On February 15, the solemn ceremony of opening of MFA diplomatic school took place with participation of President of RA Serzh Sargsyan.

The foundation of MFA diplomatic school opens a new page in the area of preparation of diplomatic staff.

During the ceremony, Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian, who declared foundation of diplomatic school one of the important tasks of the MFA, delivered an opening speech.

In his speech Edward Nalbandian thanked the President of Republic for supporting the idea of creating the school and for participation at the opening ceremony, noting, that the presence of the President must be inspiring and obliging for the students.

Minister Nalbandian expressed his gratitude to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov, to the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, First-Vice-President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton, Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Marc Perrin de Brichambaut for support to the school and for warm congratulation messages on the occasion of school’s opening. Minister Nalbandian thanked also the heads of Yerevan offices of the EU and OSCE ambassadors Lutsenberger and Kapinos, as well as UNDP resident coordinator Dafina Gercheva and director of Estonian diplomatic school Ekke Nomm.

Addressing the students of diplomatic school Edward Nalbandian said. “One  becomes a diplomat for a lifetime and you should know that not the every day, but every second of your life, the life of future diplomats, should be dedicated to serving to our country and to our nation, to expand the number of Armenia’s friends all over the world.

Under the lights of brilliance of diplomacy one cannot see the hard and laborious work, which is a part of diplomat’s daily life, The work of diplomat is heavy and tense duty, which can be compared with military service with the difference that diplomat’s arm is his knowledge. And for this very knowledge this diplomatic school has been established.

First of all diplomacy should be in the blood, but it is also a profession, and as any profession it needs a good education”.

Leading professors and analysts from influential educational centers and think-tanks, prominent diplomats and experts from Russia, number of the European countries, US, Japan and China are invited to lecture at the school. During the academic year 2010 students will have possibility to get acquainted to the basis of international relations and law, the activities of international and regional organizations, negotiation skills and peculiarity of the work in the diplomatic representations.

25 students of the diplomatic school have been chosen out of 190 applicants as a result of written and oral exams.

At the end of the course,  best students will enter Armenian diplomatic service, by coming into  the MFA system.