Talk:Gerard Russell

JUST GATHERING INFO FOR THE MOMENT - Former head of the FCO’s Islamic Media Unit, Gerard Russell, took part in around 200 interviews and debates in Arabic with print and broadcast media across the Middle East. The Unit has also started regular 'Islamic Awareness courses' for FCO staff. ((REF)(CHANGING FACE OF BRITISH DIPLOMACY, FCO releases Departmental Report 2003))

In 2002, the Head of the Unit, Gerard Russell, acting as official FCO spokesman, took part in around 200 interviews and debates in Arabic with print and broadcast media across the Middle East. These covered key areas of foreign policy (Afghanistan, MEPP, India-Pakistan, Iraq) as well as inter-faith relations and the role of the British Muslim community. The Unit also helped to arrange interviews or articles by Government Ministers, and advised other Government Departments on working with the Arab/Muslim media. With a small team of translators, it quickened the pace at which Ministers' articles were placed with newspapers in the Middle East and Pakistan – in the local languages. ((REF) FCO Departmental Report 2003, Chapter 8, Influence Worldwide)