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Newsletter, Issue 11 - September 2011
Introduction by the British Ambassador in Athens
Policy issues
Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary attend UN General Assembly
Prime Minister signs joint letter to G20
Foreign Secretary on Facebook
UK hosts International Paralympic Day for first time
Commercial issues
Prime Minister unveils GREAT campaign for UK growth
Prime Minister announces 'British Business Club'
Pauley Innovation launches unique dual-screen A3 Tablet Book
First human-powered aircraft race?
Hats off to British fashion
Consular issues
Foreign Office sets out support for British nationals overseas
Director of Consular Services, Charles Hay, visits Greece
Introduction by the British Ambassador in Athens
Perhaps inevitably, many of the articles in this month’s newsletter have an economic flavour. Few could disagree that there is a pressing need to restore global economic confidence. Prime Minister David Cameron, writing jointly with leaders of several major economies, sets out some of the challenges which the G20 should address at their summit in November. At home, in these difficult times, Britain is working to achieve increased growth through trade and innovation; this newsletter includes a selection of new inventions and initiatives.
I’d also like to draw your attention to two other items in this month’s issue. Helping British travellers who get into difficulties abroad is one of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s top three priorities. With over 2 million Brits visiting Greece each year, tourism is one of the main pillars of the relationship between our two countries, so I was glad that Charles Hay, the FCO’s new Director of Consular Services, made his first official overseas visit to our Greek network, including our Vice-Consulate in Rhodes (and Faliraki!).
And finally, as I recall in my blog, our celebration of “one year to go” to the London 2012 Paralympics certainly left a lasting impression. Do also see our report on the first International Paralympics Day in London.
More next month. In the meantime, do please let me have your views and comments.
Policy issues
Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary attend United Nations General Assembly
The gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly is a unique forum for the international community to address global issues. The sixty-sixth session opened in New York on 13 September 2011. The UK delegation, led by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, were active throughout the Assembly, met key counterparts and advanced UK foreign policy across the board. They were accompanied by seven other Ministers from across Government.
Full coverage of UK speeches and events can be found here
The Prime Minister has signed a joint letter on global economic confidence in response to President Sarkozy' s statement on 21 September in New York that it should be a G20 priority to help the world find the path to growth. In the letter, the leaders argue that in order to restore global economic confidence, a number of issues must be addressed at the next G20 leaders' Summit at Cannes in November.
Foreign Secretary William Hague is on Facebook
"Foreign policy today is about far more than relations between Governments. Listening to the views of people around the world and sharing information about what we are doing in the UK is an essential part of my work as Foreign Secretary. Facebook is another way you can see what I have been doing and get in touch with me about foreign policy issues that matter to you", Mr Hague said introducing his Facebook page.
Want to become a fan of the Foreign Secretary?
UK hosts its first International Paralympic Day
The UK aims to host the most accessible Olympic and Paralympic Games ever in 2012.
The British Embassy in Athens along with the Hellenic Paralympic Federation celebrated the International Paralympic Day at the Ambassador's Residence. Read here what the British Ambassador said about the Games and Britain's commitment to sport for the disabled and see photos from the event at our Facebook page.
Commercial issues
Prime Minister unveils GREAT campaign for UK growth
At a speech for business leaders in New York, Prime Minister David Cameron launches a new cross-government campaign to promote Britain as a great place to visit, study, work, invest and do business. As part of the invitation to international businesses, the Prime Minister announced plans for a Global Investment Conference for investors and business leaders to be held in London on the eve of the Games.
Prime Minister announces 'British Business Club'
The 'British Business Club', is an online resource for UK-based and overseas businesses that includes details of news, networking events, future business opportunities and potential partners related to international sports events. As well as covering business activity around the 2012 Games, the site will also highlight details of other future international sporting events.
Pauley Innovation launches unique dual-screen A3 Tablet Book
Pauley Innovation has created a new concept in tablet design with their A3 Tablet Book, a dual-screen tablet computer that unfolds from A4 to A3 format. The Milton Keynes and London-based company is in pre-production discussions with potential manufacturers in Germany, India and the USA about the device.
First human-powered aircraft race in 2012?
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the world' s first human-powered flight. To commemorate this achievement, a present-day group of students at Southampton University are constructing their own human-powered aircraft. To qualify as an HPA, it must be driven solely by human energy during take-off, cruise and landing.
Hats off to British fashion
The Brits are a nation of mad hatters and that's official. After decades of neglect, formal headwear - particularly the fascinator - is now a fashion statement rather than a regular item in the wardrobe. And this love affair with hats - sales soared in the run-up to the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton - shows no signs of slowing down. London' s retailers are rubbing their hands in glee over the hat revival.
Consular issues
Foreign Office sets out support for British nationals overseas
The Foreign Office has published a new guide which contains full details of how the Foreign Office can provide support to British nationals when things go wrong abroad. The new publication, called Support for British nationals abroad: A guide contains for the first time a written Customer Charter which sets out the Foreign Office's commitment to providing a high level of service.
Director of Consular Services, Charles Hay, visits Greece
With over 2 million British tourists visiting Greece every year, consular services are high on the agenda for the UK. Charles Hay, Director of Consular Services, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, visited Athens and Rhodes on 19 and 20 September to look at how our busy consular network helps Brits who find themselves in trouble, and how we work with the Greek authorities to ensure that as many people as possible enjoy trouble-free holidays. While in Athens, Charles Hay met with the Minister of Tourism, George Nikitiadis, and the Secretary General for Public Order Grigoris Tassoulas. In Rhodes he met the Deputy Regional Governor for the Southern Aegean, Fotis Hadjidiakos, Mayor of Rhodes Stathis Kousournas and the Police Director of the Dodecanese, Adam Dalakas. He also met British tour operators and toured the resort of Faliraki, where many Brits spend their holiday.
Blogs
Ambassador's latest blogs
- An attack against all of us
- Helping Business Succeed
- Paralympics: Sports and More
- The global economy: a challenge for all of us
The blog and accompanying comments and replies are published at in.gr