Werner Wnendt: Culture and Educational Cooperation as Important Instruments in Foreign Policy

The USC Center on Public Diplomacy was pleased to host Mr. Werner Wnendt, the Deputy Director-General for Culture and Communication from the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin. This talk will be moderated by CPD University Fellow, Nicholas J. Cull. Mr. Wendt discussed how cultural and educational programs can create a broad basis for stable international relations. In addition, these programs can build trust around the world and contribute to intercultural dialogue as well as crisis prevention.

Mr. Wnendt was named the Deputy Director-General for Culture and Communication in the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin since October 1, 2007.

Prior to his present position he was the head of the OSCE mission in Kosovo (April 2005-2007) and he also worked in Bosnia and Hercegovina as the Senior Deputy High Representative of the International Community from August 2003 to March 2005.

Between August 2000 and August 2003, Mr. Wnendt was the advisor on foreign policy to the German Federal President. Since 1995, he was the Deputy Head of Mission of the German Embassy in the Czech Republic and worked as the Chief of Cabinet of the Minister of State for European Integration in the German Federal Government.

Mr. Wnendt joined the German Foreign service in 1980 and has held positions in missions to the European Union in Brussels, to US, Pakistan and Kenya.