Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

10th January 2020 Geneva, Switzerland

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by Aidan Liddle

UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament

Disarmament blog: disarmament in 2020

2020 is going to be a hugely important year for multilateral disarmament in Geneva. The biggest event of the year, of course, is the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which takes place in New York over April and May. The RevCon’s job is to look back over the last five years and “identify […]

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10th January 2020 Vienna, Austria

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by Leigh Turner

Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna

A tobacco bust in Slovakia

At a nondescript warehouse in Eastern Slovakia, fine tobacco dust fills the air, and the lungs of the workers. The remote building has been sealed carefully to keep any smells and sounds hidden from the outside world, which might give away its true nature. When Slovak officers arrive, they act quickly, arresting 47 people involved […]

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7th January 2020 Wellington, New Zealand

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by Laura Clarke

British High Commissioner to New Zealand and Samoa, Governor of the Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands.

Here’s why the UK wants to strengthen its relationship with New Zealand Māori

At the Tuia 250 celebration, the HC Laura Clark is touching foreheads with someone else.

Writing in The Guardian, Laura explains how the UK and Māori of Aotearoa New Zealand are looking to the past to build stronger relationships for the future. The connections between the UK and New Zealand are such that we feel instantly at home in each other’s countries, sipping a flat white or an English Breakfast tea. […]

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30th December 2019 Khartoum, Sudan

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by Irfan Siddiq

British Ambassador to Sudan

Building the new Sudan

Celebrating New sudan

With the 17 August agreement, Sudan entered a new era. The signing of a constitutional charter to govern the transition, the formation of a Sovereign Council and the appointment of Prime Minister Hamdok and his civilian cabinet puts new, primarily civilian leaders in charge of running the country. The change has been immediate. Prime Minister […]

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19th December 2019 Vienna, Austria

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by Leigh Turner

Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna

A French pacifist, a British Embassy and a “British Schindler”

It is the summer of 1914 and a political assassination has shocked Europe.  Not the one you are thinking of – but one which will lead to a change of name for the street in Vienna on which the British Embassy sits – the Jaurèsgasse. French politician Jean Jaurès, sometimes described as “one of the […]

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17th December 2019

Emilia Pecheva

SIN Officer for Bulgaria and Romania

Cyber Security Challenge – SIN Bulgaria

On 2-4 October 2019 I attended the 1st International scientific conference on Digital transformation, cyber security and resilience “DIGILIENCE” in Bulgaria. The event brought together international research and policy makers in cyber security to discuss the state of the art and future demands in the provision of security and resilience of processes, services and systems […]

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13th December 2019 Skopje, North Macedonia

Zaneta Trajkoska

Zaneta Trajkoska

Director of the Institute of Communication Studies

For better environment: Don’t Ignore! React!

“All of us should be persistent in our commitment to a cleaner and healthier environment, through self-criticism and timely and rapid response, towards addressing the effects of climate change. As President, I shall commit myself for policies for environmental protection and protection of the national biodiversity, and will support all civic initiatives that promote the […]

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12th December 2019 Science Innovation USA

Karla Hagan

Karla Hagan

Head of Science and Innovation Network, Washington, DC

SIN Spins up Flurry of UK-US Collaboration in Offshore Wind Energy Innovation Ahead of COP26

The UK’s global leadership in clean growth is clear. It is the first major economy to legislate for net-zero emissions by 2050, and in order to help developing countries take action the UK has committed to doubling International Climate Finance contributions by 2025. Within the clean energy sector, offshore wind energy deployment in the UK […]

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9th December 2019 Vienna, Austria

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by Leigh Turner

Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna

Liverpool-Salzburg crunch match – who’d have thought? Plus: travel advice

Austria has been awarded a fantastic early Christmas present on 10 December. At 1755 local time on Tuesday night Liverpool will visit to play Red Bull Salzburg in the final game of the Champions’ League group stage.  Both teams need a result: if Liverpool lose they are likely to go out of the competition.  If […]

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5th December 2019

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by Matt Field

British Diplomat

A Woman’s Place is in the House… of Parliament

Along with many others across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the UK Embassy is currently marking ’16 Days of Activism’ to combat violence against women. Why only 16 days, you might well ask, and what does this mean for the other 349? By giving this critical problem a defined period of focus, running from 25 November […]

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