The Foreign Office has welcomed the re-appointment of Dr Mohamed El Baradei as Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Speaking on 13 June, an FCO spokesman said: 'We are pleased that Dr El Baradei will be able to continue as IAEA Director General. The UK has enjoyed a productive relationship with him during his time in the job. We support the IAEA's work in helping to tackle the threat posed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the world, and in the field of nuclear safety.'

Lord Triesman, Foreign Office Minister for Africa, will visit Tanzania from 14-17 June. Speaking on 13 June, prior to his departure, Lord Triesman said he was 'looking forward to meeting Tanzanians from all walks of life and to developing the good bilateral relationship that exists between the two countries.' He added: 'My visit will also give me an opportunity to talk about the UK's expectations ahead of the G8 Gleneagles summit and the AU Sirte Summit and how we might take forward, in partnership with Africans, a comprehensive action plan which will build on the work of the Commission for Africa.'

The Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, has met EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg to discuss the EU budget and constitution over the weekend, in advance of a European Council summit in Brussels on 16 and 17 June. Mr Straw has vigorously defended Britain's three billion pound rebate from Europe, insisting it won't give it up unless it's part of a complete renegotiation of the Common Agricultural Policy. Speaking on the Today Programme on 13 June, Mr Straw said that the stucture of the EU budget itself has to change if EU spending is to remain relevant in very changed circumstances from twenty years ago.