Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Blogs

A unique insight into UK foreign and development policy

19th January 2012 USA

Spencer Mahoney

by Spencer Mahony

HM Consul and UKTI Regional Director for the South East United States

Our prosperity depends on better design

Last week at the National Building Museum, I had the pleasure of listening to Jim Eyre, one of the founders of the London-based Wilkinson Eyre Architects. Over the years, Wilkinson Eyre has unveiled futuristic designs for gardens in Singapore; skyscrapers in Guangzhou, China; and a number of innovative UK projects. One of the firm’s projects […]

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19th January 2012 Washington DC, USA

by Peter Westmacott

Former Ambassador to the United States of America

An honour and a privilege: Serving at the heart of the special relationship

It is an immense privilege to return to Washington as British Ambassador, and a great honour to serve at the heart of a relationship that is not just special, but – as our respective leaders have said – essential. I begin my assignment this week at the start of what will be a very exciting […]

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19th January 2012 Windhoek, Namibia

Marianne Young

by Marianne Young

High Commissioner, Windhoek

Clever cheetah conservation in Namibia

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to visit the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) Centre this weekend and was delighted to discover a number of British scientists and volunteers based at the field research, conservation and education centre near Otjiwarongo. Namibia is home to the world’s largest number of free-ranging cheetah, boosting some 20% of […]

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19th January 2012 Islamabad, Pakistan

by Adam Thomson

British High Commissioner to Pakistan

“I think I have the best job in the British High Commission.”

Guest blogger, Susan Hyland, joins Adam Thomson’s blog to share a few impressions from her first weeks as Political Counsellor at the British High Commission in Pakistan. Six weeks ago, one of my colleagues met me at the airport when I arrived in Islamabad for the first time.  As I write this,  I am again […]

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18th January 2012

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by Leigh Turner

Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna

Meanwhile in Antarctica

One hundred years ago, the great British explorer Captain Scott and his companions arrived at the South Pole.  To mark this occasion, British Prime Minister David Cameron sent an audio message to the scientists and support staff at British bases in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.  You can read more about the Prime Minister’s message […]

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18th January 2012

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by Nigel Baker

Ambassador to the Holy See (2011-2016)

Freedom of Religion or Belief

Understanding religion is fundamental to our comprehension of the world in which we live. It is especially necessary for diplomats as they seek to apply their nation’s foreign policy around the world. Globally – though Western Europe is perhaps an exception – the trend, to put it crudely, is towards “more” religion rather than less. […]

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17th January 2012 Nairobi, Kenya

by Matt Baugh

Ambassador to Somalia

London Conference on Somalia: Building Momentum

So far, we’ve had an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the British Prime Minister’s announcement to host a Conference on Somalia in London next month. After 20 years of sliding backwards, it’s clear – and welcomed by many – that Somalia needs a step-change in effort, both from the international community, but also Somalia’s political leaders. […]

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12th January 2012

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by Leigh Turner

Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna

How to learn English

British diplomats spend a lot of time learning foreign languages.  Before each of my last four postings (in Vienna, Moscow, Berlin and Kyiv) I had the privilege of spending between four weeks and nine months on intensive language preparations.  If you want to understand a country and its people, speaking the language helps. Conversely, the […]

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