By Iolo ap Dafydd BBC News

'Proud of being Welsh, British and European'

In the week former Downing Street spin doctor Alastair Campbell published his diaries, Sir Emyr Jones Parry said he would not "betray" his colleagues.

"Kiss and tell is not for me," said Welsh-born Sir Emyr, about to retire as UK ambassador to the United Nations.

He was in Cardiff for the Unesco (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) annual conference.

"I've been very privileged by the jobs I've had - the access I've had to ministers, the work I've done with colleagues and I find it offensive frankly to betray that trust.

"When I've negotiated intensely and privately with colleagues in other countries, they didn't expect me to publicise that in the press or otherwise," said Sir Emyr, adding that he had not read Mr Campbell's book.

Alastair Campbell's diaries were published earlier this week

"What people seem to forget when they produce these books is they prejudice the next generation.

"The people who will succeed me in my job will find it much more difficult if I go out and betray confidences I have had."

Sir Emyr, who will leave his post in New York and retire after 34 years with the Foreign Office next month, recalled his senior jobs in the diplomatic services and the difficulties in implementing UN policies.

Yet even before leaving his UN office, he is collecting new jobs: companies are calling him, and earlier this month he was appointed president of University of Wales, Aberystwyth.

"It's an opportunity for another career," he said.

"I started life as a physicist - ended up as a diplomat, and so now retiring will be like turning a new page in a book - a blank page."

In his words, he would "like to give something back," especially in education, and hopes to be involved far more with Wales.

'Softly spoken'

Despite living on the other side of the Atlantic, he is a regular visitor to Wales - to Aberystwyth, Cardiff and as day president at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

"I'm very proud of being Welsh, British and European, I see no contradiction in that," he said.

SIR EMYR JONES PARRY Born Carmarthen, Sept 1947 Attended Gwendraeth Grammar School Studied physics at Cardiff University PhD in polymer physics at Cambridge Joined Foreign Office in 1973, worked in Canada and held senior posts in EU UK ambassador to Nato, 2001�03 Knighted 2002 UK ambassador to the UN since 2003

With a bank manager as a father, he lived as a child in Lampeter, Newport in Pembrokeshire, Ammanford, Mountain Ash, Hendy and Cardiff and he has family connections with north and south Wales.

Sir Emyr was known as the "softly spoken British ambassador at the UN" and Jack Straw, the former foreign secretary and now justice secretary, holds him in high regard.

"I always enjoyed working with Emyr," said Mr Straw.

"He is an excellent diplomat who has served his country with distinction and very great skill. He has never forgotten his roots and I know Wales can be proud of him."

Mr Straw worked closely with him on European Union matters as well as the UN and Iraq. Sir Emyr found himself at the UN after July 2003, as comparative peace in Baghdad, Basra and Fallujah descended into vicious and bloody warfare.

The UN itself was targeted, and as the UK's representative in New York - side by side with the United States - didn't he find his duties impossible at times?

It's not easy, he agrees. During his four years as UK ambassador, the US has appointed seven representatives, none more controversial than John Bolton.

Getting agreements at the UN is like walking through treacle sometimes Sir Emyr Jones Parry

There hasn't been a continuity, and he concedes relationships have not always been warm. "Ambassador Khalilzad's arrival (the current US ambassador to the UN) has been very welcomed, his commitment to the UN is evident as is his determination to work for US interests but in a co-operation with his natural allies."

That's diplomatic code for stating that Mr Bolton was not that approachable.

However, the American declined to comment when I approached him for an interview.

"Wait for my book," he said - which might will prove illuminating on the difficult relationship between the US and the UN in recent years. Even with Sir Emyr, perhaps.

'Energised'

Another difficult topic is the constant accusation that the UN is an organisation that needs to change and adapt to the 21st century.

Sir Emyr Jones Parry said he wanted to be more involved with Wales

How can a body described as ineffective, bureaucratic and expensive ever truly fulfil its obligations?

Sir Emyr's experience confirms his frustrations at times.

"Getting agreements at the UN is like walking through treacle sometimes," he said.

"That's the challenge, and it's astonishing that 192 countries can agree on issues."

But despite having time on his hands soon, and great anecdotes of tense UN meetings, direct conversations with Tony Blair and other world leaders, you will not surprised to learn that he is not looking for a publisher...