UNITAR Introduces Saudi Arabian Diplomats to New York’s Multilateral Working Environment

17 – 21 November 2014, New York, United States – Hosting five of the six principal organs of the United Nations, 193 Permanent Missions and 115 Consulates, New York boasts the largest diplomatic community in the world. Diplomats might thus consider it particularly challenging to perform effectively in New York’s multilateral working environment. Addressing this challenge, UNITAR, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, organized a five-day course for Saudi Arabian diplomats, familiarising participants with main UN bodies and programmes located at the UN headquarters on Manhattan’s East Side.

The 26 Saudi Arabian diplomats were welcomed by Mr. Rabih El-Haddad, Manager of UNITAR’s Multilateral Diplomacy and International Law Programme, providing the diplomats with a general overview of the complex UN system. In the following days, the participants had the opportunity to learn more about the structure and the work procedures of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council. Senior UN officials also introduced the delegation to various departments of the UN Secretariat, including the Department of Political Affairs and the Department of Public Information. Additional sessions comprised presentations by the United Nations Population Fund, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Mine Action Service.

On the last day of the one-week event, Mr. Amr Aljowaily, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations in New York and Visiting Faculty with UNITAR’s Multilateral Diplomacy Programme, shared his vast experience in multilateral diplomacy with the Saudi Arabian officials, preparing them to participate more efficiently in international conferences and meetings.

The Saudi Arabian diplomats grasped the opportunity to interact with the experienced trainers and speakers of the various UN organizations, enhancing their understanding of the entire UN system and, more specifically, multilateral diplomacy in New York. The feedback received from the participants was highly positive - 94 percent of respondents would recommend the course to a colleague, while 82 percent found the event very useful.

Optimising the offered courses even further, UNITAR looks forward to continuing the excellent cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2015.

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