Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

14th November 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

Do you want to be part of Turkey’s future?

Did you know that 41,000 brilliant students from around the world have studied in the UK since 1983 under a terrific scholarship programme run by the UK Government? And it’s available in Turkey. The Chevening programme in Turkey is designed to create lasting positive relationships with future leaders and decision makers. It’s aimed at young […]

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14th November 2012

by Peter Tibber

Ambassador to Colombia

Majesty and Remembrance

The following is a guest post by Deputy Ambassador to Sudan. One of the perks of stepping into the Ambassador’s shoes when he is away is that I occasionally get to represent the United Kingdom at some really uplifting events. Last Friday was a case in point. The Palace Museum had agreed to host an […]

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14th November 2012 Warsaw, Poland

Martin Oxley, Head, UKTI Poland

by Martin Oxley

Director of UKTI Warsaw

Glasgow’s Great – Emerging Europe Scotland

Just left Glasgow heading south on the M74. A great event and huge opportunity for Scottish companies to engage in Emerging Europe. We were very pleased to be able to team up with Scottish Development International for this event which took place right in the heart of Glasgow. Emerging Europe Smart Exporter – please remember […]

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14th November 2012

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by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall’s visit to Australia

TRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall paid a Jubilee visit to Australia last week. He had visited many times before and is very fond of the country. For the Duchess it was her very first visit. They had a full programme travelling all over Australia, taking in the outback in Queensland, […]

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13th November 2012

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by Sarah Dickson

Ambassador to Guatemala (June 2012 - June 2015)

British Week 2013: get involved!

British Week is back! It’ll be our 4th and most ambitious yet, and will be held between Sunday 26 February and Saturday 2 March. As in previous years the Week will feature our two main social events of our calendar, the Queen’s Birthday Party (on Thursday 28 February), and the British Ball (on Saturday 2 […]

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13th November 2012 Warsaw, Poland

Martin Oxley, Head, UKTI Poland

by Martin Oxley

Director of UKTI Warsaw

Emerging Europe – North West

Good Afternoon from somewhere on the M6 just South of the UK’s Great Lake District, We’re on the way north to Scotland! We’ve just had a really great EMERGING EUROPE North West UK event. Over 100 quality businesses who are really interested in exporting to our exciting region. Manufacturing and trading companies – where export […]

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13th November 2012

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by Sarah Dickson

Ambassador to Guatemala (June 2012 - June 2015)

British Week 2013: get involved!

British Week is back! It’ll be our 4th and most ambitious yet, and will be held between Sunday 24 February and Saturday 2 March. As in previous years the Week will feature our two main social events of our calendar, the Queen’s Birthday Party (on Thursday 28 February), and the British Ball (on Saturday 2 […]

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13th November 2012 Windhoek, Namibia

Marianne Young

by Marianne Young

High Commissioner, Windhoek

British belles on the beat with the Namibian police

It is always a challenge to give official visitors from London a real taste of how a small embassy is delivering results both internally and externally during a lightning visit. This was the issue faced last week, when the High Commission in Windhoek welcomed the Foreign Office’s Human Resources Director Menna Rawlings, senior Human Resources […]

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13th November 2012 Cape Town, South Africa

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by Simon Atkinson

Deputy Head of Mission, Cape Town

President Pohamba visits South Africa

As you may remember, though I’m based at the Consulate-General in Cape Town, I’m also accredited as the Deputy High Commissioner in Namibia (to support our team there). The historic visit this week by Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba to South Africa presented me with a rare chance to mix the two roles. On Tuesday (6 […]

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