Program Officers Ted Feifer and Mike Lekson led a workshop on advanced negotiating skills in multilateral diplomacy for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, November 5-7, 2003. Six participants were from the OSCE Secretariat, and nine were from the Russian, Slovenian, Spanish, Czech, Greek, Portuguese, and Irish delegations to the OSCE. Workshop objectives were to increase participants´ effectiveness through the use of problem-solving techniques; strengthen their negotiation and diplomatic skills in multilateral diplomacy; and help them to better understand and use the multilateral process to achieve their objectives.

This workshop had two distinguishing features: its focus on multilateral diplomacy, and on addressing more complex challenges requiring the use of more than basic skills. Presentations were tailored to the multilateral context, such as the culture of multilateral diplomacy as practiced at the OSCE, as well as communication and negotiations in the multilateral context. Likewise, exercises involved the application of skills in real multilateral situations, such as problem solving on the Horn of Africa conflict in the Organization of African Unity, and negotiations on actual issues historically addressed in the OSCE Permanent Council. Trainers provided constant feedback to participants during and after exercises to keep them attuned to their performance and ways to make themselves more effective diplomats.

At the end of the workshop, one participant told us: "Next week, I will be prepared to engage more effectively and productively with colleagues." Another said that, "So far I have participated in two similar workshops. I can say frankly and honestly that this workshop was the best one."