OSCE Mission workshop to improve negotiation skills of Kosovo's technical experts

PRISTINA, 22 September 2005 - The Chairpersons and members of the technical dialogue working groups from Kosovo's Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG) will participate in a negotiation skills workshop on September 22 and 23.

The two-day event, organized by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo in co-operation with the Office of the Prime Minister and implemented by the Geneva-based Centre for Applied Studies in International Negotiations (CASIN), aims to enhance the negotiating skills of decision-makers and governmental officials through training in the fields of communication, leadership and teamwork.

"Kosovo's political representatives should not underestimate the importance of technical dialogue since many of the decisions are taken at this very level," said Horst Denecke, Acting Director of the OSCE Mission's Democratization Department.

The Standards for Kosovo provide the basis for the four technical working groups - on energy, transport, missing persons, and returns. One of the Standards calls for Pristina and Belgrade to initiate dialogue on technical issues that would prepare the ground for future political negotiations.

"Strengthening the skills of the technical working groups helps to establish a dialogue and to build relationships that create a momentum by finding solutions to less controversial problems," added Denecke.

CASIN experts also provided a similar negotiation skills workshop for the Office for Regional Dialogue with the PISG Office of the Prime Minister.

The OSCE, the institution building pillar of the UN Mission in Kosovo, works to build the capacities of the PISG. Within this framework, tremendous efforts have been made in enhancing their overall skills.

Media are invited to attend the morning session on 'The Northern Ireland Peace Negotiations', from 9.00 to 10.30 on Friday, September 23, at the Hotel Palace in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica.

A closing reception hosted by the Kosovo Prime Minister and the OSCE Deputy Head of Mission will be held that same evening at 17.30, also at Hotel Palace, to which media are invited.