Thirty-two foreign diplomats and high-ranking U.S. officials visited Natchez Thursday as part of a federal leadership training program. The U.S. Department of State Senior Seminar brought representatives of the Foreign Service; the departments of state, defense, commerce; the FBI, the CIA and the uniformed services to tour the city and meet with local officials.

According to the seminar’s statement of purpose, the program is intended to enhance leadership skills while revitalizing participants’ understanding of the country and its diversity.

Through the nine-month seminar, members study a variety of problems, issues and trends in the U.S. so they can relate them to international affairs and national security.

&uot;A lot of us have been overseas for many years so we need to understand what’s going on here,&uot; said Niels Marquardt of the Department of State.

Sylvia Bazala, state department committee chairman for the seminar, said Natchez was chosen as a tour site because foreign diplomats get many questions about the racial climate in the U.S., especially the South.

&uot;We’re trying to understand the new South versus the old South,&uot; Marquardt said, adding that included economics.

Natchez Police Chief&160;Willie Huff and Theodore &uot;Bubber&uot; West, Ward 4 alderman and mayor pro-tem, were available at Council Chambers to answer members’ questions, many of which centered on education and racial relations.

West told the members he believed Natchez had come a long way when it came to racial issues, pointing out the diversity of governing boards and the presence of black students in local private schools. &uot;We have more of an economic problem than a racial problem,&uot; he said.

Huff agreed and said other areas of the country have a misconception of Southern culture, which has changed dramatically from the Civil Rights era. &uot;We certainly wish the rest of the world would realize that,&uot; he said.

Having just toured the Delta region of the state, Marquardt said he and other members noticed a dramatic change in racial climate.

&uot;We really are struck by what we saw in the Delta and what we’ve seen here, which seems to be more balanced,&uot; he said.