Public diplomacy

As we move into the third decade of ‘The Asian Century’, there is a dawning consciousness in Britain and across Europe of the complex challenges and opportunities compelled by the rise of China. While we are just beginning to understand the true nature of the consequences for our security and sovereignty, geographical realities and economic imperatives mean Australia is light years ahead on these issues. China continues to expand its reach and influence in Britain, across spheres of academia, finance, technology, infrastructure, energy, defence and diplomacy – yet it is clear that the freedoms of the market have not encouraged its leaders to gift the freedoms of democracy to its people. Recognising that its interests differ tremendously from our own, we must consider how best to seize the opportunities..

Skip to content Emilia Pecheva SIN Officer for Bulgaria and Romania Guest blogger for Rosie Duthie 17th December 2019 Cyber Security Challenge – SIN Bulgaria On 2-4 October 2019 I attended the 1st International scientific conference on Digital transformation, cyber security and resilience “DIGILIENCE” in Bulgaria. The event brought together international research and policy makers in cyber security to discuss the state of the art and future demands in the provision of security and resilience of processes, services and systems that are heavily reliant on information technologies. Key cyber security policy makers, EU and NATO representatives, leading practitioners from Bulgarian government, universities and research institutes were present which was a fantastic demonstration of the growing recognition and importance of cyber security. Everyone should understand that the cyberspace is borderless and no country is able to cope with the challenges alone. We need international mitigations ..

Skip to content Zaneta Trajkoska Director of the Institute of Communication Studies Guest blogger for UK in North Macedonia Part of UK in North Macedonia 13th December 2019 Skopje, North Macedonia For better environment: Don’t Ignore! React! “All of us should be persistent in our commitment to a cleaner and healthier environment, through self-criticism and timely and rapid response, towards addressing the effects of climate change. As President, I shall commit myself for policies for environmental protection and protection of the national biodiversity, and will support all civic initiatives that promote the public awareness on environment. It is up to us whether we shall live in a clean and healthy environment. That is why I call upon all of you all to join this joint mission and to leave a cleaner and safer country to the future generations in which they will live in.” This was emphasized by the President of North Macedonia in Skopje, at the November Climate Action Conference: to Pr..

Skip to content Karla Hagan Head of Science and Innovation Network, Washington, DC Guest blogger for Science and Innovation Network USA Part of Global Science and Innovation Network 12th December 2019 Science Innovation USA SIN Spins up Flurry of UK-US Collaboration in Offshore Wind Energy Innovation Ahead of COP26The UK’s global leadership in clean growth is clear. It is the first major economy to legislate for net-zero emissions by 2050, and in order to help developing countries take action the UK has committed to doubling International Climate Finance contributions by 2025. Within the clean energy sector, offshore wind energy deployment in the UK represents a whopping 34% of the world’s total installed capacity. As the UK prepares to host COP26 in partnership with Italy in November 2020, the Science and Innovation Network’s work in the US highlights UK expertise internationally, promotes global collective action, and furthers the deployment of clean energy in the United States. Cop..

Liverpool-Salzburg crunch match – who’d have thought? Plus: travel advice Austria has been awarded a fantastic early Christmas present on 10 December. At 1755 local time on Tuesday night Liverpool will visit to play Red Bull Salzburg in the final game of the Champions’ League group stage. Both teams need a result: if Liverpool lose they are likely to go out of the competition. If Salzburg win, they go through. As a Manchester United fan I am in theory supposed to hate Liverpool, but somehow the wires have got crossed and I usually support Liverpool against any other team. Last season I several times enjoyed watching them in the Champions’ League at the Red Lion, a Liverpool supporters’ pub in the third district of Vienna. I’m also a big fan of Austrian football, which has many fi..

Skip to content Matt Field British Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina 5th December 2019 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina A Woman’s Place is in the House… of Parliament Along with many others across Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the UK Embassy is currently marking ’16 Days of Activism’ to combat violence against women. Why only 16 days, you might well ask, and what does this mean for the other 349? By giving this critical problem a defined period of focus, running from 25 November (International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December (International Human Rights Day), we shine a light on the different forms that violence against women takes, hoping to motivate and energise fighting this phenomenon all year round. I want now to concentrate on one particular aspect of violence against women, attacks targeted at those in public life, and politics in particular. What is the experience of women in the parliamentary ‘House’? Earlier this year, the Westminster Foundati..

Skip to content Aidan Liddle UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament 4th December 2019 Geneva, Switzerland Disarmament blog: Towards a World Free of Land Mines The Norwegian capital Oslo is where, in September 1997, the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) was concluded, and also where the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, and its founder Jody Williams, were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize the following year. So although the Convention is often known as the Ottawa Convention, after the city where the negotiations were opened in 1996 and where it was formally signed in December 1997, Oslo has a good claim to be at least one of its spiritual homes. It felt like a homecoming then when last week, the now 164 States Parties, along with observer States, international organisations and civil society, returned to Oslo for its 4th Review Conference. The Conference took stock of progress since the last Review Conference in Maputo in 2014, and adopt..

Skip to content Besart Ljachi Chevening Scholar Guest blogger for UK in North Macedonia Part of Chevening Conversations UK in North Macedonia 3rd December 2019 Skopje, North Macedonia Greening the Macedonian environmental behaviour: Let’s try a proven approach It is that time of the year again. The air gets foggy and our vision blurry, but ironically, this is the time when we can clearly see (and smell) our most critical issue. According to the World Health Organization, around 2,574 deaths annually can be attributed to the air pollution. In addition, the World Bank has calculated a 250 million EUR price tag that this problem brings to our economy, which represents a cost equal to significant 3.2% of the GDP. In a true reflection of Chevening values, the Macedonian Chevening Alumni Association achieved to bring its expertise and network into play, aiming to address this grave issue. The “Greening Western Balkans’ Environmental Behaviour” conference approached environmental behaviour f..

Skip to content Chris Trott UK Ambassador to South Sudan Part of UK in South Sudan 28th November 2019 South Sudan FloodsImagine you are living in a country that is facing a major humanitarian crisis and a civil war. And then it starts raining. Not for a day or two but solidly, for months. The town you are living in, with a population of around 40,000 people, is one of the poorest and most remote in the country, and is situated on a flood plain. Gradually the water rises and you realise that unless you act quickly nothing is going to survive. So you abandon your home, build a series of mini dykes round the three highest spots in the town and then frantically try to prevent them from being breached as the water level slowly peaks. And then it sits there, for weeks on end. And you are crammed into the space of a school yard with 7,000 others trying to survive. But every journey involves waist deep water and a trudge through mud of the consistency of treacle. Everyone in the town is affec..

Skip to content Chris Trott UK Ambassador to South Sudan Part of UK in South Sudan 28th November 2019 Juba, South Sudan Floods in PiborImagine you are living in a country that is facing a major humanitarian crisis and a civil war. And then it starts raining. Not for a day or two but solidly, for months. The town you are living in, with a population of around 40,000 people, is one of the poorest and most remote in the country, and is situated on a flood plain. Gradually the water rises and you realise that unless you act quickly nothing is going to survive. So you abandon your home, build a series of mini dykes round the three highest spots in the town and then frantically try to prevent them from being breached as the water level slowly peaks. And then it sits there, for weeks on end. And you are crammed into the space of a school yard with 7,000 others trying to survive. But every journey involves waist deep water and a trudge through mud of the consistency of treacle. Everyone in th..