UNITAR Improves Participants Knowledge of Diplomatic Protocol in Geneva

Participants doing a simulation excercise during the workshop 30 - 31 March 2015, Geneva, Switzerland – For diplomats in Geneva, understanding the rules of diplomatic protocol can often be a daunting and complex task. Over the course of the two-day workshop, participants became acquainted with the intricacies of protocol in Geneva and beyond. Furthermore, the workshop was specifically designed to familiaize diplomats with the procedures for welcoming Presidents, Prime Ministers and other dignitaries in Geneva. As such, a visit to the protocol section of Geneva’s International Airport was organised for participants to see first-hand where dignitaries are received and the established process for doing so.

Group excercises on diplomatic protocol Drawing on the extensive experience of His Excellency Jean-Marc Boulgaris, the workshop provided participants with a better understanding of the three layers of protocol that are relevant to a diplomat’s mandate in Geneva. These are: protocol regulations of the Swiss confederation, the Republic and Canton of Geneva and the United Nations Office at Geneva. His Excellency Boulgaris was very well placed to explain these various layers and answer any questions that arose, having served as the former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations at Geneva.

In addition, Mr. Sergey Shaposhnikov, the Chief of Protocol at the United Nations at Geneva attended the workshop for a question and answer session, as well as Ms. Favre-Pilet of the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations who spoke about Switzerland’s role as a host nation for the United Nations Office at Geneva. Participants responded very positively to the workshop. In particular, one respondent noted that the trip to the airport was, “a nice chance to get out of the meeting room”. The visit was enhanced by the presence of delegations and the planes belonging to foreign ministers who were attending the negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme in Lausanne. Indeed, one of the core elements of the training was to give participants the opportunity to see how theory gets put into practice at the airport.

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