Britain's Quest for a Role

David Hannay (Lord Hannay of Chiswick), one of Britain's most distinguished Foreign Office veterans, served in a number of key diplomatic posts and has been immersed in the conduct of British foreign policy relating to the UN, Europe and the Middle East over the last half century. He was Minister at the British Embassy in Washington, Ambassador to the European Communities from 1985 to 1990, and Ambassador to the United Nations from 1990 to 1995. Following his retirement from Britain's Diplomatic Service, he was the UK's Special Representative for Cyprus from 1996 to 2003. He is a member of the House of Lords' European Select Committee. He is the author of Cyprus: The Search for a Solution and New World Disorder: The UN After the Cold War - An Insider's View (both published by I.B.Tauris).

This book has remarkable insights into how the European Union works and has evolved. It also has trenchant comments, not always comfortable to hear, on British foreign policy over the last fifty years. Whether one is a Europhile or a Eurosceptic, this is a book one will benefit from reading. - Sir Malcolm Rifkind, MP, Foreign Secretary 1995-1997 David Hannay is a wise man of the world. This book tells you where he got his wisdom. - David Miliband, MP, Foreign Secretary 2007-2010 I welcome this book as a gripping first-hand account and analysis of contemporary history - founded upon, and well illustrated by, an abundance of perceptive personality profiles. - Lord Howe of Aberavon, Foreign Secretary 1983-1989 Lord Hannay, one of Britain's most distinguished and intellectually sharp public servants of the last 50 years, has written a wise and perceptive account of the major international issues of the period, in many of which he had been personally involved. Anyone who cares about the credibility of UK policy and Britain's ability still to define and pursue its national interest will enjoy and profit from these memoirs. - Lord Patten of Barnes, Chairman of the BBC Trust One could argue that today the two most important positions in the British Foreign Service are to lead our delegations at the EU and at the UN. Both posts need a clear, quick, unfussed mind and the ability to communicate thoughts in public. As Foreign Secretary I was glad to have David Hannay holding both these posts in succession. His book shows him at work in Brussels and then in New York. He tells us much about the working of both institutions. It can be warmly recommended to anyone with an interest in foreign affairs. - Lord Hurd of Westwell, Foreign Secretary 1989-1995

• chapterTITLEIPreface / IntroductionIIIran 1960 - 1961IIIAfghanistan 1961 - 1963IVLondon 1963 - 1965 : Learning the RopesVBrussels (European Communities) 1965 - 1970 : The Approach MarchVIBrussels (European Communities) 1970 - 1972 : The Accession NegotiationsVIIBrussels (Commission) 1973 - 1976: Chef de CabinetVIIILondon 1977 - 1979 : Oil DiplomacyIXLondon 1979 - 1984 : The European budget battleXWashington 1984 - 1985 : Company TownXIBrussels European Community 1985 - 1990 : At the heart of EuropeAPPENDIXXIIUnited Nations New York 1990 - 1995 : New World : Order or Disorder?APPENDIXXIIIBritish Special Representative for Cyprus 1996 - 2003 : Mission impossible?XIVMember of the UN Secretary-General's High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change 2003 - 2005 : Reforming the UNXVThe House of Lords and other things 1995 - 2011 : CodaXVIThe Quest for a RoleXVIIEnvoi