Twenty junior diplomats from Bangladesh and Pakistan left The Hague after ending their six-weeks training at the Clingendael Academy. Between 10 March and 18 April the diplomats actively participated in group discussions, expert meetings, simulation games, working visits, skills training and workshops. One of the final sessions that was scheduled in the training programme consisted of a full-day workshop speechwriting, given by Ms. Antonie van Campen, speech writer at the Ministry of Defense. All group members practiced their speech writing skills and instantly received feedback on their performance. At the very end of the training programme - during the closing ceremony - two group representatives were invited to deliver their speech for an official audience at the Clingendael Institute.

The speech was given by Mr. Arshad Mehmood Abbasi, Assistant Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan and Mr. Syed Shah Saad Andalib, Assistant Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, during the closing ceremony at 18 April 2014 at the Clingendael Institute.

"Your Excellencies the ambassadors of Pakistan and Bangladesh to the Netherlands, Director General Clingendael Institute of International Relations, fellow colleagues, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

The Clingendael Institute of International Relations and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, upholding the rich tradition of training diplomats from all over the world have provided us with an opportunity to come here. On behalf of junior diplomats from Bangladesh and Pakistan we express our heartfelt gratitude to the Institute for arranging this training and making our stay in Netherlands educative, comfortable, and memorable. In these six weeks we have been trained and taught in all theoretical and practical aspects of diplomacy.

We were made to practice to back up what we were taught in different modules. We particularly enjoyed the intercultural exercise with our Dutch counterparts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also, we learned the norms and behaviour of diplomatic protocol in minute details to be practiced on different formal and informal occasions, during an official protocol dinner in The Hague.

Ladies and gentlemen during our stay we were exposed a great deal to the Dutch ways in all walks of life, the working of European institutions and international cosmopolitan environment in Netherlands and Belgium. We visited the Dutch Parliament and Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and observed first hand that how parliament works and how the Dutch foreign office functions. We were briefed about the issues in Dutch foreign policy and how the country approaches these issues from its domestic, European and international perspectives.

We also visited the EU parliament, EU commission and the NATO headquarter and learned and observed that how these institutions work and how policies are made, framed and practically carried out. We really enjoyed the hustle bustle of Brussels during our short stay.

Here back in Netherlands we visited the Rotterdam port and the whole water management system to see that how the country negotiates with water and turns into a huge asset.We are leaving the Clingendael Institute with sweet memories of life in Netherlands and great learning experience vital for our profession. We made friends with the people of Netherlands, and among the fellow batch mates of Bangladesh and Pakistan. There is already a large Clingendael alumni network in different parts of the world. We hope the institute continues this programme for the future diplomats from Bangladesh and Pakistan to impart training, spread the goodwill about Netherlands and enlarge the Clingendael community among diplomats. We thank you all."