Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

20th March 2015

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by Edward Ferguson

British Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia

The SAA: A big step forward

On Monday, the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council agreed to bring into force the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Bosnia and Herzegovina, seven years after it was originally signed. This is a big deal. For seven years, this country has been at a standstill on its European path. But now it is moving forwards again. […]

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20th March 2015 London, UK

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by Richard Moore

FCO Political Director

Love is a human right

Valuing diversity, which includes diversity of sexual preference, brings enormous benefits. Clearly people who are able to bring the whole of themselves to work or to social life, including their sexual identity, are likely to be able to be more productive and constructive. However, research from the UK and elsewhere suggests that it is still […]

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20th March 2015 Gaborone, Botswana

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by Nick Pyle

British High Commissioner to Botswana

Human Rights: Leaving no-one behind

Two weeks ago the British High Commission supported an event hosted by the Botswana Network for Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA). The event was essentially a discussion about whether Botswana’s legislative framework deals fairly with those who describe themselves as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Intersex, the LGBTI community for short. It was a well […]

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19th March 2015 Mumbai, India

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by Vijay Iyer

Senior Science & Innovation Adviser

Interview with Emma House, The Publishers Association

Recently, I met with Ms. Emma House, Director of Publisher Relations, The Publishers Association Limited at the British High Commission New Delhi. Over tea, we chatted about the publishing industry, intellectual property (particularly copyright) and upcoming events!  What brings you to India? I am visiting publishers in India, both the Indian office of our UK […]

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18th March 2015 Budapest, Hungary

by Jonathan Knott

Former British ambassador to Hungary, Budapest

Innovation and Competitiveness in the European Digital Single Market

Guest blog by Dr. Zoltán Csedő, Member of the Board, Hungarian Association of British Alumni, and Managing Partner, Innotica Group The British Embassy in Budapest and the Hungarian Association of British Alumni launched a unique initiative two years ago: to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Chevening Scholarship Fund, we engaged in reconnecting British alumni within […]

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17th March 2015

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by Greg Dorey

Diplomat

Saint Patrick’s Day

Saint Patrick’s Day on 17 March is the national day both ofNorthern Ireland (part of the UK) and the Republic of Ireland. It is celebrated by Irish communities (and their friends) all around the world. The day also has religious significance for many Christians, as it commemorates the death of the Irish Patron Saint Patrick (c. AD 385–461). Every year, the Irish Embassy in Addis organises a Charity Ball to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day – one […]

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17th March 2015 Skopje, North Macedonia

Discover ‘Norn Iron’ – Shona Lá Fhéile Pádraig!

What’s the reason to mention the ‘Game of Thrones’ in a blog reflecting on Northern Ireland on St Patrick’s Day? Simple and glorious: this American fantasy drama television series is filmed in a Belfast studio and on location elsewhere in Northern Ireland, Malta, Scotland, Croatia, Iceland, the United States, Spain and Morocco. If you have […]

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17th March 2015 Oslo, Norway

Remember Crimea

A year ago, the Kremlin helped stage an illegal and illegitimate “referendum” in Crimea that culminated in Russia annexing Crimea from Ukraine, redrawing the map of Europe by force, and deepening the burgeoning crisis in east Ukraine. The so-called referendum, hastily prepared in just two weeks, was a mockery of democracy. There were no independent, […]

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