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23rd March 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
How not to hold a referendum
The Crimean referendum of 16 March falls far below recognised international standards. To begin with, it is unconstitutional. Ukraine’s constitution clearly states that the status of any part of the country’s territory can only be changed as the result of a nationwide referendum. No one objected to the idea of a referendum as such. And […]
23rd March 2014 Warsaw, Poland
The GREAT British Sunday Lunch po Polsku
The GREAT British Sunday Lunch po Polsku Well I’m just back from a mega week long culinary trip round the UK and you know what I had a GREAT time tasting some pretty cool food. What matters is the ingredients and how you cook them. It’s not good enough to dismiss the Brits as having […]
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21st March 2014 Havana, Cuba
When Winston Churchill went to war in Cuba
In a week when Russian aggression in Eastern Europe has brought back memories of the Cold War, it seems appropriate to write about Sir Winston Churchill, the great British statesman who coined the term ‘the iron curtain’. Churchill’s inspiring, determined, brilliant leadership during the Second World War is known to all. Less well-known are his […]
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21st March 2014 Sofia, Bulgaria
From Three Months to a Decade
by Paul Wright Paul Wright is a British businessman who first came to Sofia ten years ago, only temporary, for three months. Ten years later Paul is still here and married to a Bulgarian woman; they have one child. In his #100UKBG story, Paul talks about Bulgaria and his Bulgarian life. The simplest thing to say […]
21st March 2014 Beirut, Lebanon
SOVEREIGNTY, BORDERS AND KEEPING LEBANON OUT OF THE WAR
This week I visited Lebanon’s Northern border with the Lebanese Army. I wanted to see the way in which they are trying to enforce sovereignty at this challenging time, supported by UK projects. A series of UK funded border towers, some built (symbolically) with material previously used in Northern Ireland, are the most significant evidence in […]
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21st March 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Commonwealth
When I wrote about the problems in Ukraine just over a month ago, I don’t think anyone expected what has since happened. I’ve written separately (in Russian) on the referendum in Crimea – I fear there will be more fountains of tears in Crimea. Recent events have happened despite both Ukraine and Russia being members […]
21st March 2014 Madrid, Spain
Diplomacy, authenticity and epilepsy
Some caricature diplomacy as not being clear, avoiding hard messages, getting a deal at all costs. Worse, some see diplomats as evasive, slippery, cowardly, masters of ambiguity. In my experience the opposite is true. The best diplomats are clear about what they want to achieve, but also understand the objectives of others. They will often […]
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21st March 2014 Warsaw, Poland
Say Cheese – Say Yarg
Say Cheese – We’ve been all the way to Cornwall to taste some YARG Piesek P is on the lookout for GREAT British Cheese in Poland – as he finds it he’ll let you know – just smile! Produced from a recipe which dates back to the 13th century, Cornish Yarg cheese was conceived and […]
21st March 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Twiplomacy and the Communicator Pope
Modern diplomats, and modern Popes, are in the communications business. It remains right that there are still some government activities that are conducted behind the scenes, in confidence, with discretion, without fanfare. But modern diplomats must also persuade, which means delivering a convincing message, sometimes to the broadest possible audience, including on twitter and other […]
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20th March 2014 Toronto, Canada
Hacking technology for dementia
SIN Canada, in partnership with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, will be running an exciting hackathon-type event on dementia in the summer/autumn of 2014. The UK is strongly committed to improving care for people with dementia, launching the National Dementia Strategy in 2009 and the Prime Minister’s […]