By Dr. Sebastian von Münchow
College of International and Security Studies
George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

KUPRES, Bosnia and Hercegovina (Jan. 29, 2018) – Dr. Sebastian von Münchow, lecturer of security studies at the College of International and Security Studies, George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, conducted two workshops on negotiation skills training for the Leadership Academy and Winter School for Young Politicians of the Political Academy of the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Hercegovina in Kupres, Bosnia and Hercegovina Jan. 22 to 25.

Twenty officials of the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina and almost 30 members of the Youth Branch of the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina attended the workshop.

This four-day event was supported by the Zagreb Office of the Hanns Seidel Foundation, which is a member of the Centre for European Studies. This foundation asked CISS to hold this workshop on negotiation skills, von Münchow said.

“I was happy to use negotiation skills scenarios that have proven to be excellent in resident courses at the Marshall Center,” von Münchow said. “One iteration was designed for current Bosnian Croatian policy makers, and the other one was for young party members.”

On the occasion of the Winter Dr. von Münchow had the opportunity to meet various senior leaders who also attended the workshop. Amongst them was Dragan Čović, the current Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia.

Also present were Marina Pendeš, Minister of Defence, Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Marinko Čavara; President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Mato Jozić, Minister of Justice, Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Zora Dujmović, Minister of Culture and Sports, Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Josip Grubeša, Minister of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Lidija Bradara, Chairwoman of the House of Peoples in the Federation of BiH Parliament; Josip Martić, Minister of  Physical Planning, Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Professor Zoran Tomić, Rector of the University of Mostar; and, Srećko Prusina, Head of Croatian Statehood Foundation.

In side talks Dr. von Münchow was thanked for the Marshall Center past and current efforts to train officials from the Bosnian-Herzegovinian security architecture. In addition, our teacher discussed the current status of Bosnia’s difficult path towards EU membership.