may soon come tumbling down
I have to admit, I do not like seeing stories like this.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/8363180/Duke-of-York-pleads-for-government-support-over-dinner-with-Tunisian-dictators-relation.html
Andrew does not receive a salary as the UK Special Representative for Trade & Investment since 2001. The previous representative was the Duke of Kent.
Trade is important to manufacturing and producing nations. The Western nations, all allies, do compete for the developing nations' markets. The Duke of York is supposed to be the positive face of British business and investment abroad. I certainly do not think that Andrew should be criticized or vilified for hosting a dinner party at Buckingham Palace for the Vice Chairman of the Tunisian Chamber of Commerce. Yes, the vice chairman was married to the daughter of Tunisia's former president. The Tunisian government, albeit a dictatorship, was a recognized and legitimate government, an emerging market. Of course, Britain wanted to get a foot in the door.
The United Kingdom maintained full diplomatic relations with Tunisia, as have other nations, including the United Nations.
The Duke of York's position is to largely pave the way to introduce British products and business to new and emerging markets, with the support of the British government. The Duke has made contacts with people, who some might describe as shady, and with dictators' and their families. Let's be realistic here. The Duke of York was doing what others have done. The West has always cozied up to certain dictators in order to do business, and sell products. Germany sold to Libya the devices that Qaddafi used to jam the Internet.
International trade is not always pretty. The Duke of York wants to sell Britain, but he is hampered by so many things, which includes a true lack of support by the elected British government. He is also hampered by his own position as a prince of the United Kingdom. He's a professional prince, but he is not a professional businessman. Compare the Duke of York's background to Ron Kirk, the US trade representative. The United States takes trade rather seriously. The Trade Representative is appointed by the U.S. President, and confirmed by the Senate. The trade representative is at the head of a very large office with a budget. The American trade rep has three degrees, including two law degrees. Andrew barely made it out of boarding school before going into the Royal Navy.
If you compare and contrast, the Duke of York is out of his league as the UK's trade representative. The British media are loathe to report on any successes that the Duke may have had as the representative, and are quick to focus on the bad things, such as hanging around with a convicted sex offender. It seems Andrew will do almost anything to sell Britain. He needs to step back, step down and take on another project.
http://www.thedukeofyork.org/Home/Home.aspx
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