Category: Press Releases

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 December 2023.

The UK and international partners call on Israel to take immediate and concrete steps to tackle record high settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

Joint statement:

Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom call on Israel to take immediate and concrete steps to tackle record high settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom express their grave concern about the record number of attacks by extremist settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. Since the start of October, settlers have committed more than 343 violent attacks, killing 8 Palestinian civilians, injuring more than 83, and forcing 1026 Palestinians from their homes.

We strongly condemn the violent acts committed by extremist settlers, which are terrorising Palestinian communities. We reiterate our position that Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law and remind Israel of its obligations under international law, in particular Article 49 of Geneva Convention IV.

This rise in extremist settler violence committed against Palestinians is unacceptable. Israel, as the occupying power, must protect the Palestinian civilian population in the West Bank. Those responsible for the violence must be brought to justice. Israel’s failure to protect Palestinians and prosecute extremist settlers has led to an environment of near complete impunity in which settler violence has reached unprecedented levels. This undermines security in the West Bank and the region and threatens prospects for a lasting peace.

While we welcomed the Government of Israel’s statement on this issue on 9 November where it conveyed that action would be taken against violent perpetrators, proactive steps must now be taken to ensure the effective and immediate protection of Palestinian communities. Words are important, but must now be translated into action.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 December 2023.

Mrs Laura Davies has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Finland in succession to Mrs Theresa Bubbear OBE.

Mrs Laura Davies has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Finland in succession to Mrs Theresa Bubbear OBE who will be retiring from the Diplomatic Service.  Mrs Davies will take up her appointment in September 2024.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Laura Davies

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 December 2023.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Sudan and South Sudan.

Thank you President. I thank SRSG Haysom and Ambassador Biang for their updates, and I welcome the presence of South Sudan at this meeting.

President, as we’ve just heard, South Sudan is due to hold elections in just 12 months. Yet few of the basic building blocks for a credible process are in place.

The United Kingdom welcomes the passing of the Elections Act, and the reconstitution of the Electoral and Political Parties Commissions. Such laws, however, need to be implemented and the institutions they create well resourced. This requires genuine political will.

There are fundamental questions for South Sudan to urgently address including on how the South Sudanese casts their votes and how many levels of government they are voting for.

For elections to be free and fair, we urge the South Sudanese authorities to ensure the necessary political and civic space so political parties, civil society and voters can freely express views without fear of reprisal.

The South Sudanese population should feel safe during and after elections.  We call on South Sudan to finalise the deployment of a single, unified national army and to ensure they are adequately paid and provided for.

As we’ve heard, the fighting in Sudan is having a severe impact on South Sudan. Over 434,000 people have now arrived since the outbreak of conflict.

The UK recognises the South Sudanese Government’s provision of transportation to refugees, and the important work of the UN system and humanitarian partners in their response to the crisis.

We repeat our call on the government to create a more enabling environment for humanitarian action, and ensure the safety of aid workers.

President, in closing, we call upon the Government to demonstrate its willingness to put aside individual ambitions and differences. Without this, a credible, safe, and inclusive process next year will not be possible.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 December 2023.

The inaugural UK-EU Cyber Dialogue took place in Brussels on 14 December 2023, the first one held under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

On 14 December 2023, the inaugural UK-EU Cyber Dialogue took place in Brussels. It was the first dialogue held under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The Cyber Dialogue was a welcome opportunity for the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) to discuss a wide range of cyber issues including international security, emerging technologies, internet governance, cybersecurity, cyber defence and cybercrime.

Officials exchanged views on policies for secure technology, digital identity and cyber resilience, as well as deterrence strategies against cyber threats, cyber sanctions, and capacity building. The 2 sides also spoke about global cyber governance, responsible behaviour in cyberspace, and international cooperation in multilateral fora including the United Nations’ Programme of Action to Advance Responsible State Behaviour in Cyberspace and Cybercrime Treaty negotiations and agreed to continue their exchanges.

The UK delegation was co-chaired by Will Middleton, Cyber Director in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and Andrew Elliot, Deputy Director for Cyber Security, in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Officials from the Home Office, DSIT, FCDO and the UK Mission to the European Union also participated. On the EU side, which also included observers from EU member states, the Dialogue was co-chaired by Joanneke Balfoort, Director for Security and Defence Policy, of the European External Action Service (EEAS) and Lorena Biox Alonso, Director for Digital Society, Trust and Cybersecurity of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG Connect).

Both sides agreed to hold the next UK-EU Cyber Dialogue in London in 2024.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 December 2023.

Ambassador Neil Holland thanks Canada for chairing the Forum for Security Cooperation professionally, despite Russia’s unacceptable behaviour.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for your professional and dignified stewardship of this Forum over the past trimester.  Thank you to you and your team for ensuring that this Forum has remained relevant and able to fulfil its mandate – which is particularly important during these difficult times.

You have been right to keep this Forum focused on Russia’s unprovoked, full-scale and illegal invasion of Ukraine.  An invasion which challenges the foundations of European security.  Which violates the UN Charter. And which flagrantly disregards the Helsinki Final Act’s core principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the non-use of force.  Under your leadership, we have shown that these principles and this Forum continue to matter.  And that we will keep on defending both.

Madam Chair, the Security Dialogues this trimester focused different thematic lenses on Ukraine. On issues including Mine Action; International Humanitarian Law; and Women, Peace, and Security. It is essential that we continue to champion women’s full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation in political and peace processes. You also tabled, for the first time, timely FSC discussions on Mental Health and Information Integrity. Our discussions demonstrated why these are particularly pressing in light of Russia’s war.

Since 24 February last year, we have seen the extraordinary determination of the Ukrainian people as they have defended their homeland. And we have seen a frustrated Russian military unleash unconscionable amounts of violence on civilians and critical national infrastructure. Despite the disinformation perpetrated by our Russian colleagues, it is clear to all that Putin made a grave miscalculation when he chose to invade a sovereign neighbour. Russia thinks it can wait this war out, and that the West will eventually turn its attention elsewhere. This could not be further from the truth.

Sadly, Russia’s destructive behaviour in Ukraine has been mirrored in the OSCE. We condemn Russia’s ongoing disregard for the Euro-Atlantic security architecture and the principles of arms control. Including through its formal withdrawal from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. The Russian delegation blocked consensus on holding formal FSC Security Dialogues on International Humanitarian Law and Information Integrity. And most absurdly, it also blocked a discussion only on General Statements – another unwelcome first for the OSCE. The behaviour of the Russian delegation in this Forum – which I note has once again left the room today – has too-often breached diplomatic norms. And the Russian delegation can throw up as much chaff as they like about the work of the FSC and other countries interactions with this forum. But there is one simple fact that lies behind any dysfunction in the FSC. And that is that one participating State, Russia, has invaded another and in doing so trampled over the principles of this organisation. Everything is subordinate to and derivative from that act of brutality. Thank you again, Madam Chair, for standing up to unacceptable behaviour.

I wish to conclude by thanking Bulgaria as it leaves the FSC Troika, and to welcome Croatia. As the incoming Chair, Cyprus can count on the UK’s full, continued support next trimester. As can Ukraine – which will remain at the forefront of our minds over the winter and into next year. The UK and our partners will continue to support Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes for them to achieve victory. Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 December 2023.

Ambassador Neil Holland notes Russia’s continued, remorseless war of aggression against Ukraine and emphasises the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine.

Thank you, Mr Chair. As we look forward to the end of 2023 and the holiday season, the people of Ukraine are marking over 650 days since Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion.

During this year, Ukraine’s critical national infrastructure has been attacked remorselessly by Russia, resulting in unacceptable civilian deaths and injuries. The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) figures show over 27,000 civilian casualties since the invasion: 9,701 killed and 17,748 injured. In addition, reports detail countless horrific human rights violations, including conflict related sexual violence against women and girls, not to mention against civilian detainees and prisoners of war, including a rise in cases against males.

And this is not just a violation of human rights on a massive scale. Russia’s aggression has had a wide impact across all three dimensions, as we will no doubt hear shortly from the three Chairs.

The destruction of the Kakhovka dam was an environmental catastrophe. And the damage has not been restricted to just Ukraine: Russia’s war of choice has had severe environmental impacts that stretch beyond Ukraine’s sovereign borders, affecting other participating States in the OSCE region. Furthermore, Russia’s withdrawal from Black Sea Grain Initiative has impacted the global stability of food supply.

The UK has been, and is proud to support Ukraine, through the OSCE, bilaterally and through other multilateral channels:

• This year the Ukraine Recovery Conference raised more than $60 billion for reconstruction and post-conflict recovery. We look forward to Germany’s 2024 conference.
• The UK has contributed £4.1 billion in fiscal support for Ukraine, and over £640 million in bilateral assistance. The UK’s total military, humanitarian and economic support for Ukraine now amounts to £9.3 billion. We know we are in good company, with friends and allies around this table also giving significant support.
• We have also moved quickly to ensure that those who have fled persecution in Ukraine can find safety in the UK through the Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine – with 247,000 visas now issued in total in the UK

And we  continue to hold Russia to account in the OSCE for its actions:

• Every week, we come to this forum to state for the record our condemnation of Russia’s actions and counter misinformation.  And we were glad that the Ministerial Council showed that a vast majority of us condemn Russia’s actions.
• This year’s Moscow Mechanism Report – the third concerning Russian actions since February 2022 – on the deportation or transfer of children, further exposed the harrowing experience of Ukrainian children and families, at the hands of Russian leadership.
• And while we regret that the full-scale conferences were not able to take place, the Chair’s ASRC in the summer and the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference in October enabled us to discuss accountability in the first and third dimensions.  Overcoming Russian obstruction across the OSCE agenda has been a significant achievement and we thank the CiO in particular for making this possible.

Mr Chair, this has been another year of brutality endured by our friends in Ukraine. And we have not forgotten our colleagues, the three OSCE staff members of the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) who have been detained by Russia for over 500 days. The UK again calls for their immediate release. There is absolutely no justification for their detention.

We condemn Russia’s ongoing aggression. We call on Russia to withdraw their troops from Ukraine and stop the killing.  And we pledge that in 2024 the UK will be there again, alongside Ukraine with moral and substantial support for as long as it takes.  The UK’s support for you will not falter.