Category: Press Releases

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 18/12/2019.

The UK’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Julian Braithwaite, delivers a statement to the first-ever Global Refugee Forum.

Thank you, High Commissioner.

As displacement numbers continue to grow, it is more important than ever to pay tribute to the huge generosity of host nations and communities welcoming those forced to flee.

We are clear this is a shared challenge and responsibility for the international community. UK commitment is steadfast.

More than £2.8 billion in funding for the Syria conflict marks our largest ever response to a humanitarian crisis. In just the last few months, we have committed an additional £30 million to vulnerable Venezuelans (£44.5m in total for 2019) and £117 million of life-saving aid for the Rohingya refugee crisis.

We are also one of the few countries to spend 0.7% of our Gross National Income on development, at least half in fragile states and regions – the drivers of today’s refugee crises.

Additional and predictable funding is critical, but we must also be smarter with how we use what we have. The UK strongly backs the Common Position on Financing for Refugee Situations endorsed by INCAF, to more efficiently and effectively address forced displacement. We look forward to working together to implement its principles.

The UK will continue to play its part in delivering on the transformational promise of the Global Compact on Refugees. For example:

On jobs and livelihoods for example – we’ve helped deliver more than 120,000 work permits for Syrian refugees in Jordan.

Our latest funding to the Rohingya crisis response is ensuring protection for more than 450,000 refugees in Bangladesh.

And on education our support includes £85 million in new funding to the Education Cannot Wait initiative.

As co-Chair of this year’s Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement, we fully support UNHCR’s 3-Year Strategy on solutions. The UK’s resettlement schemes have provided safe and legal routes for tens of thousands of people.

This year, the UK reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to resettlement, announcing a new global scheme to start in 2020, resettling around 5,000 vulnerable refugees in its first year.

Our Community Sponsorship scheme continues to grow. From next year, refugees resettled this way will be counted in addition to our main resettlement offer. And we continue to work with the Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative to encourage and support states to develop community sponsorship schemes of their own.

The UK Government has also committed in our new Integrated Communities Action Plan to work with civil society and others to increase integration support for all refugees in the UK. That includes support with English language, employment and entrepreneurship, mental health and wellbeing.

We endorse the regional Support Platforms launched this week. In line the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR), UK aid in Pakistan is helping to deliver quality textbooks and teachers to host and refugee children alike, while our new funding in Afghanistan will support more than a quarter of a million Afghan returnees.

Our engagement in Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) countries is well established. In Ethiopia, we’re backing market creation and economic opportunities in refugee-hosting areas, helping to create tens of thousands of jobs for both refugees and Ethiopians. In Kenya, we’re providing skills-based training in business and agriculture and helped to solarise the largest hospital in Kakuma. And in Uganda, alongside scaling up cash support we played a key part in developing the country’s first ever education response plan for both refugees and host communities.

Finally, we must remember today’s Forum is an important stepping stone but not an end in itself. This is about where we go next – a chance to identify priorities and opportunities, to ensure a common understanding and direction of travel. The UK looks forward to continuing that journey alongside you.

Thank you.

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 18/12/2019.

Statement by Susan Dickson, UK Minister Counsellor and Legal Adviser at the UN, at the Security Council briefing on Sudan and South Sudan.

Thank you, Mr President.

Mr President, let me also thank the Prosecutor for her 30th report on the situation in Darfur pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1593 (2005) and for her briefing to the Council today.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Prosecutor and her team for their dedication and pursuing these investigations and continuing to seek justice for victims in Darfur. The International Criminal Court has an important role to play in seeking justice and holding perpetrators of the most heinous crimes to account. And the United Kingdom strongly supports its efforts.

Since the prosecutor’s last briefing, we have seen positive developments in Sudan with the agreement of a transitional period that sets out a pathway to lead Sudan into a democratic future. The appointment of a civilian prime minister and of cabinet of technocrat ministers are welcome steps, as are the pledges to protect human rights and the rule of law.

There are, however, still significant challenges for the transitional government to address. We welcome the commitment to build a credible Sudanese judicial system and the pledge to seek accountability for past crimes, including by the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry into the brutal attacks on protesters earlier this year. The United Kingdom will support the Prime Minister of Sudan and the transitional government in these efforts and in building a new Sudan, as called for by the Sudanese people.

Mr President, the Sudanese people have suffered as a result of Sudan’s long history of internal conflicts. Past crimes cannot be forgotten and we must ensure accountability is delivered. This includes the crimes committed during the conflict in Darfur, which the United Nations estimates left over 300,000 people dead and 2.5 million displaced. These victims deserve to see justice served, as well as the achievement of a long-term solution to the root causes of this conflict. Almost 2 million people remain internally displaced in Darfur and the United Kingdom is concerned by reports of further violence and displacements in North Jebel Marra and returning IDPs being met with violence.

The transitional government has stated that securing a long lasting peace in Sudan is a priority and have demonstrated positive steps by engaging with armed groups and entering into peace talks.

The United Kingdom welcomes the signing of declarations in Juba and the resumption of talks on 10th of December. We continue to urge all groups to engage productively in these discussions and without any preconditions. Sustainable peace, underpinned by justice and accountability, must be found for the victims of this conflict and for the people of Sudan.

Mr President, the security situation and safety of the civilians of Darfur must be a priority, as we consider a transition from peacekeeping to peacebuilding in the region.

Mr President, we appreciate that during the momentous changes in Sudan, there have been limited opportunities for the Prosecutor and her team to make the progress that he would like on this case. We welcomed the Prosecutor’s briefing and note that she has been able to strengthen her case. The United Kingdom again renews its call to all state parties to cooperate with the ICC and encourages the transitional government in Sudan to engage constructively with the Office of the Prosecutor with the intention of making progress with regard to this case. We stand ready to support the civilian administration as they seek to build rule of law across the whole of Sudan, ensuring that those responsible for horrific crimes committed in Sudan are held to account and that these horrors are not experienced again.

Finally, Mr President, we again thank the Prosecutor and her team for their continued commitment to making progress in their investigations, despite longstanding access restrictions and lack of cooperation. We urge them to continue with this important work in striving to achieve justice for the victims of the Darfur conflict.

I thank you, Mr President.

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 30/12/2019.

Thank you very much, Madam President. May I join the others in welcoming His Excellency to the Council. Kuwait has made an outstanding contribution, if I may say so, as a donor and as a Security Council member. It has been an honour to work with you and your delegation, Minister, and you have always, your delegation has always focussed on the heart of the issue, whether it’s international peace and suffering or today, the relief of human suffering. So thank you very much for everything Kuwait has done for the Security Council.

Madam President, we share the concerns that have been expressed around the table, and I think they follow a common theme. For various reasons, the international community has not served the Syrian people as well as we might since 2012, despite some specific heroic efforts involving OCHA and the UN and volunteers like the White Helmets. And I’d like to, through the Assistant Secretary-General, once again salute the work that OCHA and the other humanitarian agencies do to help the Syrian people.

And now, as others have noted, after seven long and terrible years, the political process may finally have an opportunity to turn the corner. And of course, we support that and we will do what we can to help Mr Pedersen deliver that.

But very sad to relate, other areas on the ground have not made such progress. And this is not due to the international community. This is due to the Syrian authorities and the countries who give them the most support. In particular – I’ll come on to the worsened humanitarian situation in a minute – but I think we need to look at Idlib and Rukhban, the added upcoming pressure of winter, as others have said, the targeting of civilian objects around Idlib and the need for IHL to be upheld. Terrorism is no justification for violating the Geneva Conventions. We say it every time we meet in this chamber but it remains as true today as it did when the Geneva Conventions were first drawn up.

But the situation that’s worst of all, I think, is the one that the Assistant Secretary-General outlined. The situation is getting worse, and people – 4 million people – are at very grave risk. And this is why exceptionally cross-border assistance remains needed and it has been needed since 2014; this is set out clearly in the letter that the Emergency Relief Coordinator sent the Security Council and it’s been set out by others and other correspondents in the last few days. And we should be, no doubt, I think, having heard this briefing, that fewer than four crossings and less than 12 months means that we save fewer of the 4 million lives at stake and it leads to more suffering for the Syrian people.

Now, as others have mentioned the impending resolution, Madam President, let me turn to that as well. The German representative set out in his statement why they have drafted the resolution in the way they have, and we respect that. The penholders are trying to find a way through on this very important issue so that as many of those 4 million lives as possible can be saved and their suffering relieved.

It’s not clear to us, Madam President, what has changed since last year when the cross-border resolution was passed. What has changed to justify such a dramatic reduction in cross-border assistance, as has been proposed by other members of the Council, down to two crossings for only six months? In 2014, the cross-border resolution passed unanimously. It passed unanimously in 2015 and 2016. In 2017, it passed with 12 votes in favour and three abstentions. And in 2018, last year, it passed with 14 votes in favour and two abstentions. So I repeat, it is not at all clear why the situation should be deemed by some to be so drastically different today.

I would make a real appeal – joining others, Madam President – for us to take the penholder text and do the very best we can to protect the Syrian people. This is a humanitarian briefing, some very important humanitarians are around the table today. The most important thing we can do, as Ursula said, is to pass a resolution that brings genuine relief over a serious period of time based on end state, not on end date, and with all the crossings that the UN believes it needs.

OCHA is the part of the international system that UN Member States, all of us, have charged with coordinating humanitarian efforts. We may not always agree with OCHA or the UN on every individual point or every individual issue, but they are discharging their responsibility to the membership and to the Syrian people to get the assistance to reach those communities in direst need. If the UN does not help these communities, there is no evidence, no evidence at all to believe that the Syrian government either wants to or can or will provide that assistance. So I hope we can find a way forward on the resolution so that the Assistant Secretary-General and her teams can do the job we have bestowed upon them to do.

Thank you, Madam President.

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 19/12/2019.

Thank you very much, Madam President.

Thank you to the Under-Secretary-General, to the head of the EU delegation, and very good to have our Iranian colleague with us.

We welcome the Secretary-General’s eighth report on the implementation of 2231. And we offer our thanks to the Secretariat for their continued professionalism and the support they provide to the Secretary-General in enabling the production of this report.

When I spoke to the Council in June, Madam President, I said that the United Kingdom remained committed to the JCPOA and this commitment stands. The JCPOA is critical to the wider global nonproliferation architecture, and it’s vital for our national security and the shared security of our partners and allies. We believe it is the best means to avert a nuclear armed Iran.

As we have said before, we regret the US decision to leave the JCPOA and reimpose sanctions on Iran. We’ve said this in our most senior levels and on the public record and we understand the impact this has had in Iran and on the Iranian people.

Our commitment to the JCPOA and its instruments, including the procurement channel, is evidenced by our work as co-chair of the Arak modernisation project and with E3 partners on INSTEX. We therefore deeply regret Iran’s decision to reduce compliance with the JCPOA. At the Joint Commission on 6 December, we made our concern clear: Iran’s actions are extremely serious. They are hollowing out the nonproliferation benefits of the nuclear deal and are not all reversible.

As the United Kingdom, we have made clear our determination to find a way forward and to address Iranian non-compliance through the JCPOA, including the Dispute Resolution Mechanism. This is not a step we want to take, but Iran’s actions are leaving us little option other than to respond within the parameters of the agreement. Should we be forced down the path of triggering the DRM, we would do so in order to find a diplomatic way forward with the aim of protecting the agreement.

Madam President, Iran faces a stark choice: continue down this damaging path or take immediate steps back into compliance and rebuild international confidence.

Madam President, turning to ballistic missiles, In November the E3 – France, Germany UK – wrote to the Secretary-General regarding Iran’s development and testing of ballistic missiles and related technology. Over the past year, Iran has tested the Shahab 3 medium range ballistic missile, unveiled the Borkan-3 medium range ballistic missile and attempted the launch of the SAFIR satellite launch vehicle. All of these actions are inconsistent with paragraph 3 of Annex B of Resolution 2231.

Iran argues that the provisions in 2231 are not legally binding. They have also taken issue with the E3 use of MCTR categories to define nuclear capable missiles.

Madam President, we should be clear: the definition encapsulated in the MTCR is the most objective, widely accepted standard of nuclear deliverability in the world. It is internationally recognised and observed by states which seek to prevent the proliferation of ballistic missile technology, capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction. For many states, it is incorporated into their national legislation.

The purpose of the provisions in Annex B paragraph 3 is to give the international community confidence that Iran is not developing technology capable of serving as a means of delivery for a nuclear weapon. In undertaking the activity described in the E3’s communications to the Security Council, Iran is not providing much confidence.

Madam President, turning to regional activity, during the last year, there has been a continued increase in Iran’s destabilising activity around the Middle East, including activities which are inconsistent with UNSCR 2216 and other resolutions. In May and June, we saw attacks on commercial shipping near Fujairah and in the Gulf of Oman. A thorough UK assessment concluded that both attacks were almost certainly the work of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Likewise, the IRGC was almost certainly responsible for May’s attack on the Yanbu pipeline near Afif. And then, in September, we witnessed a large-scale drone and missile attack against Aramco Oil facilities in Saudi Arabia. This was a reckless, destabilising and completely unacceptable attack affecting more than 5 percent of the world’s oil and gas production.

Madam President, as the UK, France and Germany have made clear, we are confident that Iran bears responsibility for that attack. The Houthi claim of responsibility is implausible for a number of reasons, not least the scale, sophistication and range of the attack.

We note the Secretariat’s continued efforts to collect and analyse information on the weapons used in the 14 September attack, and we welcome the Secretariat’s observation that the number of impact points at the oil facilities was consistent with the figures provided by Saudi Arabia and inconsistent with Houthi statements. We look forward to hearing the Secretariat’s findings in due course.

Iran has also transferred missiles to a number of armed groups in violation of several Council resolutions, including 2231, 2216 and 2514. The latest Secretary-General report details concerning evidence regarding the transfer by Iran into Yemen of UAVs and optical sights of rocket-propelled grenade launchers. Such proliferation is destabilising for the region and escalates already high tensions and should stop.

Current tensions in the region remain deeply concerning. Further escalation is in no one’s interest, and I want to, once again, call for de-escalation, dialogue and full respect for international rules.

Madam President, I note the interest of some members of the Council and of Iran in resolution SCR 598 about regional dialogue. At the right time, and if genuinely intentioned, this may be able to play a useful role. But I think both timing and intent are critical ingredients, if any initiative on those lines is to get off the ground in the right way.

Madam President, we continue to hope that Iran will take steps to regain the confidence of the international community and assume its rightful role as a prosperous, responsible power, constructively engaged in the region. We respect the Iranian people. We have deep respect for Iran’s civilisation and the achievements of her past. But I urge Iran not to undertake any more actions that would take her further beyond JCPOA limits and instead to work closely and in good faith with other participants to implement its commitments fully and to help reduce escalating tensions in this region of the world.

Thank you, Madam President.

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 20/12/2019.

Mrs Emma Hopkins OBE has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark in succession to Mr Dominic Schroeder who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mrs Hopkins will take up her appointment during August 2020.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Full name: Emma Kate Hopkins

Married to: Steven Hopkins

Children: Two daughters

2015 to present Sofia, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
2012 to 2014 FCO, Head of Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative
2009 to 2012 Home Office, Head of EU/International Team, Legal Adviser’s Branch
2006 to 2009 Home Office, Head of Organised Immigration Crime, Organised and Financial Crime Unit
2001 to 2006 Home Office, Legal Adviser’s Branch, Senior Advisory Lawyer
1995 to 2001 Chambers of Kieran Coonan Queen’s Counsel, Barrister

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 20/12/2019.

A Foreign & Commonwealth Office spokesperson said:

The UK is deeply concerned about the ongoing campaign of intimidation by the Maduro regime in Venezuela against members of the country’s democratically elected National Assembly.

On 16 December, the Venezuelan Supreme Court stripped the parliamentary immunity of 4 more members of the National Assembly – Jorge Millán, Hernán Alemán, Carlos Lozano and Luis Stefanelli. This brings the number of members of the Assembly sitting in opposition to the regime who have had their right to immunity removed to 29. The National Assembly is Venezuela’s only remaining democratically elected institution, and the parliamentary immunity of all of its members should be respected.

We support the effective implementation of the EU sanctions regime on Venezuela. Sanctions are an appropriate and necessary part of the international response to the crisis that an illegitimate and brutal regime has created and that is having such a terrible impact on the Venezuelan people and detrimental effect on the whole region.

The UK shares the desire for a peaceful and speedy resolution to the current crisis in Venezuela. We support the demand made by interim-President Juan Guaidó and the National Assembly for democratic transition through free and fair Presidential elections in accordance with the Venezuelan Constitution and international democratic standards.

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 20/12/2019.

Ms Faye O’Connor OBE has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Oriental Republic of Uruguay in succession to Mr Ian Duddy who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ms O’Connor will take up her appointment during August 2020.

Full name: Faye Emily O’Connor

Married to: Jose Angel Reza Sanchez

Children: Two

2016 to present New York, Head of International Development, UK Permanent Representation to the United Nations
2011 to 2016 Mexico City, First Secretary – Prosperity
2010 Climate Adviser (on loan) to Mexican Government
2009 to 2010 Department for Energy and Climate Change, Head of International Climate Team
2007 to 2008 FCO, Lead on Strategic Communications to Prevent Radicalisation, Counter-Terrorism Policy Department
2006 FCO, Lead on Strategic Communications and Press to Prevent Radicalisation, Press Office
2002 to 2005 Moscow, Second Secretary – Political
2001 FCO, Policy Lead – Refugees, Election monitoring and conflict prevention, United Nations Department

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 20/12/2019.

Following today’s charging decision by the Crown Prosecution Service in the case of Harry Dunn, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said:

I welcome the taking of a charging decision which is an important step towards justice for Harry and towards solace for his family, but it is not the end.

I hope that Anne Sacoolas will now realise the right thing to do is to come back to the UK and cooperate with the criminal justice process.”

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 20/12/2019.

Thank you very much, Madam President. Thank you once again to the Special Envoy and for all the work his team are doing. And thank you very much to Rajaa Altalli for being here today and sharing your story. I’m very sorry for the suffering that you and your family have experienced.

Like others, you know, we thank the Special Envoy for his tireless efforts to bring peace to Syria, but the breakdown of talks during the second Constitutional Committee meeting is extremely disappointing. And as we all know, these long-awaited meetings require serious engagement and commitment from all sides if they’re going to succeed. We support Mr Pedersen’s position that the government and opposition co-chairs need to agree an agenda before a third round of the committee can be convened. But we regret attempts by the Syrian authorities to introduce conditions widely accepted as unnecessary to intentionally stall the talks. And we call on the authorities to respect the rules of the Committee and to return to negotiations.

We are also concerned that the Syrian authorities appear to be disassociating themselves from the Constitutional Committee in official statements and in the media – this suggesting that the Syrian delegation represents “the point of view” of the Syrian regime, as is not the regime itself. I’d therefore like to ask Syrian representative to allay these concerns by reaffirming to this Council that its delegation to the Constitutional Committee is indeed the, “government delegation.”.

Now, we understand that Mr Pedersen is not able to share all full details of negotiations and progress towards the reopening of talks during these briefings, not least because of time constraints. But we do believe that there would be merit in considering other means by which Mr Pedersen could keep the Council appraised of the details.

If I may, I’d like now to turn to what Ms Altalli told us. Again, thank you for your briefing. The United Kingdom has always been clear that the political process should reflect broad and diverse cross-section of Syrian society. We need to remain mindful that a successful political settlement in Syria goes well beyond the Constitution. It’s crucial that all elements of Security Council Resolution 2254 be taken forward in tandem, and this includes creating conditions for refugee return, preparations for free and fair elections in 2021 and the release of detainees.

We are thus deeply concerned to hear of the arrests of 174 people who returned to Homs from Rukban IDP camp. This happened despite having obtained clearance from the Syrian authorities and guarantees they will be exempt from persecution. The Syrian authorities and Russia need to stay true to their word and respect the promises they have given.

And on torture, I don’t think I can put it better than the German representative did. These are truly horrific cases and unacceptable and they need to stop.

Special Envoy, you have our support in advancing all the other baskets of the political process. I would like to reiterate that the United Kingdom will not consider providing any reconstruction assistance without credible, substantive and genuinely political process firmly underway.

I’d like now, Madam President, to turn to Idlib, where we remain extremely concerned about the continued airstrikes. We note reports on 2 December of attacks on the markets of Saraqeb and Maarat an Numam which have killed at least 14 civilians. Attacks on hospitals, such as in Qah IDP camp on 20 November and other civilian infrastructure are inexcusable and they go against the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.

And furthermore, Madam President, it’s unbelievable that the Syrian authorities would conduct more such attacks given the ongoing Board of Inquiry investigation. And the United Kingdom looks forward to the Board of Inquiry’s update to this Council.

In northeast Syria, we welcome the fact that the ceasefire continues broadly to hold, but we’re concerned by reports of an attack near a school in the YPG-held Tel Riphat, which killed at least 10, including eight children. We call on all parties involved to respect the ceasefire and their obligations towards civilians and international humanitarian law.

I’d like to say a word, in closing, about Syrian refugees. Syrians have a right to return to their homes voluntarily, in safety and dignity, in line with international humanitarian law. We support the UN judgment that conditions in Syria are not yet conducive for safe and dignified return.

Finally, Madam President, the United Kingdom, as a member of the Global Coalition, is proud of its role in the successful fight to liberate the territory held by Daesh in Syria and Iraq. We remain committed to securing the enduring defeat of Daesh. Much remains to be done and we cannot lose sight of the threat they pose, even without territory that keeps dangerous and pervasive ideology needs to be eliminated.

Explanation of vote by Ambassador Karen Pierce, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the Security Council briefing on Syria

Thank you very much, Madam President. I’d like to echo what the Belgian ambassador said. It is a sad and sorry day and a truly dreadful day for the people of Syria. It’s a day I hope that the Council will never repeat. And I just want to say again to the minister from Kuwait how much we appreciate the efforts your delegation has put into this. And I am only sorry that you should have to be here to see this.

Madam President, the United Kingdom made two votes today. We voted for the first resolution because UN cross-border assistance remains critical to the 4 million people who depend on it for lifesaving assistance, as critical today as it has been since 2014, when the resolution has been allowed to pass each year until now.

Madam President, the Russian Federation and China gave no credible explanation for their veto or for the cynical attempt to score political points by tabling a second resolution that halved the number of crossings and halved the length of time. There is no justification for this. Indeed, the Secretary-General said that a further deterioration of an already extremely difficult humanitarian situation for people throughout Syria, where over 11 million people remain in need of assistance.

So no one could pretend, Madam President, that things were improving on the ground. I listened very carefully to what the Russian representative said, and I heard him say that they were motivated “purely by the humanitarian aspect.” Madam President, even by known standards, this is breathtaking in its hypocrisy. The veto of the first resolution and the tabling of the second are not acts that address humanitarian concerns. They don’t meet OCHA’s formal written request to the Council. They don’t help the millions of ordinary citizens in Syria whose lives are now in jeopardy. And they certainly don’t help the UN or the cause of multilateralism.

Madam President, now the responsibility is on the Syrian and Russian authorities. It is they who will now be responsible for the people whose lives hang in the balance. I hope the Russian taxpayers are feeling generous.

Madam President, the United Kingdom voted against the Russian text because we will not negotiate with a gun held to our heads over a cynical offer that would save fewer lives than we know is needed and that the UN very clearly set out was necessary. But it’s important even at this juncture to look ahead, given how many lines remain at stake.

Therefore, Madam President, the United Kingdom hopes that the council can pass through this sorry episode and can return to discussion ready to identify a productive and effective way through that meets OCHA’s needs before 10 January when the current mandate expires.

I have said in this chamber before that Russia should not play dice with people’s lives. Four million lives are at stake, Madam President, and we need to keep that critical fact before us as we try and sort out this dreadful mess.

Thank you.

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 23/12/2019.

A verdict in the trial of 11 men charged in the killing of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was delivered today.

The Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said:

The killing of Jamal Khashoggi was a terrible crime. Mr Khashoggi’s family deserve to see justice done for his brutal murder. Saudi Arabia must ensure all of those responsible are held to account and that such an atrocity can never happen again.

The UK condemns the use of the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle.