27th May 2014 London, UK
I was in the UK last week, attending the annual Leadership Conference of British diplomatic Heads of Mission, when news of the Soma mining accident broke. It was clear at once that this was a serious incident and the news quickly got gloomier and gloomier. We now know that 301 miners lost their lives. In […]
9th May 2014 London, UK
In less than three weeks’ time, the people of Ukraine go to the polls in Presidential elections that will determine the future direction of their country. According to reputable polling organisations, over 80 percent of Ukrainians said they will vote on 25 May. Preparations for elections are going ahead despite attempts to destabilise, disrupt and […]
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17th April 2014 London, UK
It’s the time of year when many Turkish travelers are planning their summer holiday. You won’t be surprised to hear that I hope many of you will choose the UK. Whether it’s for the buzz of one of the world’s great capital cities, the rich and varied history, the tolerance and diversity of its people […]
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31st March 2014 London, UK
I was glad to get back home to Ankara on Saturday night, tired but happy, after two weeks on the road around Turkey. It had been a fascinating preceding fortnight. Perhaps you would allow me to share the highlights. The first of the two weeks was spent visiting our consulates around the coast in Antalya, […]
6th March 2014 London, UK
Thank you for all your kind comments about my first blog. What made this an eventful week? The Galatasaray-Chelsea match for one thing. It was great to work with our consular team supporting visiting Chelsea fans, including bizarrely a contingent from Mongolia. And what an atmosphere inside the ground! Some of the Chelsea board of […]
28th February 2014
Are women better at business than men? I found myself asking this question after visiting KAGIDER, the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey, here in Istanbul. KAGIDER is a fine organisation. A group of top women business types set it up in 2002. Its goals include developing entrepreneurship among women; strengthening women’s status economically […]
27th February 2014 London, UK
Let me introduce myself. I am Richard Moore and I am the new British Ambassador to Turkey. Let me explain why it is my dream job! I feel fantastically pleased and honoured to be here. Turkey has a very special place in my heart. I arrived here the first time in 1990 as a young […]
26th February 2014
What is more exciting than football? The answer, if you are a fan of any of Istanbul’s great clubs is: nothing. As the famous Liverpool football manager, Bill Shankly, once said: “Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is […]
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20th February 2014
At first sight, the vehicle looks like a slice of science fiction futurism from “The Fifth Element”. When we climb into the big, low-floored cab, designed to offer easy access to disabled people and wheel-chair users, everything feels familiar. Yet somehow it is also different: more comfortable and spacious than usual. We’re at Hexagon Studios, […]
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4th February 2014
A guest blog by Nadia Hashmi, Second Secretary for internal politics and human rights at the British Embassy in Ankara, Turkey The grandeur of the Blue Mosque. The intricate mosaics of the Chora church. The breath-taking Hagia Sophia. All these monuments reflect how Istanbul has for centuries been a centre of religious belief. Istanbul’s diversity […]