, public diplomacy, leadership and communication skills, as well as regional issues of the Caucasus, instructed by leading experts and professors from the U.S., Europe , Asia and Azerbaijan.
Participants also visited refugee camps in the southern region of Azerbaijan, military detachments and historical sites and met with senior government officials and representatives of the diplomatic corps to learn about and debate issues of mutual interest. During the final month of the program, participants were granted one-month internships at the embassies of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the U.S., Great Britain, Russia, Belgium, Austria and Switzerland.
The rector of the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy, Hafiz Pashayev, the minister of Emergency Situations, Kemalladin Heydarov, the chairman of the State Customs Committee, Aydin Aliyev, and deputy minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vaqif Sadiqov, participated in the graduation ceremony held at ADA.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Pashayev stated that participants of the AFSP program had a unique chance to build a network of friends and peers which will help to enhance the coordination of daily activities of the state agencies. The Minister of Emergency Situations, Kemaladdin Heydarov, pointed out that although ADA is a new educational institution in Azerbaijan, it has achieved remarkable success in the training of civil servants. He reiterated his commitment to continue to enroll employees of the ministry for training within the AFSP program of ADA.
The graduation ceremony also featured screenings of documentary films the trainees had produced as part of their community service projects. Participants were then awarded certificates and the five most outstanding students received distinguished awards in recognition of their achievements.
To date, more than 80 civil servants and state employees have taken part in training courses through the AFSP program.
/