Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Russia’s wanton destruction against Ukraine must be stopped: UK statement to the OSCE [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 January 2024.

Ambassador Neil Holland condemns Russia’s air attacks this week on Kyiv and Kharkiv, as well as the spate of attacks on Ukraine over the past month.

Thank you, Madam Chair. It is regrettable – and sadly predictable – that we must gather today to condemn Russia’s latest wave of aerial attacks against the Ukrainian people.

The UK condemns Russia’s attacks this week unequivocally. According to reports, Russian missiles on Kyiv and Kharkiv killed at least 18 people and injured over one hundred. The devastation was felt most acutely in Kharkiv, where an apartment block was hit, killing two people, and injuring 35 residents.

Unfortunately, the attacks on Tuesday morning were just the latest of a series of acts of wanton destruction by Russia in Ukraine since we last gathered for a Permanent Council in December. Over the Christmas period, Russia launched hundreds of missile and drone strikes across cities in Ukraine including Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Lviv. This culminated on 29 December, when Russian unleashed its largest aerial assault against Ukraine since the war began. It killed at least 41 civilians, including a 15-year-old boy, wounded hundreds, and caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure, including a maternity hospital. This pattern continued into January.

I offer my condolences and that of the UK to all Ukrainians for the lives lost due to these barbaric airstrikes. These took place far away from the front lines of Russia’s war, in civilian populated areas. The intensity, regularity and indiscriminate nature of Russia’s attacks may violate international humanitarian law, is extremely concerning and must stop.

The level of destruction and suffering that Ukraine continues to face is hard to comprehend. According to the UN, there have been 29,000 civilian casualties: with over 10,000 of those having been killed. On average six civilians are estimated to have been killed each day since the start of the invasion and 86% have been in government-controlled territory. This includes a significant proportion killed in areas away from the frontline, due to use of long-range weapons.

Russia chose to start this war, Russia can choose to end this war. Ukraine did not start it and has the right to defend itself. We will not let Russia win. We will continue to work with Ukraine and our international partners for a just and sustainable peace.

Madame Chair, as we approach the third year since Russia’s full-scale invasion, the UK’s support will not falter. During his visit to Kyiv earlier this month, my Prime Minister announced a package of support and reaffirmed the close UK-Ukraine partnership. This included £2.5 billion in military support and a historic long-term security agreement. This brings the United Kingdom’s total package of support to Ukraine to approximately £12 billion. A clear signal of our unwavering support. We remain deeply humbled by the bravery and the resilience of the Ukrainian people and their determination to win.

Madame Chair, last but not least I also wanted to highlight today the UK’s continued concern for our three OSCE colleagues of the Special Monitoring Mission detained by Russia. The UK again calls for their immediate release.

The United Kingdom will stand with Ukraine today, tomorrow and for as long as it takes. Thank you, Madame Chair.

January 28, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : People smuggler jailed for fake passport scheme [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Home Office on 26 January 2024.

A people smuggler has been jailed for conspiring to bring 16 Albanian migrants to the UK with fake EU passports and fraudulent airline bookings.

A people smuggler has been jailed today after conspiring to bring 16 Albanian migrants to the UK by providing them with fake EU passports and making fraudulent airline bookings.

Albanian national Sait Ruci used a fake Italian ID and stole the identify of an innocent man to open bank accounts used to buy airline tickets to the UK.

The migrants, all from Albania, paid for a fake EU passport and an air ticket to the UK. Criminals can charge upwards of £10,000 per person for this type of facilitation.

Ruci was sentenced to three years at Isleworth Crown Court today, for conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

In many cases the fraudulent documents and bookings were identified by the airlines or European airport authorities before departure. Sixteen individuals travelled to the UK but their documents were detected as fakes by Border Force officers on arrival.

With the cooperation of airports and airlines, Home Office investigators were able to link the bookings together and trace them back to Ruci.

Analysis of Ruci’s mobile phone uncovered even more fake documents ready to be used for criminal purposes.

Ruci will now be treated as a foreign national offender and could be removed from the UK after referral to the Home Office.

Chris Foster, Deputy Director of Criminal and Financial Investigations at the Home Office, said:

Today’s sentencing is the result of strong collaboration between agencies to bring this people smuggler to justice.

Today we have removed another link in the chain of organised criminals who facilitate illegal entry to the UK.

I am grateful for the tireless efforts of the officers who identified and investigated this complex case.

January 28, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : 60 per cent of England now covered by historic devolution deals [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 26 January 2024.

The percentage of the English population now living in a place covered by a devolution deal has risen to 60 per cent.
Devolution deals now cover 60 per cent of the English population – up from 41 percent since major levelling up plan two years ago

Deals providing powers to local leaders now cover nearly 34 million people in England – including nine of England’s 10 largest cities and 90 per cent of the North

Devolution milestone comes as Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young signs another deal with Devon County Council and Torbay Council – the 10th new deal since government’s levelling up plan was published

Sixty per cent of the English population will now live in a place covered by a devolution deal, thanks to another historic deal signed with Devon County Council and Torbay Council.

This is up from 41 per cent when the government published its major levelling up plan almost two years ago, meeting a key commitment to devolve powers to more areas across England.

This means an extra 10 million people will now benefit from new powers handed from Westminster to their local leaders – covering a total of almost 34 million people across England.

In another boost for levelling up, devolution deals now cover 90 per cent of the North – up from 62 per cent two years ago and benefitting over 14 million people.

And in the Midlands, the percentage of people covered by a devolution deal has more than doubled in two years – up from 26 per cent to 55 per cent, covering almost 6 million people.

The government has also secured devolution deals for nine of England’s 10 largest cities, including Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle upon Tyne, Nottingham and Sheffield.

These deals are giving local leaders strengthened powers to make local decisions on important matters like transport, adult education and business support.

They are also providing areas with over £5 billion of new, long-term funding from the government – the total amount committed to 10 devolution deals so far.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said:

This historic devolution milestone shows our commitment to spreading opportunity more equally across the country – empowering local leaders to take control on matters that mean most to their communities and improving local people’s lives.

And to support their plans we’re providing billions of pounds in new funding for the long term, helping people to feel the benefits of these changes for years to come.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities aims to secure devolution deals by 2030 for every part of England that wants one. This is one of 12 levelling up goals set by the department in its flagship Levelling Up White Paper in February 2022.

These goals, called Levelling Up Missions, set out clearly what the government aims to do to reduce geographical disparity across all parts of the UK.

To mark progress on devolution in England, the government measures the proportion of the English population living in an area with a devolution deal.

The signing between Devon County Council and Torbay Council yesterday (25 January) will see the creation of a new Combined County Authority and £16 million awarded from central government to invest in local priorities as part of the deal. This follows devolution deals already secured with the East Midlands, North East, York and North Yorkshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cornwall, Lancashire, Greater Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire.

Seven of these devolution deals will see the election of new mayors in county areas in 2024 and 2025.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

As with other Combined Authority and Combined County Authority deals, the Devon County Council and Torbay Council devolution deal is subject to local consultation, ratification by the constituent councils and parliamentary approval of the secondary legislation implementing the provisions of the deal. The deal encapsulates the majority of the ceremonial county of Devon.
January 28, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : 45th Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK statement on Senegal [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 January 2024.

The UK’s statement during Senegal’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Delivered on 22 January 2024.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President, and we warmly welcome Her Excellency the Minister of Justice of Senegal to today’s Review.

The UK welcomes the progress made by Senegal on human rights issues, including on the rights of women and children. However, we remain concerned about continued high levels of child, early and forced marriage, as well as discrimination and violence based on gender or sexual orientation, and we call on the government to take further steps to tackle these.

We recommend Senegal:
1. Improve protections for the rights of women and children, including by adopting the draft ‘Children’s Code’.
2. Protect media freedom and the rights to freedom of opinion and expression, and of peaceful assembly and association, including during the 2024 presidential elections.
3. Ensure full compliance with Senegalese and international law on police custody and pre-trial detention time limits.
Thank you.
January 28, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Children’s wellbeing at the heart of family court reforms [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 26 January 2024.

Children will be better protected from the impact of lengthy courtroom battles thanks to pioneering measures to help families resolve disputes as swiftly as easily possible.
- parents offered early legal advice to settle disputes amicably away from the courts
- more courts to pilot process which better protects domestic abuse victims
- almost 25,000 separating families have benefited from mediation voucher scheme
Families who are separating will benefit from early legal advice, greater use of mediation, and the continued rollout of an innovative pilot which better supports domestic abuse victims and children, following the government’s response to the Private Family Law Early Resolution Consultation published today (26 January 2024).

A legal advice pilot will be launched to help families agree child arrangements quickly, addressing barriers to early resolution including a lack of understanding of the options available such as mediation.

The role mediators can play will be bolstered through improved domestic abuse screening and advanced DBS checks, meaning they have the right vetting and can support children earlier in the process. This, alongside the mediation voucher scheme which has already helped nearly 25,000 families, will mean more couples can resolve their issues without ever reaching court.

For those who do end up going through the courts, a successful pilot in North Wales and Dorset, aimed at reducing conflict, will be expanded to the family courts in Birmingham and south east Wales, ahead of a national roll out. The model improves information sharing between agencies like the police and local authorities so victims avoid retelling traumatic experiences.

It also allows judges to review more documents before a case gets to court, to prevent further conflict in the courtroom, and gives children extra opportunities to explain how they feel about decisions which affect their future.

Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Alex Chalk KC, said:

There is no one-size-fits-all approach for separating families, which is why we’re ensuring people have access to early legal advice and mediation to resolve disputes as early as possible.

These reforms will help spare thousands of children the long-term harm of lengthy, combative courtroom conflict.

More than 60,000 private law children and contested finance cases went through the family courts in 2022.

Long-term conflict between separating parents can have a devastating impact on a children’s wellbeing. The trauma has been linked to increased rates of anxiety, aggression, and depression, and can lead to anti-social behaviour, academic struggles, and substance misuse.

Mediators can help avoid these issues by working with both parties together or separately to find a solution that works for them, rather than have a solution imposed on them by a judge. As of December 2023, the government-funded mediation voucher scheme, backed by £23.6 million, has helped over 24,600 families to resolve their issues without resorting to court.

Greater use of mediation also allows family courts to better prioritise and provide protection for the most serious cases with safeguarding concerns where it is not an option, such as domestic abuse and child safety.

Following consultation on mandatory mediation concerns were raised that the proposed safeguards to protect domestic abuse victims may not go far enough. To avoid forcing a continued relationships between a victim and their abuser the government will not change the law to mandate mediation for separating couples.

We are working with the Family Mediation Council to improve training for mediators on domestic abuse and help them develop a screening tool – such as a questionnaire – to better identify victims at the earliest opportunity.

Justice Minister Lord Bellamy said:

These reforms are about helping those who need it the most. By elevating the voice of the child and reducing strife in a court room, we will give our children the best chance of growing up to becoming well-adjusted adults.

The response also commits to increase inclusive mediation by ensuring mediators can apply for advanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks, create a new online portal for parents sign-posting to relevant support services and improve the offline information available at Family Hubs.

The government has also pledged to work alongside Cafcass – an independent body which advises family courts on what is safe for children and in their best interests – to help more families undertake parenting programmes early in the process, rather than by court order.

Chief Executive of the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), Jacky Tiotto, said:

One of Cafcass’ main strategic priorities is to improve the experiences of children in private law proceedings. There is so much more to be done to turn up the volume of their voices and to make them central to the business of the proceedings. We therefore welcome the heightened focus on children within the government’s proposals announced today. We are already working alongside our partners in the family justice system to create a Pathfinder in Birmingham and we support the government’s intention to encourage more families to find alternative resolutions and to prioritise what is in their children’s best interests without the need for lengthy family court proceedings.

Domestic Abuse Commissioner Nicole Jacobs said:

The Family Court is critical in keeping child and adult victims safe from abuse. I am delighted that the Pathfinder Court pilots will be extended to two further sites, with a view to national roll-out. These courts take a child-centred approach, supporting victims and embedding an understanding of domestic abuse throughout the proceedings, which were key recommendations I made in my 2023 Family Court report.

I welcome the opportunity to continue working with the Ministry of Justice to ensure that early resolution measures – such as provision of early legal advice, and reforming the family justice system to be less adversarial and more child-centric – will further improve the Family Court response to domestic abuse and protect child and adult victims from further harm.
January 28, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : £33 million boost to turn green ports and ships into a reality [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Transport on 26 January 2024.

Funding awarded to 33 projects across the UK to develop clean maritime technologies.
- £33 million for new technologies to cut shipping emissions, support jobs in coastal areas and boost local economies
- total funding awarded through the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) now £128 million, helping support the maritime industry to deliver net zero emissions
- among the winners are initiatives dedicated to constructing electric vessels and charging ports, propelling a new era of sustainable maritime innovation
Maritime Minister, Lord Davies, has today (26 January 2024) announced the winners of £33 million of government funding to develop green technologies for ports and ships – accelerating the UK’s race to decarbonise the sector while supporting jobs in coastal communities across the country, helping grow the economy in the long term.

The £33 million has been awarded to 33 projects across all 12 regions of the UK to deliver demonstrations, factory trials and feasibility studies. These initiatives position the UK as a leader in emerging clean maritime technologies, fostering sustainable high-skilled jobs across the country and boosting coastal economies.

The funding comes from the fourth round of the government’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC4), which focuses on developing a range of clean maritime technologies including electric, hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, wind power and more.

Lord Davies visited 2 of the winning organisations, Aqua SuperPower and RS Marine Group, in Southampton, to see their pioneering network of electric chargepoints and electric vessels in action. Thanks to CMDC4, these 2 winners will work together to build on their existing electric infrastructure to provide electricity back to ports, harbours and the grid when the vessels are not in use.

Maritime Minister, Lord Davies, said:

Unlocking a sustainable maritime sector and the economic growth it provides relies on cutting-edge technology to propel it to the next level. The voyage to sustainability demands bold investments to not just deliver greener shipping but highly skilled jobs across the UK.

Today, we witnessed a firsthand glimpse into the transformative solutions that can help shape the future landscape of the maritime industry and support jobs in coastal communities.

Government funding is a crucial driving force for cutting-edge technology, inspiring investors to engage in pilot incentives. CMDC4 builds on 3 successful previous rounds, which allocated over £95 million to 105 projects and leveraged over £45 million in private investment.

The continued demand for funding underscores the industry’s strong interest in clean maritime investment. This support has also fostered partnership between the government and the private sector – paving the way for exciting innovations that will decarbonise the maritime industry.

Lesley Robinson, CEO of British Marine, said:

British Marine is proud to celebrate the achievements of our members, who are leading the way in sustainable maritime innovation and are among the beneficiaries of the government’s £33 million investment in green maritime technology.

This significant funding is just one way in which the government can help accelerate our industry’s journey to net zero emissions and mark a new era in maritime history. Many of our members are pioneering electric vessels and charging ports, in turn, contributing to environmental sustainability, job creation and the UK’s levelling-up agenda. We’re excited to witness this pivotal shift towards a cleaner, more prosperous maritime future.

Mike Biddle, Innovate UK Executive Director for Net Zero, said:

The maritime sector continues to demonstrate a keen appetite for decarbonisation, which is highlighted by the 33 winning projects of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 4.

Today’s announcement shows UK industry is embracing research and development as a solution to a global industry-wide problem and I’m inspired by the ambition of our maritime innovators.

The CMDC4 projects will build upon the proven success of previous rounds where the Department for Transport and Innovate UK have worked in partnership to show the UK is a leading voice in maritime’s green transition.

Today’s funding comes from the wider £206 million UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, announced in March 2022.

The CMDC is one of the many initiatives from UK SHORE to fund green technology. Last year, the government launched the Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition to support projects in the latter stages of development and the Clean Maritime Research Hub – aimed at the early science and research behind green technology.
January 28, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Vulnerable people encouraged to seek help with energy bills [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 26 January 2024.

Families struggling with energy bills are being urged to speak to their council for Household Support Fund help.
- Over £360m has already been spent on helping people with energy and water bills.
- Councils have provided boilers, loft insulation and can help with the cost of essentials such as food and bills.
People struggling with the cost of energy bills this winter are being encouraged to speak to their council about the financial help available from the Department for Work and Pensions’ Household Support Fund.

The Government has invested over £2 billion into the Fund since it launched, with new statistics now showing more than £360 million has been paid to households for support with energy and water costs between October 2021 and March 2023.

With colder temperatures in recent weeks, the Fund can be used to make homes more energy efficient, as well as help households with bills.

Kingston upon Hull Council have used the Fund to pay for hundreds of boilers and radiators for residents, while others have benefitted from loft insulation, new thermostats, and radiator valves.

Pensioners in Swindon Borough Council have been allocated tens of thousands of pounds ahead of winter for tailored heating support, including fuel and energy grants as well as repairs and maintenance to heating systems.

The Fund is part of the government’s work to deliver a brighter future for Britain, building long-term economic security and stability, as well as a Britain where hard work is rewarded, and families are supported. That is why the government has worked to bring inflation down by more than half while cutting taxes which will help make the income of hardworking people go further.

Minister for Employment, Jo Churchill MP, said:

The Household Support Fund is there for anyone who needs a helping hand. This Fund allows councils to help in all kinds of ways – from providing heating support, like boilers and insulation, to other needs, such as kitchen essentials, free school meals and warm clothing.

Now inflation has more than halved, and the economy has turned a corner, anyone who feels they need help this winter should get in touch with their local council to find out how this Fund can help them.

As well as heating support, the Fund can help with other needs, such as kitchen essentials, free school meals and clothing to help people during the colder months.

The Fund sits alongside wider government support worth an average £3,700 per household – including up to £900 in direct Cost of Living payments for those on means-tested benefits. As well as this, three million households are expected to benefit from the £150 Warm Home Discount and over 11 million pensioner households received up to £600 in Winter Fuel Payments in December last year.

Working age and disability benefits are also set to rise by 6.7% from April, following last year’s inflation-matching 10.1% rise, and millions of private renters will benefit from boosts to the Local Housing Allowance for 2024-25.

As well as the Household Support Fund, there’s a range of support available to struggling households. Through the Help for Households campaign, people have access to information and support on a range of issues – from Cost of Living Payments to help with childcare costs, mental health advice and more.

To find out what support you may be eligible for go to Help for Households – Get government cost of living support.
January 28, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : The UK supports Ukraine’s response to the Ilyushin II-76 aircraft incident – UK statement at the UN Security Council [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 January 2024.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on International Peace and Security.

Thank you President, and I think USG DiCarlo for her briefing.

At the outset, President, let me express our full support for your handling of the Presidency. I do find it ironic that while the Russian representative chooses to lecture France on UN rules, as he has frequently lectured the UK on our organisation of meetings, his country continues to commit arguably the most egregious and flagrant violation of the UN Charter in this institution’s history.

President, the UK regrets all loss of human life, wherever it occurs.

We fully support Ukraine’s calm and measured response to this aircraft incident and agree that there is an urgent need to establish the facts, as President Zelenskyy has said.

Whilst it is too early to draw conclusions, one thing is clear: when President Putin made the decision to illegally invade Ukraine, he demonstrated his total disregard for the value of human life, including his own citizens. We would not be in this position, and incidents like this would not happen, if it were not for Russia’s full-scale illegal invasion in February 2022.

A sovereign, independent Ukraine did not and does not pose a threat to Russia. Ukrainians want and deserve to live in peace and security, and without interference from their largest neighbour.

Hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost in this war, including over 300,000 Russian soldiers dead and injured, and tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians killed.

Soon this pointless conflict will have lasted for two years. Russia can choose to end the bloodshed. It can withdraw all its military personnel from the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine. And, as a permanent member of this Council, it can uphold purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

Thank you.

January 28, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak appoints Towns Tsar [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 25 January 2024.

The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has appointed Adam Hawksbee as interim Chair for the new high-powered Towns Unit to ensure the voices of UK towns are heard loud and clear across government and that vital regeneration comes to life.

Adam, Deputy Director of the think tank Onward, will help deliver the government’s Long-Term Plan for Towns, backed by £1.1 billion overall, to regenerate 55 towns around the country so people can feel proud of the place they call home.

Each town will receive a 10-year endowment-style fund with £20 million of funding and support to deliver long-term projects focused on the issues that matter most to local people, including regenerating high streets, protecting local heritage and cracking down on anti-social behaviour.

The Unit will ensure the Long-Term Plan for Towns delivers its promise by supporting local leaders to develop proposals, encouraging further investment from businesses and making sure that Towns Boards become long-term institutions that serve their communities.

Adam will be visiting towns up and down the country and reporting directly back to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove on how these places can better level up.

This work as part of the Long-Term Plan for Towns will help local people continue to feel the benefits of a bettering economy – ensuring a brighter future for Britain and more opportunity for generations to come.

Towns Unit Chairman Adam Hawksbee said:

It’s an honour to be heading up this vital work, which will empower communities to transform their towns. The Long-Term Plan for Towns puts local people at the heart of change, letting them choose their own priorities. Whether that’s making high streets safer and cleaner, improving transport links or celebrating local heritage, we will help towns to rebuild a sense of pride.

Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young said:

Towns have been taken for granted for too long and local leaders need long-term funding that goes directly to community priorities, instead of being caught up in public sector red tape. I am excited to be working with Adam to deliver our Long Term Plan for Towns to put power in the hands of communities so that they can decide on local priorities and what’s best their future.

Adam’s work to date has focused on increasing economic growth and strengthening communities across the UK.

He has published research on a range of topics including empowering regional mayors, tackling antisocial behaviour and reforming technical education. He was also previously Head of Policy to Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands.

Adam will be undertaking the role on a part-time basis, alongside his position as Deputy Director of Onward.

January 28, 2024
PRESS RELEASE : UK confirms full support to 2024 OSCE Chair Malta – UK statement to the OSCE [January 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 January 2024.

Ambassador Neil Holland thanks Malta for stepping into this critical role and reaffirms the UK’s commitment to the OSCE which must continue to hold Russia to account in its war of aggression against Ukraine.

Minister Borg, on behalf of the UK, I warmly welcome you to the Permanent Council and express our sincere gratitude for the herculean efforts from you and your team, to step in as Chair in Office 2024. Thank you for outlining your priorities for this year.

The UK remains a strong and committed participating State of the OSCE. My Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, made this clear at the Ministerial Council in Skopje in December, and has since repeated our commitment. You can count on the UK as you lead the organisation through what will doubtless be another challenging year.

We wholeheartedly welcome your continued focus on Ukraine, which must remain at the top of the OSCE agenda until Russia changes its actions, completely withdraws from Ukraine and faithfully complies with the OSCE’s founding principles and instruments. We find ourselves at 700 days since Russia’s unprovoked, illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which is causing immense devastation to the people of Ukraine. Our response needs to be one of strength, resilience and unity. Now is the time to double down on our support so Ukraine not only wins the war, but emerges from it as a strong, sovereign, and free country. Russia’s efforts to undermine global stability must and will be stopped in its tracks. If we allow Russia to lay waste to this stability, the risks to the OSCE region, and the world, are grave.  We will continue to support the OSCE structures which contribute towards a peaceful resolution and to bringing accountability for the abuses – across the OSCE’s three dimensions – which the people of Ukraine have endured.

The UK was mentioned by my esteemed Russian colleague as waging hybrid war against Russia. This is nonsense. The only war being waged in Ukraine is by Russia against Ukraine. And to categorise UK support for Ukraine to defend itself against a brutal onslaught in this way is another example of the sort of disinformation that we see so often in this forum. The UK is committed to supporting Ukraine to protect itself and will continue to offer unwavering support to Ukraine until it prevails – as it inevitably will.

The UK also supports efforts to ensure peaceful resolutions to the protracted conflicts in Georgia and Moldova, including through the valuable work of the Mission to Moldova. Field missions strengthen stability and governance in the OSCE region, including the Western Balkans and Central Asia – they are a direct, on the ground demonstration of OSCE principles and commitments.

The UK strongly welcomes the 7 December Joint Statement from Armenia and Azerbaijan. The intention to normalise relations, and to reach a peace treaty on the basis of respect for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, was a truly historic moment. We now encourage both parties to seize the opportunity to reach a lasting peace agreement to finally end the decades-long conflict and bring regional stability to the South Caucasus.

We welcome your desire to ensure a resilient organisation. You demonstrated this clearly by stepping into the role of CiO. We know that you are already working on agreement of a unified budget for 2024 and considering how to reach agreement on the leadership of the OSCE. We stand ready to play our part in reaching consensus on these decisions.

We also welcome your support for the autonomous institutions. UK support for the Third Dimension will remain steadfast. In this year of elections and against the growth of authoritarianism globally, it is more important than ever to uphold the OSCE’s founding commitments on democracy and human rights. Media freedom underpins our shared, regional security; we look forward to working closely with you on this agenda too.

We welcome your cross-dimensional approach on other thematic issues – digital security and artificial intelligence, gender and youth, and the security implications of climate change matter to our populations and are closely linked to our OSCE commitments.

Minister Borg, thank you once again for taking on this responsibility at such short notice. Malta can count on the UK’s strong support. We wish you and your very capable teams here in Vienna and in Valletta all the best for your time as Chair-in-Office.

Thank you.

January 28, 2024