“The multilingualism of our immigrants is a valuable asset”
International understanding, integration policy, cross-border cooperation, the automotive industry and renewable energy – these were the topics of the excursion to Baden-Wurttemberg undertaken by the 5th Diplomatenkolleg from 14 to the 16 January 2010.
The programme began with a visit to the Robert Bosch Foundation, a partner of the Diplomatenkolleg, where the group was briefed on the Foundation’s history, objectives and operating principles. In a discussion with Dr Wolfgang Schuster, the mayor of Stuttgart, and Gari Pavkovic, the head of the city’s integration department, the young diplomats learned what makes for successful integration policy in a city where 40% of the inhabitants have a migration background. According to Pavkovic, “the multilingualism of our immigrants is a valuable asset” for a city like Stuttgart, which is strongly export-oriented.
In talks at the State Ministry and the Freiburg Regional Commissioner’s Office the group discussed examples of successful cross-border cooperation. The visits to Daimler AG and the Mercedes-Benz museum gave participants insights into the car industry’s remarkable history but also the problems currently faced by the whole sector.
Other programme highlights included a visit to the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe, a guided tour of the Sustainable Model District Vauban in Freiburg, a working lunch with the mayor of Lahr and entrepreneur Dr Martin Herrenknecht as well as a visit to Dr Herrenknecht’s company in Schwanau.
The Diplomatenkolleg is a joint initiative of the Federal Foreign Office and the Robert Bosch Foundation organized with support from the German Council on Foreign Relations. Its aim is to offer advanced professional training to young diplomats from Central and Eastern Europe, the southern Caucasus, Central Asia and China who are accredited in Germany.
For more information please contact Ms Senta Höfer, senta.hoefer@diplo.de, 030 1817 4838 or Ms Anna Quirin, anna.quirin@diplo.de., 030 1817-1914.
Event calendar:
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Friedensgutachten 2010 - Die neue Afghanistanstrategie – Auf dem Weg zum Frieden?
Tuesday 14. September 19:00 - 20:30
InWEnt, Bonn
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14. New Faces Konferenz 'The Impact of Climate Change on the Middle East - Challenges and Opportunities for Development and Human Security'
Monday 22. November 09:00 - Wednesday 24. 18:00
Amman
DGAP in the news
Russian Media and Forest Fires
Interview with Dr. Stefan Meister
13.08.2010 | Deutschlandradio Kultur
Interview with Dr. Stefan Meister
08.08.2010 | WDR 5, Die Tagespost, Radio Fritz, NRW-RV
Call for Appplications
Czech-German Young Professionals Program
Application Deadline: 26 September 2010
DGAPinfo
Alexander Rahr meets the Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych
On 18 June 2010, Alexander Rahr, together with other Yalta European Strategy board members, was received by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. Yanukovych discussed the improving economic situation in his country as well as his upcoming trip to Germany. In this context, Yanukovych announced that, among other things, he intends to use good relations with Germany as a basis to send important political signals to the European Union. Ukraine would like to establish a free trade area with the European Union. Moreover, Yanukovych hopes for the abolishment of visa regulations between Ukraine and the EU. (18.06.2010)
Almut Möller, the Head of the Alfred von Oppenheim Center for European Policy Studies, gave a speech at the EPIN conference in Istanbul on the topic of “Europe 2030: Debating a Broader European Strategic Concept”. EPIN regularly organizes meetings for its European think tank members in both EU member and applicant countries. This event was hosted by the Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy (EDAM). (15.06.2010)
On 10 June 2010, Alexander Rahr chaired a podium discussion at the international conference “Drug Production in Afghanistan. A Challenge to the International Community” in Moscow. Among the participants were: Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, NATO Ambassador Dmitri Rogozin, generals of ISAF mission, members of the Afghan government, politicians on security policy from India, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Colombia, and the U.S. (10.06.2010)
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