Disarmament blog: disarmament in 20200

• DIPLO Blog, Public diplomacy
• 10th January 2020

Skip to content Aidan Liddle
UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament
Part of Conference on Disarmament
10th January 2020 Geneva, Switzerland
Disarmament blog: disarmament in 2020 2020 is going to be a hugely important year for multilateral disarmament in Geneva.
The biggest event of the year, of course, is the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which takes place in New York over April and May. The RevCon’s job is to look back over the last five years and “identify the areas in which, and the means through which, further progress should be sought in the future,” as well as addressing the strengthen the implementation of the Treaty and further its universalisation. That task takes on extra significance this year, the 50th anniversary of the Treaty’s entry into force, and the 25th of its indefinite extension.
No-one doubts that this RevCon takes place in an extremely difficult context; expectations for success are low. But the U..

A tobacco bust in Slovakia0

• DIPLO Blog, Public diplomacy
• 10th January 2020

Skip to content Leigh Turner
Ambassador to Austria and UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna
Part of UK in Austria
10th January 2020 Vienna, Austria
A tobacco bust in SlovakiaAt a nondescript warehouse in Eastern Slovakia, fine tobacco dust fills the air, and the lungs of the workers. The remote building has been sealed carefully to keep any smells and sounds hidden from the outside world, which might give away its true nature.
When Slovak officers arrive, they act quickly, arresting 47 people involved in the production of illegal cigarettes. Many of these dangerous products would have crossed the Channel into the UK black market. The raid was the result of close cooperation between the HMRC team based at the British Embassy Vienna and the Slovak authorities.

Our Fiscal Crime Liaison Officers are part of a global network responsible for stopping crimes that hurt the UK’s tax revenues. There are 47 HMRC officers posted in 37..

Here’s why the UK wants to strengthen its relationship with New Zealand Māori0

• DIPLO Blog, Public diplomacy
• 7th January 2020

Skip to content Laura Clarke
British High Commissioner to New Zealand and Samoa, Governor of the Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands.
Part of UK in New Zealand
7th January 2020 Wellington, New Zealand
Here’s why the UK wants to strengthen its relationship with New Zealand Māori British High Commissioner to New Zealand, Laura Clarke, with Charlotte Gibson of the Ngati Oneone iwi (tribe), following the delivery of the expression of regret in Gisborne.Writing in The Guardian, Laura explains how the UK and Māori of Aotearoa New Zealand are looking to the past to build stronger relationships for the future.
The connections between the UK and New Zealand are such that we feel instantly at home in each other’s countries, sipping a flat whiteor an English Breakfast tea. We have a similar sense of humour, a similar sense of adventure, similar tastes. There is so much that feels familiar. But perhaps the greatest joy of my first two years as British high commissioner to New Zealand has ..

Building the new Sudan0

• DIPLO Blog, Public diplomacy
• 30th December 2019

Skip to content Irfan Siddiq
British Ambassador to Sudan
Part of UK in Sudan
30th December 2019 Khartoum, Sudan
Building the new Sudan Celebrating the building of the new Sudan, British Ambassador's residenceWith the 17 August agreement, Sudan entered a new era. The signing of a constitutional charter to govern the transition, the formation of a Sovereign Council and the appointment of Prime Minister Hamdok and his civilian cabinet puts new, primarily civilian leaders in charge of running the country. The change has been immediate.
Prime Minister Hamdok’s government’s vision for Sudan, one that fulfils the revolutionary slogan of “freedom, peace and justice” is clear. It has worked to promote human rights and freedoms – through the repealing of the Public Order Law, agreement to open a UN Office for Human Rights and commitment to protect media freedom. It has prioritised peace talks, which are making progress in Juba. And it has started work on justice, through the dissolution of..