Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

19th July 2011

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by Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Green Energy

Our growing electricity needs, and the way we waste our energy, are one of the principal clauses of global warming in the world. All governments are grappling with the problem of rising demand and the contradictory need to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Bolivia is not immune. The British government recently published an Electricity Market Reform […]

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19th July 2011

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by Martin Harris

British Ambassador to Ukraine

The Road to Democracy in North Africa

Guest blog: Deputy Head of Mission Esther Blythe attended last week the start of a three-day workshop hosted by the Romanian Foreign Ministry for Tunisian and Egyptian officials on the experience of democratic transition – focusing in particular on the practical challenges of managing the first post-transition elections. Here is what Esther thought of the […]

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19th July 2011

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by Leigh Turner

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

Odesa Film Festival

The red carpet heaves with talent including John Malkovich, Russian filmmaker and actor Nikita Mikhalkov and many legendary Odesa comedy stars including the “Masks” of Chaos Shakespeare fame. Above, gleaming gilt cherubs frolic. I’m at the fabulous Odesa opera house for the opening of this year’s Odesa International Film Festival. With six British films on […]

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19th July 2011

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by Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Commonwealth Law Ministers in Sydney

It was an unusually “legal” week for me in Sydney last week, with Lord McNally, Minister of State for Justice attending the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting, and later in the week the Rt Hon Dominic Grieve MP, Attorney General, participating in a separate Quint meeting with his opposite numbers from Australia, the US, Canada and […]

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18th July 2011

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by Leigh Turner

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

Britain and Ukraine – Partners for Reform

Who said the following? – “Ukraine knows that it can count on Britain as its friend in the European Union.  We are, and will remain, enthusiastic advocates of Ukraine’s closer integration with the rest of Europe”; and – “It is the responsibility of true friends to speak honestly when they see something which concerns them”. […]

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18th July 2011

Robin Twyman

by Robin Twyman

Consul for Business and Government Affairs

388 reasons why US investors agree that Britain is the easiest place in Europe to do business

Investment stock can be a more accurate and less volatile indicator of inward investment than flow, but the UK’s Office of National Statistics reported last month that the UK attracted £32bn in the inward investment in the first quarter of 2011 – it’s strongest quarter for over 3 years, and a huge leap from the […]

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18th July 2011 Ottawa, Canada

Our New SIN Intern at the British High Commission in Ottawa – Alexandra Weirich

What better way to explore a new experience, while figuring out what you want to do with the rest of your life than doing an internship with the British High Commission in Ottawa (or in other posts around the world, where opportunities arise)? It is once again my pleasure to introduce you another of our […]

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18th July 2011 Ottawa, Canada

Our New SIN Intern at the British High Commission in Ottawa – Rasna Sherchan

It’s my pleasure to introduce you to our newest SIN Intern, Rasna Sherchan.  Rasna is bubbly and enthusiastic and a pleasure to work with.  She has had lots of variend and interesting experience that she will be able to build on with us as part of the Science & Innovation team in Canada. To date […]

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15th July 2011 London, UK

Child abductions in Cyprus

James McCamley, Consular Caseworker, Nicosia, Cyprus I’m sure if you ask most people what Cyprus means to them they’ll start talking enthusiastically about great beaches and fun holidays. That was certainly my main image of the island before I came to work here in the High Commission’s Consular Section – which is responsible for helping […]

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15th July 2011

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by Leigh Turner

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

Swing dancing in Kyiv

The music is infectious.  The urgent rhythm sends dancers sweeping around the room, partners gyrating and in some cases being thrown bodily through the air.  At the end of the track, entitled “Shout Sister Shout”, everyone stops for a breather and swaps partners.  I’m knackered. People often ask what Kyiv is like for a foreign […]

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