DAILY BULLETIN THURSDAY 11 APRIL 2002

11 Apr 2002 12:42 PM

Commenting on the upcoming launch of the part-FCO funded website promoting the environmental heritage of South Georgia, Denis MacShane, Foreign Office Minister responsible for the environment , said:

"I am pleased that the FCO's Environment Fund for the Overseas Territories has been able to support the work of the researchers at the University of Dundee to develop this sophisticated and comprehensive website. It brings the beauty of South Georgia and its natural heritage to a worldwide audience.

We are confident that it will also provide valuable focus to the aims and objectives outlined in the Territory's Environment Charter and its Environmental Management Plan which provide the framework for the long-term protection and management of the Island's natural and cultural environment.

The website aims not only to raise environmental awareness and contribute to sound and safe management, but also to provide an online educational resource. I commend it to all with an interest in this exceptional part of the world."

The website is being launched by the project team on 16 April at Discovery Point, Dundee. The website address is www.sgisland.org

Notes for Editors

The website has been developed by the project Atlantis team from the University of Dundee. The launch will be attended by Robin Harper MSP and John McAllion MSP and will take place on the RRS Discovery on 16 April.

The project Atlantis team have been working on the website for the last eighteen months.

Partly funded by the FCO's Environment Fund for the Overseas Territories (EFOT) and the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI), the website will be a resource for those studying environmental sciences or for others with an interest in this island, whether they are scientists, historians, academics or visitors. The interactive site covers the island's history, wildlife, science, exploration, fishing and tourist industries, and management. For schoolchildren, there are puzzles and quizzes to test their knowledge of the natural environment.

The EFOT contributed £50,000 towards the project.

For further information on the launch, contact Jenny Marra at the University of Dundee on 01382 344910.

Press Officer: Patricia O'Donnell; 020 7270 3114

CHANGE OF AMBASSADOR TO THE REPUBLIC OF HONDURAS

Kay Coombs has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of Honduras in succession to David Osborne who will be retiring from the Diplomatic Service. Miss Coombs will take up her new appointment in September 2002.

CURRICULUM VITAE
Full Name: Kay Coombs
Date of Birth: 8 July 1945
Marital Status: Single

1999-2002 ULAANBAATAR (Ambassador)
1995-1998 BEIJING (Senior Management Officer)
1993-1995 FCO (Personnel Management Department)
1991-1993 FCO (European Community Department (Presidency) 1987-1991 ROME (Press Attaché)
1982-1986 LA PAZ (Second Secretary/Aid)
1981-1982 FCO (South America Department
1979-1981 FCO (United Nations Department)
1976-1979 ZAGREB (Second Secretary)
1974-1975 Latin American Floater
1971-1973 BONN (Assistant Information Officer)
1970-1971 FCO (Consular Department)
1969-1970 FCO (Commonwealth Coordination Department)
1968-1969 FCO (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Department)
1967-1968 FCO (Establishment and Organization Department) 1967 Entered FCO

MINISTERIAL ENGAGEMENTS

In addition to their regular official and parliamentary duties, FCO Ministers have the following public engagements:

Mr Straw
1600 Mircea Geoana, Romanian Foreign Minister

Mr Hain
Visit to Cyprus

Baroness Symons
1500 House of Lords Questions
Lord Pearson of Rannoch to ask Her Majesty's Government
whether they believe that the EU has maintained peace in Europe and whether it is likely to do so in future.

1600 Joseph Yuvaraj Pillay, Singapore Special Envoy

Baroness Amos
Visit to Dakar

Mr Bradshaw
1230 Lunch with Maghreb Ambassadors hosted by Khemaies Jhinaoui, Tunisian Ambassador

1600 Tea with Nana Sutresna, Indonesian Ambassador

1800 Adjournment Debate on Ian Stillman case, House of Commons

Dr MacShane
1230 James LeMoyne, UN Secretary General's Special Representative for the Colombian Peace Process

1430 Adjournment Debate on Japan, House of Commons

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