Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

30th January 2014

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by Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance at the Vatican

The UK is one of 31 members of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), an intergovernmental body born in 1998 to expand Holocaust education worldwide, and to secure political and social leaders’ support behind the need for Holocaust education, remembrance and research both nationally and internationally. In February this year we will take over the rotating […]

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30th January 2014 Windhoek, Namibia

Marianne Young

by Marianne Young

High Commissioner, Windhoek

A touch of the Highlands in the desert: The Commonwealth Queen’s baton comes to Namibia

The Queen’s Commonwealth baton has just spent a fun two days in Namibia as part of its journey through 70 of the world’s Commonwealth countries on its way to the start of the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July. The British High Commission was delighted to play a part in the festivities in its […]

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30th January 2014

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by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Learning about the Falkland Islands

Unsurprisingly, most Australians don’t know much about the Falkland Islands, so visiting Legislative Assembly member Mike Summers faced lots of questions during his trip to Melbourne this week. At 51 degrees south, it’s further south than Australia, and is often perceived as being almost polar. But maps can be deceptive. In the northern hemisphere the […]

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29th January 2014 London, UK

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by Simona Prete

Head of Communications, British Embassy to the Holy See

Digital at heart

Over 4,600 twitter followers, a blogging Ambassador, a gallery online telling UK-Holy See relations in pictures. These are part of the digital footprints of our small Embassy (five of us in total): the oldest UK diplomatic representation abroad, @UKinHolySee to name it in tune with the times. Digital media have become an essential part of […]

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29th January 2014

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by Greg Dorey

Diplomat

Towards a Conflict Free Africa

This year agriculture is the main theme of the 22nd Assembly of Heads of State and Government at the African Union (AU) – the AU Summit, which is taking place this week. But African leaders are also deliberating on the peace and security of the continent. Country situations at the top of the agenda are […]

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29th January 2014

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by Jonathan Allen

Former Ambassador to Bulgaria

Migration: UK and Bulgaria Are More Similar than You May Think

Although for me the biggest story of 2013 was the way civil society found its voice, the biggest story UK-Bulgaria story was the vexed issue of migration. We should differentiate between actions and words. The British government’s actions have been clear. We have honoured our legal commitment to lift labour restrictions on Bulgarian workers. In […]

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28th January 2014

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by Sarah Dickson

Ambassador to Guatemala (June 2012 - June 2015)

Recién llegando a Guatemala!

Quiero dar la bienvenida a Guatemala a nuestro nuevo Jefe de Misión Alterno, el Sr. Andrew Tate y su maravillosa familia. Y para ello, lo he invitado a escribir un blog sobre sus primeras impresiones, tienes la palabra Andy. El 03 de enero llegue a La Aurora con mi familia para iniciar mi nuevo trabajo […]

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27th January 2014

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by Sarah Dickson

Ambassador to Guatemala (June 2012 - June 2015)

Just arriving Guatemala!

I want to welcome our new Deputy Head of Mission, Mr Andrew Tate and his wonderful family to Guatemala!  And to do so, I have invited him to write a blog on his first impressions, over to you Andy: On 3 January I arrived at La Aurora with my family to take up my new […]

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