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
3rd June 2013 Beirut, Lebanon
Courage, Challenges and The Post Civil War Generation
I was asked to speak at a graduation ceremony on Friday. It was the end of a tiring and typically eclectic week, including a huge celebration of HM Queen’s birthday (held early, ironically, to avoid Lebanese elections), the launch of the Jaguar F-Type, postponement of elections, the usual round of mountain top meetings with leaders, […]
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3rd June 2013 Vientiane, Laos
Laos through my eyes – Colin Butters
The British Embassy plane, a de Havilland Beaver piloted by Major Alan Calder, Assistant Military Attaché, delivered me to Pakse in September 1972, together with my motor bike. As a volunteer with VSO, my job was to oversee the technical running of the Lao National Radio station in Pakse, and to continue the training of the Lao technicians.
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3rd June 2013 Geneva, Switzerland
Launches, lunar landings and hyper-speed delegates
I’m sure the June session of the Council never used to be this busy. In years gone by it felt less like a session in its own right and more like the after show party of the March session when delegations would run a few resolutions that they didn’t quite find the time for and […]
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3rd June 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Europe: UK and Germany Partners in Reform
Some once said that football was a game where England played Germany over 90 minutes and extra time and then the Germans won on penalties. Which is an inelegant way of saying that the UK and Germany are very much together on the reform team in the EU, with Sweden on side as well, of […]
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3rd June 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
"We are Geelong and tonight we shine"
Thus concluded an editorial in Saturday’s Geelong Advertiser (the “Addie”). It referred to the opening of a new stand at Geelong Cats’ Simonds Stadium in Kardinia Park together with four spectacular lighting towers which will enable night matches to be played for the first time. It was a big deal for club and city, attended […]
2nd June 2013 Harare, Zimbabwe
British Ambassador Visits Nad-e Ali District
I accompanied my Ambassador Sir Richard Stagg on a visit to Nad-e Ali District in Helmand Province on Thursday 30th May. Arriving at Forward Operating Base Shawqat we were warmly welcomed by the Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Neil Unsworth OBE and staff of 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, who delivered a very positive […]
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31st May 2013 Toronto, Canada
Minister Burt visits the Canadian Light Source
British Columbia and Saskatchewan got a visit last week from Alistair Burt, the UK’s Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (a broad remit, which covers North America). As part of a wide-ranging programme, the British delegation visited the Canadian Light Source for a tour and brief chat about engagement with the […]
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31st May 2013 Havana, Cuba
Starting the conversation
I’m the British Ambassador to Cuba and I’ve decided to start this blog. The idea is to write about the United Kingdom and Cuba, everything that joins them together and one or two things that separate them. Of course, the British Embassy in Havana already uses lots of digital platforms for communication – for example, […]
31st May 2013
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Guatemala: Open for Business
This is a guest blog by our Prosperity Officer, Héctor José Guatemala is currently hosting the Guatemala Investment Summit (GIS), and we had the pleasure of attending its inauguration yesterday. We were in good company! Guatemala’s President, Otto Perez Molina, Vice President, Roxana Baldetti, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fernando Carrera, several members of the Cabinet, […]
31st May 2013 Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Guest Blog: Playing the ‘Cello with Uzbekistan’s State Conservatoire’
Last week the orchestra of the Tashkent Conservatoire performed an evening of British music, sponsored by mining company Rio Tinto. My colleague Lottie Waller joined the orchestra for the occasion, and blogs below about her experience. On 22 May I played the ‘cello in the student orchestra of Uzbekistan’s State Conservatoire, with around 75 of […]
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