Category: Press Releases

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 December 2022.

Ambassador Neil Bush voices UK support for the High Commissioner’s mandate and urges the protection of national minorities in the face of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Thank you, Chair. Welcome back to the Permanent Council, High Commissioner Abrakhmanov. Dear Kairat, thank you for your update and report. The UK is grateful for the varied activities undertaken by your Office, including your visits to, and dialogues with, many participating States this year. We are supportive of your mandate and welcome your work and the work of your team in promoting human rights for all, including those belonging to national minorities. This is an integral part of security and an instrument of conflict prevention and early warning. High Commissioner, you have made the point before that, managed effectively, diversity is an asset – the UK is a firm believer in this principle.

As you report, we face a new reality due to the Russian Federation’s attempt to illegally annex sovereign territories of Ukraine. Today, 17.7 million people in Ukraine are assessed to be in humanitarian need. Europe faces the largest movement of refugees since the Second World War. As you have previously noted, prior to 24 February, Ukraine was ‘a country working to maintain the delicate balance between the interests and rights of all groups in society’. The Russian government used minority issues as a false pretext for its full-scale invasion. And it is the responsibility of every one of us to step up and respond.

The UK remains appalled by ongoing human rights abuses and violations in Crimea, especially those experienced by ethnic and religious minorities. Crimean Tatars in particular face regular harassment and risk arrest, arbitrary detentions, and threats to seize their property. The banning of the Mejlis Council, an integral part of the Crimean identity, is of great concern. Likewise, the Russian government’s systematic vandalism of Tatar heritage and restrictions on the use of and education in the Crimean Tatar language. This persecution has been ongoing since 2014, and has worsened following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), last year saw a ten-fold rise in arbitrary detentions. Like you, we are deeply concerned by reports that Crimean Tatars are being disproportionately targeted by Russian authorities for mobilisation into the Russian Armed Forces. And we too have been similarly concerned by reports that ethnic minorities inside Russia have been disproportionately affected by the mobilisation. We urge continued scrutiny on the human rights abuses and violations endured by Crimean Tatars and other ethnic and religious minorities at the hands of the Russian authorities.

We encourage all participating States to fully cooperate with you and your staff to enable you to fulfil your mandate without impediment throughout the whole of Ukraine, including areas temporarily under Russian control. We welcome your continued dialogue with representatives of national minorities in Ukraine, and for drawing our attention to the impact on their lives and physical safety, including their ability to maintain and continue expressing core aspects of their identity, such as in education and culture. We also welcome your dialogue with Ukrainian authorities and your support to the legislative and institutional framework on minority rights and related issues in Ukraine.

We have emphasised before that the UK values highly your Office’s research into the intersectionality of gender and national minorities. Women with a minority background face unique and multiple challenges. We fully support women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation, protection, and leadership in all aspects of public life, including in peace and security, and encourage further research in this area.

High Commissioner – to conclude – the UK is a strong supporter of your institution. It has a vital role in early warning and preventing conflict related to national minorities. We thank you and your dedicated team for all your work across the OSCE arena and will continue to follow your work with interest.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 December 2022.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has issued a statement on Peru’s new President.

The UK stands together with the people of Peru in support of their democracy. We welcome Dina Boluarte being sworn in as President of Peru, and her commitment to unity, inclusion and dialogue. We look forward to working with the President and her administration to help Peru advance sustainable and inclusive development in ways that respect human rights. Peru is an important partner and through our work together our two countries deliver more strongly across our shared interests.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 December 2022.

Over 1 million Ethiopians have been supported since April 2021 with £90 million of UK aid.

• Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has seen trucks set off today to deliver UK aid to parts of Ethiopia affected by drought and conflict, following peace talks and the reopening of humanitarian routes
• he has witnessed first-hand how UK aid this year has been supporting over 1 million Ethiopians facing drastic impacts of a perilous drought and conflict
• the Foreign Secretary is holding meetings with the Ethiopian government and promises UK support to the peace deal which paves the way for a stronger future partnership

UK-funded trucks carrying aid have been reaching Tigray, following a vital peace agreement made possible by effective international diplomacy.

After seeing trucks set off for northern Ethiopia today, the Foreign Secretary will tell the Ethiopian government that this is a symbolic moment which paves the way for a stronger future partnership, delivering lasting peace and safety, with an international community focused on saving Ethiopian lives.

The UK has previously led calls for a restoration of full aid access to Tigray, with millions cut off during the devastating two-year conflict.

The Foreign Secretary will see UK aid making a difference on the ground. Travelling to a region affected by both the conflict and drought, he will see vulnerable mothers and children treated for conditions including malnutrition and malaria at a mobile health clinic run by UK-funded partner UNICEF.

Over 1 million Ethiopians have been supported since April 2021 with £90 million of UK aid.

And now the UK is preparing to provide further support for Ethiopia’s peace process and longer term reforms to promote peace, justice and economic reform.

With almost 30 million in need of emergency aid in Ethiopia, collaborative action from the international community is paramount and so the Foreign Secretary is using his visit to discuss stepping up support across the international community, with meetings held with the UN, World Bank, African Development Bank and IMF.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

The peace agreement signed in Ethiopia last month is bringing to an end 2 years of a conflict which caused immense suffering for the people of Ethiopia.

Success here is a vital step to addressing the urgent humanitarian needs, but also longer-term aims for prosperity and peace. Ethiopia can rely on the UK’s full support in its path to recovery and the international community must also get behind these efforts.

During his trip, the Foreign Secretary saw a sample of the huge impact UK aid has delivered in Ethiopia over the last 12 months.

Over 200,000 malnourished women and children have been provided with nutritious food, a similar number have received clean water, child protection services have reached 40,000 children affected by the conflict and provided emergency health supplies for 1 million people.

The Foreign Secretary recognises that there is more to be done. That’s why he’s rallying the international community, ensuring support for the peace deal and more humanitarian aid to deliver health, water, hygiene and nutrition for the 28.6 million people in need of assistance.

And in meetings with senior members of the Ethiopian government he will highlight UK assistance for survivors of sexual violence, strengthening of human rights and improved coordination of humanitarian efforts including better management of services such as water and education across the country which will save lives.

The Foreign Secretary is reiterating that the potential of the UK-Ethiopian partnership goes far beyond humanitarian support. Economic reforms can bring greater prosperity to both our countries, as is seen through the recent launch of Safaricom – a consortium that includes British Investment International (BII) and Vodafone – in Ethiopia.

This evening the Foreign Secretary will host a reception for inspiring young Ethiopian leaders.

The visit coincides with Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day (today, 8 December), from which funds raised will provide life-saving nutrition and health services for over 200,000 women and children facing chronic food shortages in Kenya.

The UK government announced last week that it is match funding up to £2 million of public donations to Save the Children’s UK Aid Match appeal, with funds raised providing life-saving nutrition and health services for 200,000 women and children in Kenya’s Mandera and Turkana counties.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 December 2022.

Ambassador Neil Bush says that Russia is trying to break Ukrainian resolve through its brutal attacks on civilians, hospitals and energy infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr Chair. And a warm welcome to Foreign Minister Landsbergis to the Permanent Council. The UK agrees with your assessment. We agree on the need for the international community to step up support to Ukraine so that it can win this war. We agree on the need to hold the Russian government to account for flagrant breaches of international law. And we agree on the need for the OSCE’s continued support to Ukraine and for this organisation to emerge stronger from this crisis.

Mr Chair, since October, the UK and others have repeatedly come together to condemn President Putin’s attacks on Ukraine’s civilians and critical national infrastructure. Sadly, this week is no exception.

This Monday, as the temperature in Kyiv dipped below freezing, Russia launched its latest round of missiles, targeting energy infrastructure and hitting residential buildings. According to President Zelenskyy, while Ukraine shot down ‘most of them’, the missiles which did land killed four people and caused power cuts across Ukraine. In Odesa, a missile strike cut power to pumping stations, leaving the entire city without water. We heard reports of doctors having to perform emergency surgery with flashlights, barely meeting hygiene protocols due to lack of water as a result of power outages. Sadly this is not new, but neither should it be accepted as normal. Russia would like to push Ukraine back into the dark ages.  We need to ensure that Russia fails.

Mr Chair, Russia’s systematic targeting of critical infrastructure since 10 October has damaged over 400 energy facilities. According to the World Health Organisation, this winter will be ‘life-threatening’ to millions of people in Ukraine. Cold weather can kill – and temperatures are predicted to plummet as low as minus 20 ˚C in parts of Ukraine over the coming months.

In addition, as of 5 December, Russia has conducted 630 attacks on healthcare facilities in Ukraine. Its latest missile attacks on energy infrastructure are further degrading Ukraine’s health system and compounding the impact on the most vulnerable. Maternity wards need incubators. Blood banks need refrigerators. Intensive care beds need ventilators. They all require energy.

Mr Chair, Russia’s intent is clear. It is trying to break Ukrainian resolve through its brutal attacks on civilians, hospitals and energy infrastructure over the cold, hard winter months. It is trying to crush the Ukrainian people’s spirit. Russia will fail.

As Russia well knows – intentionally directing attacks at civilians and civilian objects is not just deeply inhumane, but also violates international humanitarian law. Russia must observe its obligations under international humanitarian law and the UN Charter. If Russia is serious about a diplomatic end to its barbaric war, the path forward is simple: Russia needs to immediately withdraw all of its forces illegally present in Ukraine and cease attacks against Ukraine, including critical national infrastructure and innocent civilians.

Mr Chair, we remain deeply humbled by the bravery and the resilience of the Ukrainian people. They are paying a monstrously high price to defend the principles of sovereignty and democracy. Principles that the OSCE was founded on. Principles which are now being undermined by Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion. The UK and the international community must not – and will not – let Ukraine face this hardship alone. This is why my Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have both visited Kyiv in recent weeks to demonstrate the UK’s commitment to stand with Ukraine. The UK is providing additional air defence capabilities to Ukraine, to defend against Russia’s brutal missile attacks and we are stepping up humanitarian support to ensure Ukrainians can make it through the difficult winter ahead.

And to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people – know that your friends stand with you on this difficult journey. We will not let you face this winter alone.