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Jonathan Allen

Former Ambassador to Bulgaria

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25th March 2015 London, UK

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by Jonathan Allen

Former Ambassador to Bulgaria

Remember Crimea

by Sarah Riley Jonathan Allen has moved on as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Bulgaria in January 2015 and Sarah Riley has stepped in as Chargé d’Affaires at British Embassy Sofia. This blog is written by guest blogger Sarah Riley. A year ago, the Kremlin helped stage an illegal and illegitimate “referendum” in Crimea that culminated […]

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13th January 2015

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by Jonathan Allen

Former Ambassador to Bulgaria

We Cannot Afford Not to Reform the European Union

The UK and Bulgaria are geographically at opposite ends of Europe. Our economies are different in size and structure. And our historical experiences of building democratic institutions have been poles apart. Yet, as British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond will see for himself this week, our two countries have a lot in common when it comes to […]

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11th December 2014

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by Jonathan Allen

Former Ambassador to Bulgaria

What Advice Do Investors Get on Bulgaria?

As British Ambassador I am asked almost as often by Bulgarians what I say about their country to investors, as I am asked by investors what I think about Bulgaria. I answer the same to both: a wonderful country, with real potential and excellent people, but some big problems, particularly in the rule of law […]

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11th November 2014

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by Jonathan Allen

Former Ambassador to Bulgaria

Increasing Our Security in an Increasingly Insecure World

Europe is surrounded by an “arc of instability”, in the words of Philip Hammond, the British Foreign Secretary. Bulgaria, responsible for one of the EU’s key external borders, and on the land route to Syria, is in a key position. It is vital that we, Bulgaria’s allies, step up our support. It is just as […]

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11th November 2014

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by Jonathan Allen

Former Ambassador to Bulgaria

Prosecutor General Visits London

By guest blogger Sarah Riley, Deputy Head of Mission at British Embassy Sofia. This blogpost follows Bulgarian Prosecutor General’s visit to the UK from 4 to 7 November 2014.    Last week I spent two days in London with Prosecutor General Sotir Tsatsarov, on his official visit to look at all aspects of the criminal […]

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16th October 2014

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by Jonathan Allen

Former Ambassador to Bulgaria

To Defeat Intolerance and Inequality We Must Have Open Minds and Open Hearts

Every year since 2007 on Blog Action Day, thousands of bloggers come together to talk about one important issue, like poverty, climate change and human rights amongst others. This year the event is held on 16 October and the theme is inequality. HMA Jonathan Allen joins the initiative and blogs why to defeat intolerance and inequality, we must have […]

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29th September 2014

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by Jonathan Allen

Former Ambassador to Bulgaria

Bulgaria’s Elections: Different This Time?

Last week, I spent a day on the road following the election campaign and various candidates, and will do the same this week. My colleagues in the Embassy have done likewise. It’s a great way to see politicians up close dealing with real people and their real concerns, before they get pulled back into Sofia […]

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11th August 2014

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by Jonathan Allen

Former Ambassador to Bulgaria

We Need to Celebrate Ability and not Fear Disability

On 8 August, 11 young Bulgarians strode to the centre of Old Trafford cricket ground, during the lunch break of the game between England and India. In front of 25,000 people, they showed off their talents at this most English of games. I am sure it was an experience that none of them will ever […]

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About Jonathan Allen

Jonathan Allen was British Ambassador to Bulgaria from from 2012 to 2015. He then returned to the UK to take up the position of Director for National Security at the…

Jonathan Allen was British Ambassador to Bulgaria from from 2012 to 2015. He then returned to the UK to take up the position of Director for National Security at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

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