Sir Harold Walker, Ex Ambassador

"I declare an interest in that I am a long-standing member of CAABU.

I was a career diplomat from 1956 to 1992; during the course of my career I spent many years in the Arab world, including the years 1958-60 in Dubai and the years 1981-86 as British Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. I have maintained an interest in the Arab world since my retirement from the Diplomatic Service in 1992.

Over the years I have been dismayed at the bias against the Arab world often shown by the British media, and surprised that the United Kingdom, with its long history of association with the Arab world, has not proved able to establish an effective institute for the study and promotion of Anglo-Arab relations (cf the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris). Against that background, I consider that with slim resources CAABU has performed an essential function in attempting to correct the bias, and more generally in high-lighting the value of good relations between the United Kingdom on the one hand and the Arab states and peoples on the other.

This, together with an astonishing amount of activity conducted by a very small staff, has resulted in an effective representation of joint Arab-British interests in, for example, letters to the printed media and lectures at accessible venues. CAABU has been particularly effective in getting opinion-formers into its membership, notably Members of Parliament. I do not believe it has a rival in the United Kingdom in promoting Arab-British relations."

Sir Harold Walker

Ex Ambassador

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