In a lecture prepared for the Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding (CAABU), FCO Minister Bill Rammell said that the Middle East is right at the top of British foreign policy priorities. 'The UK has never, in recent times, been more actively involved in the region than it is now,' he said. 'Our involvement draws strength from Britain's long-standing ties with many of the countries of the region. But it also responds to the prospect of rapid change across the region.' Mr Rammell noted that the opportunities which exist for achieving peace, social justice and prosperity - whether in Iraq, in Israel and Palestine, in Sudan, or more widely in the Arab world - have 'never been greater'.

The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, awarded honorary OBEs to the managers of Liverpool and Arsenal football clubs, Gerard Houllier and Arsene Wenger, on behalf of HM The Queen on 9 July. At the ceremony, Mr Straw said of the managers: 'Beyond the entertainment they've offered us on the pitch, what has endeared both Gerard and Arsene to the British public is their obvious passion for the English game. Both have often spoken of their love of the atmosphere in our football stadia, an atmosphere which generates a unique intensity on the pitch.'

Opening the debate in the House of Commons on the European Convention on 9 July, the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, detailed why a new constitution for the EU was needed. He said that the draft sets out what the Union is, what it does and how it does it and defines the role and powers of the Union’s institutions and their relationships with the Member States. He said the draft constitution 'calls for a Union of sovereign states of Europe, with decisions taken as closely as possible to the citizens' and 'asserts the primacy of the nation state'. Mr Straw pointed out however that 'proposals to include a common defence guarantee or a self-selecting inner core for defence in the draft Treaty, or to communitise the Common Foreign and Security Policy' and any changes on 'criminal procedure, taxation, own resources or social security, which threatens the national interest' would be opposed. Mr Straw also highlighted the role Parliament will have to play in the ratification process and said 'this House will be the final judge of whether the Treaty serves our national interest'.

The need to encourage Colombia to address its human rights problems will be addressed at the London Meeting on International Support for Colombia on 10 July, Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell said. The UK is facilitating the meeting aimed at encouraging the Colombian Government to move forward to an eventual negotiated settlement of the internal conflict, while at the same time observing human rights and civil rights. Mr Rammell said that the meeting is 'about sharing responsibility and urging the Colombia Government to continue to tackle human rights concerns'.

Invest UK, the agency run jointly by the Department of Trade & Industry and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to promote inward investment to the UK, published its Annual Review 2003 on 9 July. The UK continues to perform strongly in inward investment, the report confirms. Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt announced that despite the uncertain global economy, the UK had attracted 709 investment projects in the year 2002/2003, creating more than 34,000 jobs.

In addition to their regular official and Parliamentary duties, FCO Ministers have the following public engagements today and tomorrow...