3rd October 2019
Skopje, North Macedonia
Last week, I travelled only a short distance from Skopje to visit Veles. It was a packed day as there was a lot to discuss and a lot of people to see and meet. Although Veles has a rich cultural history, our conversations were focussed on its future. Mayor Ace Kocevski talked about his plans […]
Read more on The hometown of Kocho Racin, a place of poetry, culture, history and tradition – my first visit to Veles | Reply
28th March 2019
Skopje, North Macedonia
This was the title of the presentation I had the pleasure to hear during my visit to Kumanovo this week during an English language class in one of their high schools. The theme of how well we know our world seemed to be the central topic of the hospitality I received during the visit. In […]
Read more on How well do you know your world? | Reply
20th February 2019
Skopje, North Macedonia
“Everyone has the right to work, to freely choose his or her employment, to be protected at work and to be provided with material security during temporary unemployment.” Article 32 of the Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia World Day of Social Justice 20th of February is a suitable occasion to talk about workers’ […]
Read more on Workers’ rights in North Macedonia | Reply
25th August 2018
Skopje, North Macedonia
I am not sure whether Macedonia’s Head of Diplomatic Protocol has ever gone to meet a newly arriving Ambassador at the airport and been greeted first by two incredibly excited children who just had to show him all their toys, but he was so professional you would have thought it happens every time! The warmth […]
Read more on Notes upon my arrival in Macedonia | Reply (2)
3rd July 2018
Skopje, North Macedonia
On Wednesday I shall pack the car, drive up the road to Tabanovce and on out of Macedonia. The end of a posting prompts retrospective thoughts. And this time, leaving a country which has generated so much history in the last four years, is no different. It has been an extraordinary privilege to serve in […]
Read more on Goodbye Macedonia | Reply (2)
10th September 2017
Skopje, North Macedonia
I spent Macedonia’s Independence Day climbing Bushava mountain, a stunningly beautiful peak near Krushevo with 360-degree views. I wasn’t alone – some 200 of us had joined up at the invitation of the Ministry of Defence and the NATO Liaison Office in Skopje. In inviting us to Krushevo, they were looking for a different way […]
Read more on We need to talk about NATO in Macedonia | Reply (1)
16th June 2017
Skopje, North Macedonia
Earlier this week I had my first one-to-one meeting with Zoran Zaev since he became Prime Minister of Macedonia. It had been delayed by a week because of what we call ‘purdah’, the election-related silence in which British civil servants are not allowed to say anything which might influence voting or government formation. Given the […]
Read more on Why we value UK-Macedonia partnership? | Reply
22nd February 2017
Skopje, North Macedonia
Nga momenti që Mbretëria e Bashkuar votoi të largohet nga Bashkimin Evropian, njerëzit që i kam takuar jashtë shtetit shpesh më kanë pyetur të njëjtën pyetje: Çfarë do të thotë kjo për vendin tim? Përgjigjja ime është gjithmonë e njëjta, Mbretëria e Bashkuar largohet nga Bashkimi Europian por nuk e lëshon Europën. Në vizitën time […]
Read more on Në prag të vizitës në Maqedoni | Reply
20th January 2017
Skopje, North Macedonia
Në malet e larta të Sharit në Maqedoni, ajri ka shije të shampanjës. Pas pesë orëve duke e pirë, ecja jonë sot na raskapiti por na gazmoi. Është e mrekullueshme të rikthehem në Maqedoni. Ka nëntë vjet që nga çasti kur eca në Malin Sharr. Aso kohe, kur isha në postin e Ambasadorit Britanik në […]
Read more on Shënime nga ditari, 26 Gusht 2027 | Reply
6th September 2016
Skopje, North Macedonia
I spent this morning in conversation with Macedonia’s Justice Minister Valdet Xhaferi and the Centre for Legal Research and Analysis (CLRA), a Skopje-based civil society organisation. The topic was how we can strengthen the judicial system in Macedonia. And our conversation formed part of the launch of a programme of activities led by the CLRA […]
Read more on Improving quality of justice in Macedonia | Reply (2)
