SWEDISH FOREIGN MINISTRY PROVIDES SUPPORT TO JOINT OLOF PALME MEMORIAL FUND,

UNITED NATIONS INSTITUTE FOR TRAINING AND RESEARCH PROJECT

 

New York, 22 October (UNITAR) -- The Olof Palme Memorial Fund and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) will now be able to continue to assist developing country diplomats “level the playing field”, by strengthening their negotiation skills, thanks to a grant from the Swedish Foreign Ministry.

The Olof Palme Memorial Fund first supported UNITAR in this initiative through a pilot project that began in 2007.  The final pilot course has been taking place 21 and 22 October 2008, at the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations, in New York.  During these rounds, the participants are being offered a series of lectures, practical exercises and examples led by experts in negotiation techniques and experienced diplomats.

“Too often, multilateral negotiations take place under unequal circumstances,” says the Head of the Fund, Pierre Schori, former Swedish Ambassador to the United Nations.  “Diplomats from developing countries seek to receive greater support in the art of negotiating in UN contexts, in particular in the most important decision-making body, the UN Security Council.  The Olof Palme Memorial Fund has taken this initiative, together with UNITAR, in order to provide the support required to teach negotiation techniques and build confidence in the art of negotiation.  The goal is to assist representatives from the developing world acquire the necessary tools to make their voices heard, and reach greater influence in the international arena.”

“We are, therefore, very happy about the decision by the Swedish Foreign Ministry to support this project with some additional 1.2 million Swedish kronor,” adds Mr. Schori.  “The support by the Swedish Foreign Ministry makes it possible for the project to evolve and develop, and reach a wider group of interested diplomats.  As a result, the Olof Palme Memorial Fund and UNITAR will be able to meet the growing demand for such courses by young and older diplomats alike.”

The Head of UNITAR, Colleen Thouez, commends the Foreign Ministry’s decision and considers it an important step in forging great understanding, and improving international cooperation between countries in the North and those in the South.

“It will undoubtedly contribute to strengthening how multilateral diplomacy is performed at the UN over the long run,” she says.

For more on the courses, visit http://www.unitarny.org/en/negotiation.html.

For more information, please contact:  Colleen Thouez, Head of the UNITAR Office, tel.:  212 963 9683, e-mail:  thouez@un.org; Pierre Schori, Head of the Olof Palme Memorial Fund and President of FRIDE, tel.:  +34 687 90 91 88.

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