Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

15th September 2011

Avatar photo

by Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Anniversary of Pope Benedict’s Visit to Britain

The Papal Visit to the United Kingdom last year, exactly one year ago this week, was an extraordinary moment in the relationship between my country and the Holy See. It was the first State Visit by a Pope, and in the Prime Minister’s words “an incredibly moving four days for our country”. It emphasised the […]

Read more on Anniversary of Pope Benedict’s Visit to Britain | Reply

15th September 2011

Avatar photo

by Greg Dorey

Diplomat

Democracy

Today  is International Day of Democracy. In the UK we believe that democracy rests on respect for every individual in society, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or other status. In fact this forms an indivisible part of our foreign policy. Through the work of the FCO we support not only electoral processes but […]

Read more on Democracy | Reply

14th September 2011 London, UK

Child Abduction in Mexico

Karen Harris, Consular Officer, Mexico. There are always two sides to the story when it comes down to the breakdown of a relationship, and achieving an amicable separation can be even harder when children are involved. Custody disputes can cause much anxiety for parents and inevitably emotions run high leading some parents to take the […]

Read more on Child Abduction in Mexico | Reply

14th September 2011

Avatar photo

by Martin Harris

British Ambassador to Ukraine

Bucharest – the Festival City

How good to be in Bucharest now that the ‘George Enescu’ festival is here! When I first saw the programme for this year’s twentieth festival, I could not quite believe my eyes. It looked like one of those conference programmes which promise the President, three Ministers and the British Ambassador, but when you turn up […]

Read more on Bucharest – the Festival City | Reply

13th September 2011

Avatar photo

by Martin Harris

British Ambassador to Ukraine

Justice Reform is great for Business

Joint blog by Catalin Predoiu, Romanian Minister of Justice  and Martin Harris, British Ambassador to Romania 2011 has already proved to be a great year in Romania-UK relations with the visits of President Traian Basescu and Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi to London.  Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu’s visit last week, as the guest of the Justice Secretary Ken […]

Read more on Justice Reform is great for Business | Reply

13th September 2011 Windhoek, Namibia

Marianne Young

by Marianne Young

High Commissioner, Windhoek

Social Namibia – sharing ideas on digital direction

Social networking is a global phenomenon that no one working in media or communications can ignore.  There have been a host of international events this year in which social media have played a significant part.  From the Arab Spring to the Tsunami in Japan, ‘digital diplomacy’ (as the UK Foreign Office calls it) has not […]

Read more on Social Namibia – sharing ideas on digital direction | Reply (1)

12th September 2011

Avatar photo

by Leigh Turner

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

Ukrainian sport and London 2012

One of the best things about being an ambassador is the opportunity to meet a wide range of people.  So I was delighted on 10 September to attend the Day of Physical Culture and Sport in Kyiv to talk about London 2012. Ukraine has a terrific sporting tradition and it was a privilege both to […]

Read more on Ukrainian sport and London 2012 | Reply

12th September 2011

Avatar photo

by Peter Millett

Ambassador to Libya, Tripoli

مشكلة التأشيرات للمملكة المتحدة

إن رؤية مجموعة الشباب الأردنيين الحاصلين على منح دراسية و المتوجهين الى المملكة المتحدة لهو دليل على متانة العلاقات الوثيقة بين الأردن والمملكة المتحدة بما يتعلق بالتعليم. فبريطانيا هي المكان الذي يرغب العديد من الأشخاص الدراسة فيه بسبب الجودة العالية لمدارسها و كلياتها وجامعاتها. و الترحيب بالطلاب الدوليين يعد أولوية قصوى لتلك الجامعات لأنه يجلب […]

Read more on مشكلة التأشيرات للمملكة المتحدة | Reply (1)

12th September 2011 Geneva, Switzerland

Avatar photo

by Bob Last

Head, UK Mission Political and Human Rights Team

Back to School

I’ve never liked this time of year. It always invokes my childhood dread of going back to school without having done any of my homework for the summer holidays. Each year I promised myself I’d change and be more organised the following summer. But I never was. On Monday the Human Rights Council begins its […]

Read more on Back to School | Reply

12th September 2011

Avatar photo

by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Foreign Office minister sees changes since his backpacking days

Jeremy Browne, FCO Minister of State, spent three days in Australia visiting Sydney and Brisbane. He commented that the country had changed since his last visit as a 19 year old backpacker in the 80s, but the welcome was just as warm. He noted that Australia is now the world’s 13th largest economy, a member […]

Read more on Foreign Office minister sees changes since his backpacking days | Reply