Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

14th December 2012

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by Leigh Turner

Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna

When BBC stands for the Bosphorus Brewing Company

Where in the world can you buy Istanbul Pale Ale (IPA) with water made to a Burton on Trent recipe to wash down fish and chips made with beer batter? And why is 81 a good name for a beer in Turkey? I was delighted recently to be invited to the opening of the Bosphorus Brewing Company […]

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13th December 2012 Kingston, Jamaica

by Samara South

Political and Press Support Officer

Personal Role Radios for the Jamaica Defence Force

I attended the UK handover of over 100 sets of Personal Role Radio (PRR) to Jamaica’s Defence Force at a press event involving Jamaica’s Minister of National Security, The British High Commissioner and Jamaica’s Chief of Defence staff. The event took place at the British High Commissioner’s Residence, Trafalgar House.  The donation is the culmination […]

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13th December 2012

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by Leigh Turner

Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna

Positively Concluding on Turkey’s EU accession…

A guest blog by Louise Taylor, EU Political Officer at the British Embassy in Ankara, Turkey As EU Political Officer, I have been following Turkey’s EU accession process closely since I arrived in Ankara last March.  So I am pleased to see that EU Ministers agreed positive conclusions at the General Affairs Council on Enlargement on […]

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13th December 2012 London, UK

Consular Christmas blogs: Christmas – South Indian Style!

Christmas in South India comes in the middle of the Indian festive season. The songs of joy and sparkling decorations could be an extension of Deepavali (Diwali in the North) without the sound and fury; or perhaps it is the harbinger of another mega event – Sankranthi, the harvest festival. In the countryside, you might […]

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13th December 2012 Tashkent, Uzbekistan

A European concert

On Monday evening I attended a concert at the Tashkent Conservatoire by the Conservatoire Students’ Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. It was an excellent concert, with a series of show-pieces to show off the students’ skills. I always enjoy hearing young orchestras and choirs performing at this sort of level. They tend to have a special […]

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13th December 2012

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by Peter Millett

Ambassador to Libya, Tripoli

Don’t Make the Whole World Blind

His Majesty King Abdullah is in London this week. A top priority  in his talks with Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague was the Middle East Peace Process. After HM King Abdullah’s trip to Ramallah last week; after the ceasefire in Gaza; and after the vote at the UN General Assembly, this […]

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13th December 2012 London, UK

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by Rob Fenn

Head of Human Rights and Democracy Department, FCO

My Chevening experience, so far

Nor Ali is one of the two recipients from Brunei of the 2012/2013 Chevening Scholarship. He is studying for an MA in Inclusive Education and Technology at King’s College London. Looks like it’s my turn this year to share my personal experience as a Chevening scholar! As you read on, you’ll notice it’s going to […]

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