Senior Training Officer Ted Feifer led a third workshop on negotiation and diplomatic skills for 20 international and national staff at the OSCE Presence in Albania. Participants came from the Tirana headquarters and the four project offices of Gjirokastra, Vlora, Kukes and Shkodra. Their responsibilities included police assistance, border management, good governance, property and legal issues, donor and project coordination, parliamentary affairs, civil society, and gender questions, as well as human resources and administration. Two national staff from the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission in Macedonia also participated.

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. Focus was placed on understanding positions and interests in negotiations, and defining priorities and goals as part of an effective problem-solving approach. The training was almost entirely exercise-based, as participants confronted challenges in communication, the impact of emotions in negotiation, difficulties working with or playing the role of a third party, and problem solving in a complex multiparty simulation. They also applied their skills working in groups to address contemporary real life issues.

Participants saw the training as both realistic and relevant to their needs. One stated that the course is immediately applicable to my daily tasks, and I am looking forward to applying the knowledge.” Another noted that the training ”guides you in lots of situations that you face in your daily work.