Leigh Turner
Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna
Part of
UK in Austria
Read biography
18th August 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
“I was astonished,” the senior Turkish contact tells me. “This British company got in touch to bid for [commercially sensitive – an electronic supply contract for a huge project] and it turned out that their product was fantastic! And a great price! I mean, I know you Brits are great at business services, architecture, design, […]
Read more on Why British manufacturing is so competitive | Reply
10th August 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
As the last notes die away, the audience bursts into applause. Musicians playing instruments as diverse as a ney, a didgeridoo, a Taonga Puoro (a traditional Maori wind instrument) and a harmonica, as well as a full orchestra and choir, rise to their feet. The performance of the eleven-part Gallipoli Symphony in the surroundings of the 4th […]
Read more on The Gallipoli Symphony: Hope, Peace, Friendship and Collaboration | Reply (1)
23rd July 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
A grizzled rock veteran belts out the opening chords to “Smoke on the water “ in a hangar-like concert hall. A slender folk legend sings folk songs unaccompanied in an open-air arena under moonlight. What’s the connection? Back in 2011 I blogged about “Life Lessons from Deep Purple”. This month I had the privilege […]
Read more on Deep Purple and Joan Baez: how to be inspired | Reply
2nd July 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
A harvest fails. Saboteurs are blamed. A well-know personality dies tragically. A secret plot is alleged. Another well-known personality dies tragically. Rumours circulate that he has faked his death and has been seen in a supermarket near Basingstoke. I have written several times in this blog about conspiracy theories. Now, if you don’t mind hearing […]
Read more on Video: the perils of conspiracy theories | Reply
26th June 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
A country illegally uses military force to seize the territory of a neighbouring country despite having signed treaties recognising, and promising to respect, that country’s territorial integrity. Once in de facto control, the new authorities systematically suppress and intimidate an important ethnic minority with strong links to Turkey. It’s happening right here in Europe. […]
Read more on Crimean Tatars: suppression, intimidation, fear and distrust | Reply
24th June 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
A massive march surges down Istiklal, Istanbul’s main thoroughfare. Banners urge understanding of minority rights. International commentators praise the tolerance on display at one of the biggest festivals of its type in the region. Istanbul Gay Pride is big. In 2013, more than 100,000 people were reported as participating. The festival celebrates the gay […]
Read more on Gay Pride in Istanbul: great stuff | Reply (1)
19th June 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Snow-capped peaks tower over ancient mausoleums. Although they were built by Saltukids in the 12th Century, the steep-roofed tombs are reminiscent of Armenian churches. The nearby Selcuk-era madrasah features both Central Asian-style twin minarets and double-headed Byzantine eagles. Above the city, in a fortress founded by Emperor Theodosius in the 4th century, a newer minaret-like structure […]
Read more on Crossroads and boundaries: Eastern Anatolia | Reply
15th June 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
A bunch of English barons challenge the King for power and seize London. To make peace, the King agrees a legal document. But he then asks the Pope repeal it – which the Pope does, declaring it “null and void of all validity forever”. War erupts; the King dies; and a nine-month-old boy becomes head […]
Read more on Politics and power: Why the Magna Carta is still a burning issue | Reply
5th June 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
I have the privilege and honour to work as a British diplomat. That means I spend a lot of time learning foreign languages. Before each of my last five postings (in Vienna, Moscow, Berlin, Kyiv and Istanbul) I spent between four weeks and nine months on intensive language preparations. If you want to understand a […]
Read more on Why learning English is easy and fun | Reply (1)
29th May 2015
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
I was delighted to spend a couple of hours recently with top Turkish journalist and photographer Ercan Arslan. Ercan had come across my Twitter account @leighturnerFCO and the series #reasonstolikeIstanbul, now at #373. He asked if we could visit a few of the places I’d tweeted about. The result was a piece published in the […]
Read more on #REASONSTOLIKEISTANBUL PART 2 | Reply