A WORKSHOP to develop the skills of the country's diplomats was held at the

Foreign Ministry organized by the Khmer Institute for Democracy (KID).

Executive Director of KID Julio Jeldres said: "The main purpose of the

seminar was to help update Cambodian diplomats with current diplomatic practice

and to increase the competence of the Cambodian Diplomatic Service so that they

can defend the interests of Cambodia in the world."

The workshop which

ran from July 6-8 featured discussions led by the American, Australian and

German Ambassadors and was funded by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

The

participants in the seminar all worked in the Foreign Ministry and included the

designated Ambassadors to Moscow and India.

Prince Sirivudh gave a

welcoming speech where he emphasized the importance of the diplomatic service's

role in defending Cambodia's interests abroad and aiding the country's

development.

Jeldres said at the end of the seminar when he asked for

feed-back some participants asked for another workshop.

He said: "Some

participants wanted to learn more about foreign service practice in the Asian

region. They also asked for a workshop on consular affairs."

One

participant said: "We should have training on how to write treaties,

declarations, agreements, memorandums, and diplomatic documents.

"Since

we have already worked on this, we will not need much time.

"We also

want to have a seminar on regional conflict and the policy of our

world."

Another participant said: "We should invite retired Ambassadors

[to the next workshop] so that they can tell us the mistakes of their foreign

service."

Jeldres told the participants there would be another workshop

in one or two months. "If we have the funds we will be able to accomplish what

you request.

"This seminar took me six months to organize so I cannot

promise to satisfy all of your requests."