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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
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International Day of Women in Diplomacy: UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls visit to Geneva
1st May 2025
The UN Commission on the Status of Women: My first visit as UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls
4th April 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
The Queen meets Pres. Napolitano in Rome
Relationships matter. Yesterday I had the honour of welcoming HM The Queen to Rome for private meetings with the President of Italy Giorgio Napolitano and Pope Francis (on which Ambassador to the Holy See, Nigel Baker accompanied). I had the privilege of accompanying Her Majesty on the flight over for her fourth visit to Italy […]
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4th April 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Black-and-white or shades of grey?
Reporting and assessing events in other countries is one of a diplomat’s prime functions. We need to know about events, and then explain them to our governments. We have to explain complex events as briefly as possible and put them into a political and historical perspective. Our political masters don’t have time to read detailed […]
4th April 2014 Mumbai, India
Reciprocal visit to the UK’s research centres in offshore wind energy
As a follow up to our recent UK-India workshops on offshore wind energy, I led a 2-member Indian delegation to the UK on a 4-day visit, which included pit stops at the universities in Cranfield, Durham, and Strathclyde, as well as the National Renewable Energy Centre (NAREC). The delegation comprised Prof. V. Anantha Subramanian, Head […]
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3rd April 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Queen Elizabeth II meets Pope Francis
Back in February, I wrote about the significance of the relatively few meetings over the years between British monarchs and Popes, not least The Queen’s own encounters with four different Popes since 1951. Each in its way has served as a milestone in the development of the relationship between the United Kingdom and the Holy […]
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2nd April 2014 Sana’a, Yemen
WATER, WATER ALL AROUND… BUT NOT A DROP TO DRINK
The rains began in Sana’a this week. Once day it was dry; the next – almost 4pm on the dot, the heavens opened and the streets became flooded. Children rushed to play in the ankle-high puddles and adults hiked up their clothes to avoid them getting wet and sighed. Two weeks ago – 23rd March […]
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2nd April 2014 Windhoek, Namibia
Royal Naval backdrop helps showcase British security and prosperity excellence in Namibia
This week’s 3-day visit of HMS Portland – one of the Royal Navy’s Type 23 Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigates – to the port of Walvis Bay provided a great opportunity to showcase British military, security and prosperity excellence in Namibia as well as the UK’s diversity accomplishments. As the UK’s first female British High Commissioner to […]
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2nd April 2014 Sofia, Bulgaria
Bulgaria by Choice
by Tim Buisseret Tim Buisseret has had a few encounters with Bulgaria – as a child, student and an adult. In 2000, together with his Bulgarian wife Mira, he permanently moved to Sofia. Today, 14 years later, if asked what Bulgaria is for him, he simply answers: “home”. Tim is now Head of the Commercial Section at the […]
2nd April 2014 Budapest, Hungary
Partners Tournament at Vác FC featuring GB United
Guest Blog by John P. Marshall, Chairman of Vác FC – Founder at Aspire Group Last Saturday, 29th March 2014, we witnessed GB United take to the field for a second time. Although on this occasion, taking part in an 8-team amateur tournament, held at Vác FC stadium for the inauguration of our brand […]
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2nd April 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Why Ukraine matters and what happens next
Heavily armed Russian troops seize Crimea, part of the sovereign territory of Ukraine with a population similar to Latvia and an area larger than Israel. President Putin says Crimea “has always been an inalienable part” of Russian territory; and announces its permanent annexation. How should we respond? I’ve just returned to Istanbul from four weeks […]
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2nd April 2014 London, UK
Week One in Human Rights and Democracy Department, FCO, London
Start as you mean to go on, they say. Not easy, given the climactic nature of my first full week in charge of the FCO’s Human Rights and Democracy Department. Truth be told, this was the climax of my predecessor’s tenure – plans laid by her and my new colleagues, months ago, coming to fruition […]
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