28th February 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
A year ago today, the British Government published an important White Paper on Trade and Investment (a White Paper in this context is a document presenting Governmental policy preferences, sometimes before legislation is introduced). Trade and investment are critical elements in the British Government’s strategy to promote growth in the UK and move us out […]
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27th February 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
After 20 years of civil war, there are signs of hope for Somalia. The timing of a Conference of 55 delegations at Lancaster House in London last week to discuss the way ahead seemed to embody the growing international consensus – not just among the countries of the region but much more widely – that […]
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17th February 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
A few days ago I was in Djibouti to present my credentials as the non-resident UK Ambassador. This is an good example of how two countries can have an excellent and mutually fruitful relationship even in the absence of physical Embassies (though in our case at least with an extremely good and well-connected Honorary Consul […]
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16th February 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
On Saturday last, the London 2012 Olympic flag could be seen by anyone driving past the British Embassy in Addis Ababa. Abebe Gidey, well-known sports journalist, kindly raised the flag to mark 200 days to go to the Paralympic Games. His Olympic Dreams Radio Programme has been featuring Ethiopian Olympians in recent weeks. We plan […]
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9th February 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Earlier this week, I met a group of volunteers from the British NGO Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) – some newly arrived in Ethiopia, several who have been working here for some time. VSO has a long and very successful history of operations in Ethiopia. And it is easily one of the most highly regarded charities […]
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31st January 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
For the past week, the African Union (AU) Summit has been taking place in Addis Ababa, building up to a weekend meeting of Heads of Government and State. What has this to do with Britain? Well, we are partners and observers of the AU (I am the UK Permanent Representative to the organisation, as well […]
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25th January 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
A team of British (and one Irish) volunter surgeons, anaesthetists, doctors and nurses is here in Addis Ababa this week to deal with a scourge that should not exist in the 21st Century. Noma is a gangrenous infection that mainly attacks poor and malnourished children. If undetected or untreated, it can eat away or distort […]
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24th January 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Last week I was privileged with my colleague Betty to attend the annual Ethiopian event of Temket, the main festival for orthodox Christians in Ethiopia and the equivalent of our Epiphany. The concept of revelation is similar to all such ceremonies, but here in Ethiopia the focus is on Christ’s baptism and His first miracle […]
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11th January 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Yesterday I participated in a press conference to mark Diageo’s purchase of the Meta Abo brewery from the Government of Ethiopia. With a mountain forming the backdrop and its own waterfall, this has to be one of the most beautiful settings for a brewery anywhere in the world. This is Britain’s largest ever single investment […]
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3rd January 2012
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
I have been in Addis Ababa for approaching 3 weeks as British Ambassador, some of which has been taken up by “Feranji” (Westerner) Christmas and New Year holidays. What does an Ambassador try to do at the outset of a posting? There have been several priorities (aside from settling in my family): Getting to know […]
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