Staff commended the workshop for meeting its objectives from the onset by increasing their knowledge of the principles of protocol and diplomacy.Discussions reviewed the complexities, problems anomalies and challenges of traditional and contemporary diplomacy with particular reference to small states.

Acting Director of the UWI Institute of International Relations Anslemn Francis acknowledged that diplomacy is changing. This change he added is influenced by the number of actors emerging on the international scene. He noted that diplomacy has transcended beyond the public gaze: “..For example, in the corridors and over lunch and dinner…The modern diplomat now has to be equipped to deal with a lot of issues. Today, the agenda of any important diplomatic conference has new issues such as HIV/AIDS, Climate Change and Trade. These issues are prominent on the Caribbean’s agenda. Because of this we have to train ourselves properly and make ourselves familiar with the new tools of diplomacy”. 

Francis added that although there are age-old international protocol standards that will not change for some time, issues of Protocol and Diplomacy vary sometimes because of cultural values: “Diplomacy begins and ends with protocol. Rules help to provide predictability in our relations with one another. If we don’t observe the rules, relations between our States could be very difficult”

Francis warned that protocol should be understood by everyone in the conduct of diplomacy: “First impression is extremely important and if things were not done properly from the beginning it could have an adverse effect on the rest of the negotiations.”

Francis further warned that protocol is a delicate matter in the conduct of diplomacy: “You might be doing it right 99 percent of the time, but you fowl up maybe once, and that can do a lot of harm. Nobody will be thinking of the 99 other occasions when you did well.”  The UWI International Relations lecturer summed up the OECS Secretariat’s reputation on protocol saying; “I am sure that the rules of protocol are followed because if they were not, one would have heard about it.”

Diplomacy is defined as the management of communication and relationships between nations by members and employees of each nation’s government. Solange Cross-Mike, an International Relations lecturer at the UWI updated the staff on perspectives such as Network Diplomacy and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. She also exposed staff to the new tools of diplomacy.