ACCORDING TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

The other day, a ceremony was held to present special certificates from the Ministry of Education and the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to students who graduated from the specialized training center “Diplomatic Protocol”, created at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. At the training center, the students, including members of the People's Council of Turkmenistan, deputies of the Mejlis, employees of ministries and departmental administrations were widely familiarized with the norms and rules of diplomatic protocol adopted in modern international relations.

Possessing a Permanent Neutral status, twice recognized by the world community, Turkmenistan has become one of the countries with high prestige at the international level due to its unyielding and successful benevolent, peace-loving foreign policy, active and passionately supported initiatives on global and regional issues. Accordingly, the training of modern diplomats is given great importance in the country’s international relations.

The number of businessmen and specialists coming to our country from abroad is also increasing. Delegations of various ministries, the People's Council of Turkmenistan and the Mejlis, political parties and public organizations widely participate in international cooperation. Speaking on behalf of the state of Turkmenistan in such relations, our delegations must sufficiently know the rules of diplomatic protocol, which is the main instrument of modern international relations.

Taking into account these features of international relations, on the basis of a Resolution signed by the President of Turkmenistan on December 11, 2023, a specialized training center called “Diplomatic Protocol” was created as part of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. Its opening took place on February 18 of this year, that is, on the Day of Diplomatic Workers of Turkmenistan. The creation of this educational center is another evidence of the government’s special attention to improving the work of higher educational institutions and strengthening their material and technical base.

Diplomatic protocol is a set of rules, conventions and terms of international relations followed by governments, foreign ministries, diplomatic missions and other officials. The rules of the protocol are based on the principle of so-called “international comity”. In this regard, it is necessary to improve the system of training high-level diplomatic personnel capable of representing the interests of our country in the world in accordance with international standards. Thus, the decision to create an appropriate training center at the Institute of International Relations will increase the research and intellectual capabilities of this leading university.

The main goal of the training center is to familiarize employees of government bodies of Turkmenistan, political parties and public organizations, divisions of business enterprises engaged in international cooperation with the basic principles of the foreign policy of Turkmenistan, the history of Turkmen diplomacy, the concepts of international and national legislation relating to diplomatic relations, diplomatic protocol and etiquette and consists of a comprehensive familiarization with the rules of the basic guidelines and the formation of appropriate skills associated with these rules. The duration of training is about 2 months; trainees undergo training without interrupting their work. The center's curriculum is divided into four parts. The first round of training took place in March-April this year, the second in June-July.

When we spoke with those who completed their training at the center, they proudly emphasized that the lessons they learned would be very useful for their international cooperation with foreign colleagues, and that they had acquired enough knowledge to represent Turkmenistan on behalf of their country and people as people who are well aware of the rules of diplomatic protocol and etiquette.

Aylar ATAJYKOVA, 

Student of the Faculty of International Journalism

at the Institute of International Relations of the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

 “Turkmenistan” newspaper, 26.07.2024. No. 189.