Jon Davies

Egypt and Britain: A strong Partnership

Traditionally, the work of a diplomat was with other foreign ministries. While our work is nowadays much more diverse, the relationship with the diplomats of the host country is still crucial. That is particularly true when they are as experienced and as sharp as Egypt's. I also have to admit that the Ministry is perhaps a more welcoming place that our own 'HQ.' The door is always open for a discussion - even when we disagree. And the coffee is better (not to mention the still-exotic delight of fresh lemon juice with mint).

Our contacts with the Foreign Ministry reflect the breadth and depth of our relationship and our own work here. At a quick count, the subjects colleagues and I will have worked on with the Foreign Ministry over a two week period include: nuclear non-proliferation , consular access to British nationals , Palestinian reconciliation and the Peace Process , Kosovo , counter-terrorism , human rights , the safety and security of our Consulate-General in Alexandria, EU relations with (and funds for) Egypt , Sudan  . As with many aspects of life in Cairo, it's never quiet.

Good news on UK-Egypt trade as you can see elsewhere on the website   with UK exports up 11% in the first two months of this year, and Egyptian exports to the UK also up, despite the crisis. And driving with visiting family members to Ain Souhkna then Suez and back through the outskirts of Cairo was a reminder of the scale of construction here. Not all economies are shrinking...

Something else you might like to take a look at is the latest Gallup polling on British Muslims  It's a complex picture, but one thing which stood out for me is the strength of the attachment British Muslims feel to the UK. Interesting stuff.

Posted at 10:25 21 May 2009 by Jon Davies  |  Comments[2]