Professional Training

Training for the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro

Sept. 16–18, 2003

Program Officer Ted Feifer and Program Director George Ward conducted negotiations and diplomatic skills training for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Serbia and Montenegro on September 16-18, 2003. This was our first training partnership with the mission in Belgrade. The 18 workshop participants, 14 national and 4 international staff, came from mission headquarters in Belgrade as well as from the field office in Podgorica. Their responsibilities included rule of law, police reform, economic transparency and the media.

Workshop objectives were to improve participants’ use of analysis and planning; strengthen their skills as communicators, negotiators and third parties; and share experiences and lessons learned in the prevention, management and resolution of conflict. Trainers emphasized the differences between positions and interests, and having a clear understanding of one’s goals as part of an effective problem-solving approach. Participants noted that the exercises held with colleagues with different experiences had helped them refine their skills and increase their understanding of the many ways to achieve objectives. As one participant put it, “there’s more than just one right answer.” Participants also appreciated the way trainers used the debriefing of exercises to emphasize teaching points and bring out practical lessons to be learned.