19th October 2018
Beirut, Lebanon
As Fayruz says….. bhebak ya lebnan. “Ahla wa sahla saadet el safir” said my welcoming team at the airport – “shoukran, please call me Chris, and do speak to me in Arabic” I said back. That was only 5 weeks ago – it seems much further back. Lebanon has a reputation for outstanding hospitality, stunning […]
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13th January 2015
Beirut, Lebanon
All of us share the sadness of the French people at last week’s terrorist attack in Paris, and of the Lebanese people at the weekend attack in Tripoli. In their condemnation of the deaths in Paris, the four Muftis of Lebanon sent a powerful message against extremism. It was a reminder that many in this […]
Read more on Keeping the ‘Islamic State’ out of Lebanon, and Lebanon out of the ‘Islamic State’ | Reply (1)
4th November 2014
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Guest blog by Mark Wentworth, British Defence Attaché to Kazakhstan. Eight members of the Kazakh Armed Forces recently participated in the internationally renowned Exercise CAMBRIAN PATROL that takes place annually in Wales, United Kingdom. The aim of the exercise is to “provide a challenging patrol environment in order to enhance operational capability”. During the exercise, […]
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27th March 2013
Dublin, Ireland
It has been a busy time for both me and the wider Embassy team. A recent Tuesday found me trying not to confuse the financing of energy investment in Poland with a trilateral Afghan, Polish, British roundtable on progress and next steps in Afghanistan. Both are really important. Poland and the UK both need to […]
Read more on The multi-faceted life of an Ambassador | Reply
10th November 2012
Beirut, Lebanon
Following Remembrance services in Saida and Tripoli on Thursday, we have just left the third, in the beautifully kept Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Beirut. The torrential rain cleared, and we honoured those who fell, driving Vichy from Lebanon in 1941. We share these poignant moments with former allies and former foes. The allied contingent […]
Read more on History, Remembrance and ‘The Key of Hope’ | Reply (5)