Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

27th August 2012

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by James Dauris

British Ambassador, Panama

Renewable energies in Peru’s stratagic planning

By James Dauris, British Ambassador to Peru On August 10th, I attended a presentation by Pedro Gamio and Henry García – two Peruvian specialists in the energy sector – on their latest work on renewable energies within the Peruvian context. It focused on highlighting the importance of renewable energies  when  the world’s energy needs are […]

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27th August 2012

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by Greg Dorey

Diplomat

A sad week for Ethiopia

With the death of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and the funeral of Abune Paulos, the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox church, this has been an exceptionally sad week for Ethiopia. The late Patriarch I attended the Patriarch’s funeral, at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Addis Ababa (where Emperor Haile Selassie and suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst are […]

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26th August 2012

by Peter Tibber

Ambassador to Colombia

A wet but warm welcome from Khartoum

We (my wife, Eve, and I) arrived nearly two weeks ago. As the doors of the aircraft opened so too did the heavens. We got soaked as we dashed the short distance from the foot of the aircraft steps to the waiting vehicle. It wasn’t the weather we were expecting. But it was more than […]

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24th August 2012 Calgary, Canada

by Tony Kay

British Consul General, Calgary

Alberta’s fascinating contrasts

My family and I have just celebrated two months in Alberta. Arriving just prior to Stampede was thrilling. Being the first British Consul General resident in Calgary is a huge honour. Identifying a clone to pack everything in (we cover Saskatchewan and Manitoba too) is an increasing priority. To me, Alberta is a Province of […]

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23rd August 2012

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by Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor

The Archbishop Emeritus of Westminster turns 80 on 24 August . This is an important milestone in any life, and it is a pleasure to be able to congratulate Cardinal Cormac on his birthday. But it is also a particularly significant moment in the life and career of a Cardinal. On that day, as with […]

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23rd August 2012

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by Peter Millett

Ambassador to Libya, Tripoli

It’s about sport, not disability

Next week sees the start of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, two weeks of great sport between athletes from all over the world.  It is the second largest sporting event in the world, an extraordinary celebration of elite sporting ability. Maybe some people will say “So what?” and turn off.  Surely nothing can match the […]

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23rd August 2012

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by Martin Harris

British Ambassador to Ukraine

After the Court’s verdict

The Foreign Office made a statement yesterday evening on the political situation in Romania. Romania has had a long, hot summer. My hope (as an optimist) is that temperatures will fall in the autumn and that the focus will be on economic and institutional reform and strengthening the rule of law. There are important decisions […]

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23rd August 2012

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by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Dreamtime in Northern Queensland rainforest

At 135 million years, the Daintree Rainforest is the oldest rainforest on earth. The Yalanji people have lived there for around 40,000 years. I was invited to visit the new indigenous eco-tourism development at Mossman Gorge, just north of Cairns, a week after it opened. Our local guide, Harold, was a mine of information as […]

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