First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dacic addressed the students of the Diplomatic Academy

Dear students of the Diplomatic Academy,

Esteemed colleagues,

It is a special pleasure for me to address you on the occasion of the start of lectures within the Basic Programme of Diplomatic and Diplomatic-Consular Training in 2023. At the beginning, I would like to point out that this year's generation consists of a total of 49 participants, among whom are 15 interns of the diplomatic and consular staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which I consider to be extremely important for ensuring continuity in the further training of our diplomatic personnel.

At the same time, I am very pleased that for the first time, on the basis of the Memorandum on cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Srpska in the field of diplomatic education, we will have two civil servants from the Republic of Srpska in the generation. Bearing in mind the importance of the professional development of staff dealing with international cooperation at the level of the entire state administration of the Republic of Serbia, it is particularly significant that colleagues employed in other state administration bodies, as well as a representative of the Organization of Serbian Students Abroad, will also attend the Basic Diplomatic Training Programme this year.

Dear students,

I would like to point out that, compared to previous generations, you will have the opportunity to attend a modified and modernized Diplomatic and Diplomatic and Consular Training Programme which focuses more on acquiring practical knowledge and skills, as well as on using newest methods of studying foreign policy topics. Therefore, I sincerely believe that this year we managed to adapt and further enhance this comprehensive Programme so that it would better meet the needs of today's very intensive and demanding diplomacy.

I am convinced that the knowledge you will acquire and acquaintances and contacts you will establish at the Diplomatic Academy in the coming months will significantly affect your professional development and efficiency in fulfilling your tasks. Through attendance of this Programme, you will have the opportunity to strengthen mutual contacts, which is of particular importance, bearing in mind that you that will be jointly engaged, from different positions, in representing the vital interests of the Republic of Serbia, each within the purview of the department in which you are employed.

The lectures you will attend at the Diplomatic Academy in the coming months require considerable academic effort, not only in fulfilling the curriculum requirements, but also in simultaneously associating the newly acquired knowledge with international current events. In this process, you will certainly have considerable support from our high-quality lecturers, who include university professors, domestic and foreign diplomats and experts and who represent the special added value of our Academy.

Always bear in mind that constantly keeping abreast of and reflecting on foreign policy topics, as well as developing negotiation skills and the ability to communicate on the basis of arguments is an intellectual conditio sine qua non for pursuing a diplomatic career. In this context, we expect you to understand the knowledge you will acquire at the Diplomatic Academy primarily as an introduction, that is, a kind of foundation and guide in your further daily learning and analysis of often inscrutable relations in international politics.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the well-known foreign policy priorities of the Republic of Serbia, which primarily include the preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country, then, as a strategic orientation, successful process of negotiations on accession to the European Union, the development of good-neighbourly relations and regional cooperation and strengthening bilateral relations, both with the most powerful actors in international politics, and with numerous countries around the world with which the Republic of Serbia has been fostering friendly relations for decades. The promotion of the economic potential of the Republic of Serbia and the enhancement of economic cooperation with international partners, in the best interest of our citizens, is also of special importance.

The current challenges facing the whole world have further increased the difficulty of our foreign policy tasks. However, principled adherence to the core tenets of international law and resolving all open issues through dialogue remain as our commitment. 

Dear colleagues,

I would like to emphasize that it is of particular importance for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continuously create and train new generations of diplomats and civil servants engaged in international cooperation affairs who will be equipped to defend the national interests in the best possible way, as well as to adequately respond to the challenges our country is facing.

Remember that in order to successfully engage in diplomatic work, in addition to professional development and continuous upgrading of your knowledge and skills, your firm readiness and determination to put yourself at the service of the common good is necessary above all, no matter what institution you work in, and often at the expense of your personal plans and interests. The struggle for the foreign policy goals of one's own country, as well as the motivation to contribute to its continuous progress, also requires a fundamental sense of patriotism.

Only in this way can you be successful in representing and defending the vital national interests of your country. I am also certain that the complexity of the foreign policy tasks will not discourage you in your future work, but will only additionally motivate you in further advancing and developing your personal and professional potentials.

I would like to wish our young colleagues all the best and success in their endeavours!