10th June 2014 Dublin, Ireland
In May 2012, British Foreign Secretary William Hague launched the “Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative” or “PSVI” In short, PSVI is about preventing the use of rape and sexual violence as a weapon in conflict. In so many conflict situations, it affects not only large numbers of women, but also men and children. However, the perpetrators of […]
Read more on PSVI Global Summit in London – Time To Act | Reply (2)
4th June 2014 Dublin, Ireland
Even in a year of important anniversaries for Poland, the 25th anniversary of Solidarity’s victory in the elections of 4 June 1989 is a special moment. I arrived in Poland for the first time exactly seven years earlier. I would like to be able to say that I predicted what was to come. But I […]
21st May 2014 Dublin, Ireland
The fourth of August will mark the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War One. The world was a very different place with Poland not even on the map of Europe. A proud independent, free Poland only emerged from the ashes of the war. But that did not mean that the Great War, as […]
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25th April 2014 Dublin, Ireland
I last commented publicly on the subject of European security at the Institute for Strategic Studies in Krakow in May 2013. A lot has happened since then. The crisis in Ukraine and Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea is of course the most significant development. I wrote recently about how Russia’s actions are completely indefensible and what […]
15th April 2014 Dublin, Ireland
Tomorrow my husband Pádraig and I will hold a reception in our home to mark the occasion of the State Visit last week to the United Kingdom of the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins. Our situation is an unusual one. I am Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy here in Warsaw, and […]
Read more on The UK and Ireland: diplomatic relations… – guest post by Sarah Tiffin, Deputy Head of Mission | Reply (1)
2nd April 2014 Dublin, Ireland
On Friday 28 March members of the House of Commons and House of Lords, as well as representatives of the UK government, met some of their counterparts in Poland. During a conference organised jointly by the British Embassy and Polish parliament, they had a wide-ranging discussion about the economic and institutional reform necessary in the EU. From […]
Read more on Guest blog by Michał Cichowlas – Economic Officer from the British Embassy Warsaw, summing up "The Future of a Competitive EU" discussion in the Polish Parliament | Reply
18th March 2014 Dublin, Ireland
President Putin has now signed a decree recognising Crimea as a sovereign state. The United Kingdom, in common with Poland, the rest of the European Union and the majority of the international community, does not recognise the 16th March Crimea referendum or its outcome as legal or legitimate. Both the British and Polish governments have […]
15th March 2014 Dublin, Ireland
Resolving the Ukraine crisis is a top priority for Britain and Poland: this matters to us because we both believe in a world where the rule of law is upheld and territorial integrity respected. We need to deter further Russian military action and de-escalate the situation. Our Prime Ministers David Cameron and Donald Tusk have […]
Read more on Ukrainians must choose their own future | Reply
6th September 2013 Dublin, Ireland
I have just completed a hectic couple of GREAT days at the Krynica Economic Forum. Our mission was to promote British expertise, capability and innovation and highlight the opportunity that Poland and the rest of Emerging Europe represents for British business. Krynica is sometimes described as the Central European Davos and attracts a high profile […]
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26th June 2013 Dublin, Ireland
I am just back from a long weekend working visit to Warminsko Mazurskie region in North Eastern Poland. It was a reminder that there is a lot more to Poland than cities like Warsaw. The region has a complex history. I visited the site of the Battle of Grunwald where Poles and Lithuanians defeated the […]
Read more on Escape from Warsaw: history, optimism and far too much cake! | Reply