On 7 October, the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine and the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
The document was signed by Ihor Ostash, Director of the Academy, and Thomas Greminger, Director of the GCSP.
The Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) is an international foundation established by the Swiss government, bringing together 52 member states. It is recognised as one of the world’s leading institutions for training, research and dialogue on international security, serving diplomats, government officials, military personnel and experts.
Ukraine was one of the founding members of the GCSP in 1995, alongside Switzerland, the United States, Austria, Germany, France, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and the Canton of Geneva. The new Memorandum builds on this history of partnership and creates new opportunities for cooperation in diplomatic education.
The Memorandum establishes a framework for cooperation in the following areas:
Exchange of knowledge and expertise in educational and research programmes;
Joint development and delivery of executive education courses;
Joint development of training programmes and exchange of teaching expertise;
Academic exchanges involving students, faculty, officials, experts and researchers;
Training courses, familiarisation visits and scholarship programmes for staff of both institutions.
During the meeting, the parties also agreed to cooperate in several thematic areas, including ceasefires, peacekeeping and peacebuilding; peacemaking and mediation; the Negotiation Lab; crisis management, strategic communications and leadership; strategic foresight and leadership; and geoeconomics and economic security.
Following the meeting, Thomas Greminger delivered a lecture on European security policy to students enrolled in the Academy’s Master’s programme. He shared his perspective on the current European security architecture and answered questions from future diplomats.
Thomas Greminger is a Swiss diplomat with more than 30 years of experience. From 2017 to 2020, he served as Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). From 2010 to 2015, he was Switzerland’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE, the United Nations and other international organisations in Vienna. Earlier in his career, he headed the Human Security Division at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. He has served as Director of the GCSP since May 2021.
The meeting was also attended by Iryna Ivashchuk, First Deputy Director of the Academy, and Kateryna Sydorenko, Deputy Director of the Academy.
For the Academy, this partnership opens up new opportunities to strengthen the training of Ukrainian diplomats in international security. Security expertise is a key competence for a diplomatic service representing a country defending its sovereignty.
We thank our colleagues at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy for their trust and commitment to working together!