“Germany – Experience New Perspectives” is the motto of the 1st International Diplomats Programme, which will be opened by State Secretary Reinhard Silberberg at a ceremony in the Federal Foreign Office Europasaal on 26 February 2009.

The International Diplomats Programme is a new on-the-job course organized by the Foreign Service Academy's Training for International Diplomats at the Federal Foreign Office and is designed for young diplomats from the Middle East, North Africa, as well as South and South-East Asia. 12 young diplomats will take part in the programme which will bring the participants to Berlin and take them to other Länder. The programme of monthly events consists of fact-finding visits and in-depth talks with representatives from the world of politics, business, academia and culture. In a tour d'horizon through Germany, they will gain an insight into both German and global issues which go beyond the everyday life of a diplomat.

The 1st International Diplomats Programme will be opened with a ceremony in the Federal Foreign Office Europasaal on 26 February 2009 (7.30 p.m.). Werner D'Inka, publisher of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, will give the keynote speech on “Truth or artificial horizon – how journalists convey world views”. Further addresses will be given by Jürgen Chrobog, former State Secretary and Chairman of the Board of the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt, as well as Prof. Eberhard Sandschneider, Director of the Research Institute of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). The Director of the International Diplomats Programme is former Ambassador Dr Rüdiger Reyels.

The International Diplomats Programme is a joint initiative of Training for International Diplomats and the BMW Foundation and is supported by the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). As an innovative further training initiative, it is intended to give an added dimension to the Federal Foreign Office's Training for International Diplomats as well as BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt's programmes promoting international young leaders and the DGAP's foreign policy network.