Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

27th September 2012 Yerevan, Armenia

Doing GREAT business in the UK and Armenia

Phew – here at the Embassy we are just recovering from our first Ministerial visit in six years. Mr Lidington, the Foreign Office’s Minister for Europe, was a great  visitor – engaged, full of energy, and really keen to make a difference in UK-Armenian relations. And we are really delighted that we were able to use the […]

Read more on Doing GREAT business in the UK and Armenia | Reply (2)

25th September 2012

Avatar photo

by Greg Dorey

Diplomat

Colourful Meskel!

Ethiopia is one of the few countries that celebrate their New Year at this time. On 27 September, the ceremony of Meskel will be observed by many Ethiopian Orthodox Christian believers. Meskel is one of the most significant holidays for the Orthodox Church: arrays of vivid colours, religious chants, huge bonfires (Demera in Amharic) and […]

Read more on Colourful Meskel! | Reply (1)

25th September 2012 London, UK

Katherine Fox

by Katherine Fox

Head of Strategic Communications for Pakistan

Made in Pakistan: exporting the right image

Brand new bed linen from one of the department stores for which London’s Oxford Street is famous.  Unwrapping the layers of packaging I noticed the label: made in Pakistan.  I wondered if it had come from the factory whose owner I had met in Lahore, where we discussed everything from electricity shortages, to labour law […]

Read more on Made in Pakistan: exporting the right image | Reply (4)

25th September 2012 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

by Nikesh Mehta

Counsellor for Foreign Policy and Security

‘Daddy, is it okay if I give the Princess a kiss?’

As I sit on the most beautiful stretch of white sand on Pulau Redang, I finally have time to reflect on what was, by any measure, the most extraordinary of weeks. I am feeling a strange mix of exhilaration and exhaustion: exhilaration because I think we organised a royal visit that was rich in diversity […]

Read more on ‘Daddy, is it okay if I give the Princess a kiss?’ | Reply (10)

24th September 2012 USA

Spencer Mahoney

by Spencer Mahony

HM Consul and UKTI Regional Director for the South East United States

Aston Martins – a nice way to spruce up your residence

The following is a guest post by Zachary Zimmerman, a business development associate with UK Trade & Investment at the British Embassy in Washington. The British Ambassador to the United States has a nice house. Some argue that, since it is Sir Edwin Lutyens’ only architectural work in America and is adorned with a priceless display […]

Read more on Aston Martins – a nice way to spruce up your residence | Reply (1)

24th September 2012

Avatar photo

by Martin Harris

Minister and Deputy Head of Mission to Russia

More power to the Pumas

The Royal Air Force is about to take delivery of one of its newly upgraded helicopters from the Eurocopter plant at Ghimbav, near Brasov. I was there on Friday to see the helicopter make its first flight post-upgrade, along with Romania’s Prime Minister Victor Ponta and Lord Davies, chairman of the All-Party Group on Romania […]

Read more on More power to the Pumas | Reply

24th September 2012 Warsaw, Poland

Martin Oxley, Head, UKTI Poland

by Martin Oxley

Director of UKTI Warsaw

Great British Supercars Set the Pace for UK Trade & Investment

To mark the visit of the Right Hon William Hague, MP to Warsaw recently the British Embassy in co-operation with Aston Martin Warszawa, Lotus Warszawa and JLR Polska hosted a British Motoring Hall of Fame. A superb line up of British Motoring Excellence. Never before has the Embassy seen so much horsepower on one occasion. […]

Read more on Great British Supercars Set the Pace for UK Trade & Investment | Reply

24th September 2012 Geneva, Switzerland

Avatar photo

by Bob Last

Head, UK Mission Political and Human Rights Team

Growing Older, Getting Colder

My second week of the Council session got off to a particularly bad start as I managed to put my back out while playing with my son at the weekend. My boss Ian cheerfully put it down to age catching up with me. I like to think I’ve a few good years left in me […]

Read more on Growing Older, Getting Colder | Reply (2)