February 08, 2010
Membership
CONSERVATIVE FOREIGN & COMMONWEALTH COUNCIL
Chairman: Sir Ronald Halstead CBE
Deputy Chairman: Mrs Jacqui Lait MP
Vice Chairman: Peter Friedmann : Ian Raitt : Dr Charles Goodson-Wickes DL
Hon Secretary: Mrs Melissa Crawshay-Williams
Hon Treasurer: Dennis R Waters (020 7351 2842)
Patrons: The Rt Hon William Hague MP : The Rt Hon Sir John Major KG, CH : The Rt Hon The Lord Howe of Aberavon QC : The Rt Hon The Baroness Chalker of Wallasey : The Hon The Lord Hurd of Westwell CH, CBE
President : The Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind KCMG QC MP
Vice President : Sir Colin Turner CBE DFC: Mrs Beryl Pendley
Posted by jackie at 06:37 PM | Comments (0)
January 08, 2010
Events
2010
MONDAY 8 MARCH - Carl Thomson "Ukraine before and after the Orange Revolution"
MONDAY 8 FEBRUARY - High Commissioner for Belize
MONDAY 18 JANUARY - Ambassador of Afghanistan
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December 11, 2009
Ambassador of Albania, 07.12.09
Presentation by
H.E. Zef Mazi, Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the UK
“Albania’s Foreign and Security Policy, NATO and the EU”
.JPG)
Conservative Foreign and Commonwealth Council
House of Commons, London, 7 December 2009
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very pleased to have been asked by the Conservative Foreign and Commonwealth Council to make a presentation on Albania’s foreign and security perceptions and policy, NATO membership and relations with the EU.
Let me start by saying that I have been delighted and honoured to have been appointed Ambassador of Albania to the United Kingdom, and to have been given this chance to thank again the United Kingdom for the multifaceted support it has continuously given to Albania, the growth of democracy there and the solution of the Albanian question in the Balkans. A lot indeed can be attributed to the contribution of this Parliament, whose members are very familiar and have real knowledge and expertise in central-south European affairs. A case in point would be, e.g. Deputy Chair of the APPG, M.Pritchard.
As you would imagine, it is not particularly easy for an ambassador to speak about his own country at a time when the country is free and open, there is a free media, a whole network of active NGOs, when communication and information are no more the monopoly of the state and when there are numerous channels to gauge both development, truth, transparency and honesty. British long tradition of democracy and whoever follows parliamentary debates here would confirm this is the best way to go. It is with all this in mind that I intend to be as candid and objective as possible.
Having said that let me try to sort of set the scene for my topic: I would start by a simple double question: Is democracy a success in Albania? The answer is definitely – Yes. Is there need for improvement? The answer is again definitely – Yes, and in a number of aspects. If I may continue with one more question: is there any country in the world where improvements are not needed? I suppose “No”! The great truth and commitment is that the Albanian people and all Albanian structures – political, legislative, executive – across the board, are determined in their unity on and happily pursuing Albania’s path towards the EU. As the Guardian wrote only 10 days ago, “where on earth would 88% of a nation’s citizenry want to join us (and Herman Van Rompuy) in the world’s least welcoming club?” Our people, as has been demonstrated, are committed and willing to sacrifice for that goal.
Continue reading "Ambassador of Albania, 07.12.09"
Posted by melissa at 03:22 PM | Comments (0)
December 01, 2009
Andrew Mitchell MP, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, 16.11.09
Summary of the Green Paper, One World Conservatism
The scale of poverty around the world is an affront to our common humanity, and a direct threat to Britain's national interest.
See here where the Green Paper can be accessed as well as further information – even a few videos – on Andrew and the team’s work.
From One World Conservatism: A Conservative agenda for International Development
Summary of the Argument
Our vision for international development, as in other areas of policy, is to achieve progressive aims through Conservative means. We believe we can bring to the fight against global poverty weapons and techniques that will make more of a difference to more people: a focus on aid effectiveness and value for money; an understanding of the importance of wealth creation and the means to foster it; a recognition that security is the precondition for sustainable development and hard-headed proposals to improve conflict resolution.
Posted by melissa at 12:54 PM | Comments (0)
November 10, 2009
High Commissioner of New Zealand, 13.10.09
Speech delivered by the High Commissioner of New Zealand
Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great thrill and an honour to be here. Thank you kindly for the invitation.
I have been asked to speak about NZ Foreign and Trade Policy. I want to address that through the telescope of the London High Commission. There are four main elements of my job here, and these nicely summarise New Zealand’s foreign and trade policies and our priorities in Britain and in Europe.
These elements are:
1. Looking after New Zealanders in Britain
2. Maintaining a vibrant Bilateral Relationship with the UK
3. Working closely with the United Kingdom across the foreign policy, defence, security agenda
4. Pursuing New Zealand’s trade and economic interests in Britain and Europe
New Zealanders in Britain
New Zealanders, like the British, are great travellers. Everywhere you go you will find New Zealanders, so inevitably everywhere you go you find some New Zealanders in trouble.
With around 200,000 New Zealanders living in the UK we get only about 20 difficult and significant consular cases a year, mostly involving sad cases of New Zealanders who have died or are very ill here in the United Kingdom.
Consular work is not part of our core diplomatic business here, but it is certainly an important part of our overall business. But for the most part, we can trust the British system as your systems and standards are very much like ours.
There are of course many parts of the world where the consular task is much trickier. New Zealand still relies on Britain to help us out in the myriad countries where we are not represented. We help in our small way in assisting British travellers in the Pacific.
Maintaining a vibrant Bilateral Relationship with the UK
The second of our objectives here in London, is maintaining a vibrant link with the United Kingdom.
In the case of Britain, and also with Ireland, the objective of a vibrant relationship is an objective of the New Zealand public. It is an objective with palpable political force. Governments cannot ignore it. Where this vibrant relationship most obviously finds its expression, is in the everyday connections between Britain and New Zealand.
Continue reading "High Commissioner of New Zealand, 13.10.09"
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