This week at the Foreign Office
A look at the work of the Foreign Office and its embassies overseas this week.
Unrest in the Middle East dominated the headlines this week. Foreign Secretary William Hague updated parliament on the situation in two statements, one on the Middle East and North Africa on Monday and then specifically on Bahrain yesterday.
The Foreign Secretary discussed the situation Middle East and other bilateral issues in his meetings with the Russian, Spanish and Greek Foreign Ministers this week.
On Tuesday the EU announced the rollover of the restrictive measures on Zimbabwe. The Foreign Secretary explained the measures in a statement to Parliament stating that the “UK remains committed to supporting the people of Zimbabwe”.
Minister for Africa Henry Bellingham visited Nigeria and Ghana this week to promote prosperity. While in Nigeria he gave a speech on the UK prosperity agenda, and how that fits with Nigeria.
Minister for Europe David Lidington gave a speech on EU enlargement during his visit to Vienna, he also spoke to students at Cardiff University about considering a career in the EU institutions.
The Arms Trade Treaty was the subject of Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt’s latest video.
Foreign Office Minister Lord Howell answered a question in the House of Lords on UK-France defence co-operation.
MI6 launched an exhibition of artwork designed to show “A year with MI6” on Tuesday. The exhibition is the subject of British Ambassador to Ukraine Leigh Turner’s latest blog.