Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

23rd November 2012

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by Paul Johnston

Ambassador to Ireland

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

Guest blog by Jenny Söderqvist, Political Attaché at the British Embassy in Sweden This Sunday is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – a UN initiative to raise awareness about this complex and serious problem. The date – 25 of November – has not been chosen at random, but marks the […]

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22nd November 2012 London, UK

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by Rob Fenn

Head of Human Rights and Democracy Department, FCO

Brunei’s ASEAN Chairmanship

I have just got back from a meeting of British High Commissioners and Ambassadors in ASEAN countries, timed to coincide with this week’s ASEAN Summit. We talked about the UK’s relationships with each member state, about our understanding of ASEAN as a whole, and about how our bilateral relationships with ASEAN countries – all strong, […]

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22nd November 2012 Dublin, Ireland

Robin Barnett

by Robin Barnett

Former Ambassador to Ireland, Dublin

GREAT opportunities on offer in Poland and the rest of Emerging Europe

After a week talking to businesses and enablers in London, Preston and Glasgow, I am convinced that we are seeing an upsurge of interest in the opportunities on offer in Poland and the rest of Emerging Europe. But we are also seeing British success today. The big story of the week was the delivery of […]

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22nd November 2012 Islamabad, Pakistan

Howzzat!!

Written by an avid cricket fan and guest blogger from the British High Commission in Islamabad: A green cricketing outfield under a clear blue sky, the sound of leather on willow on warm sunny afternoon with a majestic church spire as a backdrop; this can only be a scene from my youthful cricketing days turning out for Wimbledon […]

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21st November 2012

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by Peter Millett

Ambassador to Libya, Tripoli

Arab Partnership: Responding to the Challenge of Change

Ala’a Al-Sallal was frustrated when he found he couldn’t buy Arabic books on Amazon. So rather than give up he decided to set up his own Arabic version of Amazon. This young man from Jabal Natheef worked with the active support of his family to set up a new company: Jamalon, an on-line bookshop that now […]

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21st November 2012

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by Paul Johnston

Ambassador to Ireland

Trade, tax, transparency: the UK G8 agenda

Next year Britain chairs the G8, the group of the world’s most developed Western economies. So what you might ask? Some people ask: does the G8 still matter, when we have a G20, embracing also the emerging powers, including Brazil, India and China? The UK’s answer is “Yes”. The G8 is a group of like-minded […]

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20th November 2012

by Judith Macgregor

British High Commissioner to South Africa

Our work in Mexico, nominated for the UK Civil Service Awards

The following is a guest blog by Monica Buitron, Programme Director at the British Embassy Mexico City. I have been invited to write about my team’s nomination for the Programme Team Civil Service Award 2012. I will begin to do so by mentioning how greatly honoured and proud this has made us feel. The Civil […]

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20th November 2012 London, UK

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by David Lidington

Minister for Europe, London

Export Week

It’s not often that I blog about football, but this week I came across a truly inspiring story. Terry Nelson is a former Paratrooper who invented a suit that enables athletes to recuperate in water. He himself has represented our country and won a gold medal at the World Transplant Games in Vancouver in 1993. […]

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20th November 2012 Paris, France

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by Peter Ricketts

Ambassador to France from February 2012 to January 2016.

Deputy Prime Minister in Paris

Nick Clegg attends the 40th anniversary of the Franco-British Council at the British Ambassador's Residence, Paris

I said last week that I would talk to you about our Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s visit on 14 November. Nick is the leader of the Liberal Democrat Party in the UK. He is a former member of the European Parliament, speaks fluent French and so is able to have his lunchtime discussions with […]

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