17th July 2025
Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs
A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy
15th July 2025
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
1st December 2013 Sana’a, Yemen
نوفمبر30 – أوَان التأمّل
يوافق اليوم السبت 30 نوفمبر الذكرى السادسة والأربعون لاستقلال جنوب اليمن من بريطانيا. بعد زيارتي القريبة لمدينة عدن، تأثرت بقصة في الإعلام عن حضوري لفعالية الكشف عن تمثال الملكة فيكتوريا الموجود في حدائق فيكتوريا بعدن وذلك عقب عمليات تنظيفه وتجديده. للأسف فإن هذا الخبر بعيد كل بعد عن الصحة ولكنه ذكرني بالمشاعر الدافئة التي يحملها […]
1st December 2013 Brasilia, Brazil
World AIDS Day: low numbers and high ambitions
One of the things we can be proud of our countries, Brazil and UK, is the quantity and quality of data available regarding HIV/AIDS. In both cases, there are timely statistics and impressive analysis. This is a very good thing – good and reliable data have led us to well targeted and effective policy. I am Brazilian and […]
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30th November 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
St Andrew’s Day
Today is St Andrew’s day, Scotland’s national day. By this time next year a referendum will have taken place on whether Scotland should become independent. The UK Government firmly believes that it is for people in Scotland to decide their own future through democratic debate and a referendum in September 2014. This is a good […]
29th November 2013 Sana’a, Yemen
November 30 – a day to reflect
Today, November 30, marks the 46th anniversary of the independence of the southern part of Yemen from Britain. Following my recent visit to Aden, I was touched by a story in the media reporting that I would be attending the unveiling of the cleaned and refurbished statue of Queen Victoria which sits in the Victoria Gardens […]
29th November 2013 Brasilia, Brazil
Dress the part – guest blog by Cecilia Bijos
You normally read about Haiti and you automatically feel sorry for its people; natural disasters, poverty, racial discord and political instability have plagued the small country throughout its history. After the riot that took place in 2000, the country received aid from different countries and, when UN established MINUSTAH (UN Stability Mission in Haiti), Port […]
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29th November 2013 Ottawa, Canada
Promoting UK development science in Canada
Last week we had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Andrée Carter, Director of the UK Collaboration for Development Science (UKCDS) to Canada. She came at our invitation, to participate in a panel entitled: The world in 2020: Three questions for internationalised science, at the Canadian Science Policy Conference (CSPC), held in Toronto. She preceded her visit with a short […]
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29th November 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Winter Wonderland in Istanbul: Brilliant British Stuff
What is the best possible use of one of Istanbul’s most iconic buildings? How about this? We’re bringing together brilliant British brands and buyers on 5-7 December in the most beautiful rooms in Pera House, the historic British Consulate-General Building in the heart of Istanbul, for a “Winter Wonderland“. The aim of the Winter Wonderland is to […]
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29th November 2013 London, UK
A prosperous and stable Eastern Partnership is in the interests of all
The EU’s eastern neighbours are an integral part of Europe. They share our European history and culture, and seek to build an independent and prosperous future as sovereign nations free from outside pressure and influence. Their importance to the EU is unmistakable. Eastern Europe has seen many fundamental shifts since 1991. The spread of democracy, […]
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29th November 2013 Beirut, Lebanon
Waves, Arguments and Cliffhangers: Ten Ways Diplomats Can Communicate Better
French diplomat Jules Cambon saw the dangers of diplomatic openness in 1931, complaining that ‘the activities of the press, and ignorance of a public that insists on being told everything, do not create an atmosphere favourable to prosecution of political designs’. He was right, long before Assange and Snowden, that the media would sweep away […]
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29th November 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
4th Fastest Ambassador
The amazing 10 kilometre Great Ethiopian Run (GER) took place last Sunday. And despite a number staying away because of security concerns, some 37,000 participants competed. The sight of the flood of runners, most in matching yellow and green shirts, was quite something to behold. The change of course route this year presented a challenge […]