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  • PRESS RELEASE : Speech by Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak at the Securing Europe panel in the framework of the World Economic Forum in Davos

    PRESS RELEASE : Speech by Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak at the Securing Europe panel in the framework of the World Economic Forum in Davos

    The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 24 May 2022.

    Dear panelists, dear guests.

    Thank you for the honor of opening this meeting. It’s dedicated to one of the most pressing issues in today’s world.

    The panel is focused on securing Europe. I am here as an official Ukraine’s representative. No more doubts, obviously. Ukraine is Europe. Shame, it took eight years for Europeans to realize it. In those eight years the world order shattered, the political map was illegally changed, tens of thousands of people died and millions more had to escape.

    However, despite all the crimes Russian soldiers committed in Bucha, Mariupol, Chernihiv, and dozens of other locations, we keep hearing calls for capitulation for the sake of peace in Europe. Some of our partners are still suggesting us to give in to the aggressor to save lives. Negotiations on so-called territorial disputes are proposed.

    How can one believe it when Russia shows outright intention to destroy Ukraine? How can one hope for it while Russian opinion leaders are calling Ukrainians, us, the wrong Russians? How can one expect it, given the numerous testimonies of acts of genocide against Ukrainians committed by Russian troops?

    Ukraine does not have any territorial disputes with Russia. Russia has simply occupied and tried to annex Ukrainian territories. Illegally. Absolutely.

    More than anyone, we strive for a balanced and rational dialogue. However, Russia’s political culture does not provide for a dialogue on equal terms. Its basis is dictation. The language of brute force.

    More than anyone in the world, we seek peace. But it should be just. Our sovereignty and territorial integrity are not subject to compromise. We are dealing with ideologies and practices terribly alike the worst dictatorships of the last century. History teaches us that pacifying an aggressor is futile. They always take peacefulness for weakness. They demand more with every next concession.

    Therefore, there is only one way to prevent the war in Ukraine from escalating into a continental and even world war: help Ukraine win. Now, you don’t have to wage this war. Just help us do it. Otherwise, you’ll have to. You’ll have to send your troops to the battles.

    Helping Ukraine is a way to resolve the contradiction between values policy and realpolitik. This is a way to send a clear signal to potential aggressors: their actions will not go unpunished.

    So, Ukraine’s immediate goal is to stop Russia’s brutal aggression and ensure the complete withdrawal of its troops from our lands.

    Then, we must find a reliable way to deter Russia from repeating aggression in the future. But the world order is nearly wrecked and shattered. The UN is semi-paralyzed with Russia’s presence in the Security Council. The OSCE has lost its raison d’etre. NATO is the only institution capable of providing a reliable security umbrella to its members. But some of the Allied nations still allow Russia to veto Ukraine’s accession. So, we have to take an alternative path.

    Today, I’m glad to announce here in Davos that together with the former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen we’re establishing an international advisory working group. Its aim is to make some recommendations for reliable and efficient security guarantees for Ukraine. Leading figures from security, policy and diplomacy as well as scientists will be invited to join in and contribute. We look forward to involving the friends of Ukraine who can offer their expertise and experience to efficiently implement the initiative. Our goal is to stop history from repeating and prepare the future for a sovereign and free Ukraine.

    Given the Budapest Memorandum experience, we assume that the future agreement should contain security guarantees, not assurances. This is very important.

    No third parties’ security obligations can fully substitute for Ukraine developing and sustaining its own strong defense capabilities.

    So, the first block of security guarantees is related to enhancing Ukraine’s ability to resist aggression.

    To ensure Ukraine’s defense capabilities, the guarantor states should provide our Armed Forces with modern conventional weapons and military equipment. No restrictions nor politically motivated bars. We need weapons to defend. We must be able to withstand any aggression. Since February 24, nearly seven hundred Ukrainian children have been killed, tortured, raped, and wounded by the Russian troops. Those are we know of for sure. So, the toll is probably much higher. Over two hundred and thirty thousand kids were deported to Russia. We must be able to protect our children. They have the right to live in a safe country, and we are to ensure that right.

    As part of their commitment, partners could help us in the fields of intelligence sharing, information security, cyber security, maritime security.

    We believe that rapid recovery of defense potential of Ukraine is one of important factors in preventing the new possible aggression. Russia has badly damaged our economy. And we can’t put enough money into defense in the coming years. So, we’ll need annual financial aid. For reconstruction purposes as well as for financing the security and defense.

    The next block of security guarantees is sanctions. They are an effective tool for stopping Russian aggression today and deterring it in the future. The current sanctions should last at the very least until the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. Their mitigation and lifting should be agreed with the Government of Ukraine. We should consider the risk of restoring Russia’s military-technical potential.

    We also believe that guarantees of imposition of preventive sanctions should also be provided in case of a real threat to our state. And, of course, in the event of aggression immediate and coordinated sanctions should be provided.

    The final bloc of security guarantees is related to political and diplomatic support of Ukraine. Embedding Ukraine in multilateral diplomatic processes would improve our integration with the international community. First of all, it’s about Ukraine’s joining the European Union as soon as possible. I need to emphasize we don’t think the so-called alternative formats of integration are acceptable here.

    Ukraine also supports the establishment of a coalition of responsible states like “Friends of Ukraine” or “Anti-War Coalition U-24”, which will be ready to effectively respond to violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within 24 hours.

    This means providing the necessary military and military-technical, financial and humanitarian aid, as well as imposing sanctions against the aggressor country within 24 hours.

    When it comes to security guarantees for ourselves, we are not asking. We offer our partners to invest in common security. First, European. In the future, this system could become the basis of a new global security architecture.

    Thanks for your time.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed with Tamila Tasheva the support for Ukrainian citizens in the occupied Crimea and the development of the Crimea Platform

    PRESS RELEASE : Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed with Tamila Tasheva the support for Ukrainian citizens in the occupied Crimea and the development of the Crimea Platform

    The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 24 May 2022.

    President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held the first meeting with the newly appointed Permanent Representative of the Head of State to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Tamila Tasheva. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Permanent Representative of the President to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Denys Chystikov, Head of the Crimea Platform Support Service Maria Tomak, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova and Deputy Head of the Office of the President Ihor Zhovkva.

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed with the participants the mood of Ukrainian citizens in the Russian-occupied Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, the prospects for the liberation of the peninsula and the issue of resistance to the occupation.

    “It is important for us to understand the mood of the people in the occupied Crimea and Sevastopol. After all, we realize that active and caring citizens of Ukraine on the peninsula will be our mainstay during the liberation of Crimea from occupation. We must support them,” the President stressed.

    According to him, in addition to the work aimed at increasing international political support for deoccupation, the first thing to think about is the adoption of additional laws and regulations that help ensure the rights of Ukrainian citizens in Crimea.

    Tamila Tasheva spoke about the activities of the President’s Permanent Mission aimed at maintaining contact with Ukrainian citizens on the peninsula who are protesting against the war in one way or another and expressing their solidarity with the mainland of Ukraine. She mentioned some high-profile cases of persecution of activists.

    “We have to keep in touch with these people. They should feel that we see and appreciate these signals of solidarity from the occupied territory,” she said.

    In addition, the participants of the meeting discussed the prospects for the development of the initiative of the President of Ukraine “Crimea Platform”. In particular, holding international events in August 2022, which will bring together participants of the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform and potentially expand the geography of states that support the declaration of the Crimea Platform.

    Tamila Tasheva also handed over to Volodymyr Zelenskyy a letter from the Deputy Speaker of the Crimean Tatar People’s Mejlis Nariman Dzhelialov who was arrested after participating in the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform in 2021. Now the occupiers are holding him captive.

    In the letter, Nariman Dzhelialov, in particular, thanked the President of Ukraine for signing a law introducing social and legal protection for political prisoners, prisoners of war and civilian hostages.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Andriy Yermak and Anders Fogh Rasmussen will chair an international advisory group that will provide proposals on security guarantees for Ukraine

    PRESS RELEASE : Andriy Yermak and Anders Fogh Rasmussen will chair an international advisory group that will provide proposals on security guarantees for Ukraine

    The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 24 May 2022.

    Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak has announced the establishment of an international advisory group that will develop proposals on security guarantees for Ukraine. He will co-lead the group with former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. This was announced by Andriy Yermak, speaking at the Securing Europe panel in the framework of the World Economic Forum, which is taking place in Davos.

    “Today, I’m glad to announce here in Davos that together with the former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen we’re establishing an international advisory working group. Its aim is to make some recommendations for reliable and efficient security guarantees for Ukraine. Leading figures from security, policy and diplomacy as well as scientists will be invited to join in and contribute,” the Head of the Office of the President noted.

    He expressed confidence that the friends of Ukraine will take part in the work of the advisory group and will be able to offer their knowledge and experience for the effective implementation of this initiative.

    “Our goal is to stop history from repeating and prepare the future for a sovereign and free Ukraine,” Andriy Yermak emphasized.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Volodymyr Zelenskyy – I have always been confident in Ukrainians and our unity, because we all have common values and views of the most important things.

    PRESS RELEASE : Volodymyr Zelenskyy – I have always been confident in Ukrainians and our unity, because we all have common values and views of the most important things.

    The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 24 May 2022.

    The unification of Ukrainians after the beginning of the Russian invasion proves that the citizens of Ukraine, despite some differences, have common values and views of important strategic issues. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an online conversation at the Ukrainian House in Davos.

    “It wasn’t a surprise to me that our people are so united. Sometimes different parts of our country have different opinions, different views of some things, there are different people. Russian is spoken more in the east and Ukrainian is spoken more in the west. But we are so united, and I am happy that my confidence in the Ukrainian people has been confirmed. We are different, but the same. We are different in details and trifles, but we are the same in important strategic things, in human things. We have the same values,” the Head of State stressed.

    The President also noted that he has always considered Ukraine the best country in the world.

    “I am a fan of Ukraine, I have always been. Whenever I had the opportunity to choose where to have a vacation before the presidency, I chose one or another place in Ukraine. Even if the mountains are higher and better somewhere, for me in Ukraine they have always been the best,” he said.

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that he feels at home only in Ukraine, and defending our country is the same as defending your home from criminals who broke in at 4 am.

    The President expressed the opinion that after this war Ukrainians will look at their land, their nature and their country differently.

    According to him, the war gave an additional understanding that the most important things are very simple.

    “When the children are around, everything is fine with your wife, parents and loved ones are alive. When neighbors are alive, nothing is burned, the missile did not destroy their property… Because grief is common. And this invasion of Russia is a common grief,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained.

    The Head of State is convinced that now the greatest happiness is probably the opportunity for Ukrainian families to gather together in the evening at home.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Today, several thousand of our people are in captivity, we must exchange them – the President

    PRESS RELEASE : Today, several thousand of our people are in captivity, we must exchange them – the President

    The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 24 May 2022.

    The most pressing humanitarian issues for Ukraine today are the exchange of prisoners, the unblocking of Ukrainian ports and the export of grain, as well as the search for and establishment of the location of Ukrainians illegally deported by the aggressor country. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an online conversation at the Ukrainian House in Davos.

    “The first is the exchange of people. Today, this is a humanitarian moment and a political decision that depends on the support of many states. You know, several thousand of our people are in captivity after the blockade of Mariupol, Azovstal. Besides, there were people from Donbas. They are in captivity today. These are absolutely brave people, I am immensely grateful to them. They did a great job. Heroic, historical. We must exchange them,” the Head of State stressed.

    According to him, Ukraine has involved the UN, Switzerland, Israel and many other countries that are trying to talk to Russia in the exchange process.

    However, according to the President, it is necessary not to persuade Russia, but to put pressure on it, demanding the necessary decision.

    “In no case can you play with Russia. You should put pressure politically through business closures, oil embargo. Threats in terms of sanctions, business. And through these threats to achieve the possibility of exchange. To activate the exchange of our people for the Russian military,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

    The second humanitarian problem, according to the President, is the threat of global food crisis, as Ukrainian ports are blocked by Russia.

    “There will be a shortage of food products due to the blockade of all ports in our country. Today, 22 million tons of grain are blocked by the Russian Federation, which completely controls the Black Sea and Azov coasts,” he said.

    To prevent food shortages, the world’s political and business elites must take measures to ensure that this grain is unblocked and exported to Europe, Asia and Africa, the President is convinced.

    “So that people have something to eat. That’s how some countries will face this question – that there is nothing to eat. And we have to help with that,” he added.

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the illegal deportation of Ukrainian citizens to the territory of the Russian Federation the third important humanitarian problem for which there is no practical solution yet.

    “About 500,000 people were forcibly deported to Russia or the occupied parts of Donbas. The children were taken away by force, separated from their parents. There are many such cases. We appealed to both the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations. Where they have access, they are looking for these people, we are looking for them,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

    According to him, it is difficult to establish the location of illegally deported Ukrainians, as their passports, other documents and phones are often confiscated.

    “Personally, I can’t find a solution to this problem yet. I would like to draw the attention of the international community to this issue. And I would like to bring people home or at least get information about their whereabouts, about whether they are alive or not,” the President said.

  • Theresa May – 2002 Speech to Conservative Spring Forum

    Theresa May – 2002 Speech to Conservative Spring Forum

    The speech made by Theresa May at the Conservative Spring Forum on 23 March 2002.

    I’m delighted to be responding to this session at the Spring Forum – and my goodness haven’t we heard some exciting examples of how Conservatives have been working to improve their local communities – making life better in your areas.

    Over the next few weeks we all have the opportunity in the local government elections to take the message we have heard today out onto the streets and show people that up and down the country it is Conservatives who are listening to their concerns and worries, it is Conservatives that are recognising the problems in their local communities and it is Conservatives who are delivering practical solutions that meet people’s needs.

    The Conservative Party is the party that listens, that cares and that delivers – delivers for all in society, from Bromley to Bradford, from Cambridgeshire to Calderdale.

    Local authorities are responsible for a wide range of services that directly affect people’s everyday quality of life and often it is the most vulnerable in our society who depend on them most.

    Good local government is about improving people’s quality of life – about making life better.

    Just think about the impact a council has on people’s day-to-day life – imagine someone walking out of their front door. Has the uneven pavement been mended? Is the street clean or full of litter? Has the rubbish been properly collected? Do the street lights work?

    Have the potholes in the road been repaired? Has the traffic got worse since the council gave permission for that new development on the outskirts of the town? Why did they bring in that one-way system? And now of course the primary school’s full. Mrs Smith next door is worried because her husband’s still in hospital – they simply can’t get him anywhere in a care home locally because they’re all closing.

    To find answers to these problems – to make life better – councillors need to have the freedom and flexibility to make decisions that suit their local area.

    Today that power has been taken away in so many ways. This Labour Government has increased centralisation, increased bureaucracy and increased the regulations local councils have to cope with.

    Now I accept that previous Conservative governments do not have a blameless record in their approach to local government. But what started as an attempt by central government to protect people from the worst excesses of bad local councils has now, under Labour, been made a means of control, a tool for imposing Westminster’s priorities over local priorities.

    In 1997 just over 4% of a council’s funding was ring-fenced today, it is 15%. And that’s without counting the money that’s spent on the extra bureaucracy and regulations imposed from Whitehall.

    Central government telling councils how to spend your money.

    Today, local authorities are judged against close to 150 performance indicators and must agree up to 66 plans with central government. Such burdens waste money and distort priorities. 66 plans – don’t tell me they’re a tool for better government – it’s just increased bureaucracy and a way of the centre exercising control.

    And when it comes to regulations just look at the impact of the directive on fridges – enormous cost to local authorities and the risk of fridges abandoned in our streets and lanes. Abandoned cars will be next and then other white goods.

    And against this background of red tape and central control Gordon Brown has made council tax a stealth tax .

    Every year since Labour came to power they have promised that there was no need for large increases in council tax and every year council tax has gone up by three times the rate of inflation.

    This year the average increase is 8.3% – more than four times the rate of inflation.

    What’s more the government has slowly increased the amount of council’s funding that has to be paid through council tax – from 23% in 1997 to 27% today.

    People are on average paying nearly £300 more on a Band D property than when Labour came into power.

    Conservative councils are still showing that they can charge less council tax and deliver quality services.

    How many of the top 20 councils charging the highest council tax are Conservative – none.

    Looking at Band D properties, this year across every tier of local government Conservative councils cost less than Labour or LibDem councils.

    In unitary authorities Conservative councils cost £132 a year less than Lib Dem councils.

    In London Conservative councils cost £313 less than Labour councils.

    On average across all types of council Conservative councils cost £135 less than Labour councils and £159 less than Lib Dem councils.

    And which council costs most of all – Tony Blair’s own back-yard yes, Sedgefield where for Band D local people pay almost £1,200 a year.

    Increases well over inflation and shifting the burden to the council taxpayer – yet another stealth tax.

    A stealth tax that hits hardest on some of the most vulnerable in society like the elderly living on fixed incomes.

    More red tape, more paperwork, higher cost, less freedom that’s the impact of Labour on local government.

    The other day Stephen Byers department announced that government would streamline and rationalise the 66 plans they require from councils. Do you believe Stephen Byers – I certainly don’t.

    Remember the three big lies – (the cheque’s in the post, Darling I still love you, and Trust me I’m Stephen Byers).

    What better advert for New Labour could there be?

    You can’t trust him on transport, you can’t trust him on local government and you can’t trust him on planning.

    Just look at what he is promising to do.

    He’s going to grade councils as high performing, coasting, striving or poor performing, but they will be judged not by whether they are doing what people want, but by whether they are doing what the government wants.

    He’s going to introduce a new tier of regional politicians. That means he’s going to abolish county councils and have to restructure district councils at an estimated cost of £2bn – how many care home places could that fund.

    He’s heaping yet more regulation and bureaucracy on parish and town councils including a code of conduct that means parish councillors, the unpaid volunteer backbone of our rural communities, have to declare not just their interests, but the interests of their relations, including would you believe it their nephew’s partner.

    Little wonder parish councillors are threatening to resign across the country.

    And on planning he’s going to bring in a new system that will increase bureaucracy for business, reduce the voice of local communities and bring in a betterment tax that will particularly hit small local firms.

    In the annals of incompetent government Stephen Byers is a serial offender.

    From the Post Office to PPP on the Tube, from increased rights for trade unions to reduced rights for local communities on planning, from Rover to Railtrack, Byers bungles cost us all dear.

    But this Government’s interference and centralisation doesn’t just increase the paperwork in the town hall. It erodes local democracy so fewer people vote and it damages the effective delivery of public services and the ability of local councillors to respond to the needs of their local community.

    The Department for Transport Local Government and the Regions is what I call the quality of life department because with transport and local government together it is responsible for the things that so often make the difference between having a good or a bad day.

    And across the country it is Conservative councils who are making the difference in their areas.

    Just think about the problems we all face in our day to day lives.

    What is number one concern for many people today – crime or the fear of crime.

    Kent and Westminster have recognised this and delivered for local people.

    Kent County Council has introduced rural community wardens in partnership with Kent police. Westminster Council has launched a city guardian initiative to reduce crime, anti-social behaviour and breaches of public safety; and their CCTV van, staffed by trained council officers, has played a significant role in reducing levels of crime in parts of the Borough.

    Conservative councils delivering for local people.

    But fear of crime is also about the environment in which people live and work. Graffiti ridden streets increase the fear of crime and petty vandalism is often a first step in criminality. We believe that cleaning up our streets is an essential part of the war against crime.

    West Oxfordshire District Council has introduced an Environmental Hit Squad to crack down on fly tipping and fly posting. Tandridge District Council brought in a successful graffiti clean up initiative, with a £500 reward for information on perpetrators. Wandsworth Council doubled the number of litter bins on local streets all of which are emptied at least once a day and has a team of uniformed investigators who patrol the Borough enforcing laws on litter, fly-tipping and dog fouling.

    Conservative Councils delivering for local people.

    People get fed up being held up in traffic jams on the way to work – we all know how much better the roads are in the school holidays so getting school transport right matters. That’s why Runnymede Borough Council has introduced yellow school buses and Surrey County Council is soon to launch its Pegasus project for school transport for primary schools.

    Conservative Councils delivering for local people.

    People want their children to have the best start in life with a good education. Calderdale Council recognised this and has one of the most improved set of academic results at 16 years across the whole country.

    East Sussex saw the need for a new university locally – it’s just been given the go-ahead and the first students will start in Hastings University in autumn 2003.

    Conservative Councils delivering for local people.

    People also want to see deprived areas in their towns and cities being regenerated – so the quality of life of people who live there can be improved. In Bradford the council’s decision to establish a ground breaking Urban Regeneration Company was described as “the single best piece of news the district has had for many long years”. The Council is pushing forward re-development such as the Broadway shopping complex and the plans to transform the Odsal stadium site with a new stadium, leisure and retail development, cleaning up a former landfill site and creating hundreds of new jobs. What a pity Stephen Byers has called the Odsal application in for an inquiry.

    A Conservative-led council delivering for local people.

    And people worry about those whose lives need re-building. Kent County Council has launched its Dependency Reduction Programme – which aims to support and help people trapped in dependency to lift themselves back into independence, employment and a better quality of life.

    A Conservative council delivering for local people.

    These are examples of how Conservative councils listen to their local communities, care about the quality of life for local people and deliver to make life better.

    But if that is what Conservatives in local government can achieve despite the imposition and burdens from the centre think what more good we could be doing for our local communities if councils had their freedom.

    If local democracy is to mean anything then the power to say whether or not a council is doing well should rest with the voters in the ballot box. In stark contrast to Labour’s principle of ‘earned autonomy’ – we believe that all councils should be given freedom.

    Of course it is right that there should be powers to intervene where a local authority is clearly failing in its duty, but this should be the exception and we should always presume freedom rather than regulation.

    It is now almost five years since Labour were elected. Five years since their warm words of decentralisation – how they would ‘give back responsibility to local communities’, ‘take the shackles off local government’ and create ‘powerful new roles for all councillors’. Five years on, not only has this not happened, but in many cases, the reverse has been the case –and Stephen Byers Local Government White Paper promises more of the same.

    Strong local government unburdened by impositions from the centre is essential to the quality of life and to re-building local democracy. Local authorities need to be able to recognise and respond to local needs, exercising community leadership and championing local interests.

    This is our model of local government. A model built on our key principles as a party of freedom, choice and independence.

    Unlike Labour we do not believe that Whitehall knows best. We believe in minimal state interference. We want to give people the opportunity to live their lives free from unnecessary and burdensome interference from the state. We want to see government taken down to the level where people can best exercise decision-making and choice.

    So the Conservative Party is launching a policy review in local government that will re-define radically the relationship between central and local government.

    We will roll back the intervention from the centre, remove regulations and restrictions on local government autonomy, reduce the amount of ring-fenced funding, cut the burdens imposed by central government, and revive local involvement in decision making.

    We will be the party that gives power back to local councillors to make a real difference for their local communities.

    Conservatives governing for the whole nation – the prosperous and the poor, the north and the south, the rural village, the suburban town and the urban inner city.

    Together Conservatives will deliver community government making life better for all.

  • Bernard Jenkin – 2002 Speech to Conservative Spring Forum

    Bernard Jenkin – 2002 Speech to Conservative Spring Forum

    The speech made by Bernard Jenkin, the then Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, on 23 March 2002.

    Recently I attended the Annual Dinner of the Armed Forces Parliamentary scheme – a scheme, which aims give MPs first hand experience of the armed forces. They put us in battle fatigues and take us out on exercise.

    The Prime Minister graced the dinner with his imperial presence. Surprised to see me, he asked: ‘What are you doing here?’

    I said, “Prime Minister, I want to learn about the armed forces. Soon I’ll know more than your Secretary of State.”

    The Prime Minister put me down with a quip. ‘That’s not difficult!’

    Think about that! That is a measure of the Prime Minister’s real confidence in the man responsible for the lives of our servicemen.

    Under this Government, Britain is now committed to a series of open-ended deployments, putting further pressure on our already stretched armed forces. Mr Blair has been dotting them around the globe wherever it makes him feel good. We should not devalue the gold standard of our armed forces in this way.

    Labour wants our Armed Forces to be a ‘force for good’, yet they have little understanding of what it takes to maintain the quality and readiness of the best armed forces in the world.

    We should be making sure our commitments are matched by our capabilities – it is government’s responsibility to square that circle. You only get what you pay for. Over-committing our forces not only tries the patience of the armed services and their families. It erodes their essential fighting capability.

    And look what they are doing to the front line. Britain’s defences are paying an increasingly intolerable price.

    Incredibly, since British troops were first deployed to Afghanistan, Labour has announced a whole series of cuts.

    · An entire Tornado air defence squadron – axed. The very same squadron put on standby after 11th September to defend the skies over London.

    · The Royal Navy’s ENTIRE force of Sea Harriers– axed. These are same Harriers played a key part in winning back the Falklands. Until a few days ago, they were due to remain in service until 2015. This leaves the Navy with no airborne air defence.

    · The axe is falling on Royal Navy ships.

    HMS Fearless – withdrawn a year early:
    HMS Sheffield – mothballed:
    HMS Monmouth – stuck in dock because there is no money for her maintenance programme.

    The army is 7,500 men short – but there is a new Labour solution to that; simply reduce the target size of the Army, so we need fewer men to meet that target – and that’s what they have done!

    This week, the government announced that Britain is to send 1,700 Royal Marine Commandos to Afghanistan to fight in the war against terrorism. Let there be no doubt that we support the principle of this deployment. This is a very grave responsibility: our forces are the best – they deserve better leadership than this Labour Government.

    Just look what Labour tried to do. They tried to make the announcement of the largest single deployment for combat operations since the Gulf War as though it was just routine.

    Considering that this is arguably the most dangerous mission that our forces have taken on for 20 years, it is unbelievable that the Government should fail to offer Parliament the right to debate it fully.

    That was not just a snub to Parliament, or even just a snub to the people Parliament represents. As Michael Portillo said during the debate:
    ‘when our soldiers are being put into such extreme danger, it is a grave discourtesy to them to suggest that the sacrifice that they offer the nation is not worth three hours of debate in Government time’ (Hansard 20 March 2002 Col 352)

    4-5 Commando Royal Marines are undoubtedly some of the finest troops that anyone will find on this earth. They are trained in mountain warfare. They are ideally fitted to this task. And they know they must defeat our enemies—those who threaten our own people in our own country and the peoples of our friends and allies.

    But it is not disloyal or unpatriotic for Parliament to require explanation. That is Parliament’s job – but we had to drag Defence Ministers to the House of Commons to answer concerns expressed from all sides of the House. And the Prime Minister was too busy fighting his own backbenchers about foxhunting, to turn up to a debate about committing to troops to action.

    This episode says everything about Mr Blair’s real sense of priorities.

    Iain Duncan Smith set his clear priority for defence last week. His paper, called A Race Against Time, explains how ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction are proliferating, and destabilising western security. He sets out why and how Britain must confront the growing missile threat. Few politicians in Europe understand the link between 11th September and the threat of weapons of mass destruction. This is why Britain should support the missile defence systems President Bush is offering Europe.

    Instead of helping to galvanise other Governments in Europe to face up to the new threats and instabilities of the post cold war world, the Government’s post 11th September consultation paper on defence does not even mention the word ‘missile’! Labour continues to run scared from its CND MPs and activists.

    This weekend Mr Hoon is in Spain at a meeting of EU defence ministers. What is his priority? He’s gone back to the EU’s defence agenda. Labour promised there was no such thing as a Euro Army. But this week the Spanish defence minister actually said:

    ‘We have formed, we are forming that European Army.’

    Having championed the EU Defence Policy, they have lost control of the agenda. Too late will they realise that this EU Army is already dividing Europe from America. The Euro Army is a dagger pointing at the heart of NATO.

    This debate, and the other debates we are hearing this weekend, underline that Labour is no longer fit for government. But we Conservatives have no automatic right to govern. We have to earn that right. Moreover, it is not our right, but our duty to ensure that we are not just ready for government at the next election, but that the British people really feel they have choice about where to put their vote.

    We are the Party of choice. Together we must offer that choice.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Government launches review of Civil Aviation Authority to strengthen regulator for the future

    PRESS RELEASE : Government launches review of Civil Aviation Authority to strengthen regulator for the future

    The press release issued by Department for Transport on 30 August 2022.

    • UK aviation regulator to be reviewed as part of wider government programme looking into effectiveness and efficiency of public bodies
    • led by an independent lead reviewer, the review will ensure the ongoing provision of a world-class service to the public and aviation industry
    • areas of focus will be the organisation’s effectiveness, efficiency, accountability and governance

    The government has today (30 August 2022) launched an independent review of the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to ensure the provision of world-leading regulation and public services for decades to come.

    With a remit that includes everything from ensuring the highest standards of aviation safety and security, to the efficient use of airspace, space operations and protecting consumer rights, the Civil Aviation Authority is vital to the UK’s position as a world leader in aviation and aerospace.

    Building on the organisation’s success in tackling the unprecedented challenges of recent years, the review will focus on:

    • its efficiency and effectiveness in delivering its services currently, and for the future
    • its role, form, function and delivery model
    • the corporate governance and assurance mechanisms underpinning the organisation
    • the CAA’s relationship with the Department for Transport and how the 2 organisations work together to deliver a quality service for the UK
    • how its priorities match up to the government’s wider objectives, taking into consideration its role as an independent regulator

    This year the regulator celebrated its 50th birthday and has played a key role in the aviation sector’s recovery, as set out in our 22-point action plan to help minimise disruption in the sector and protect passengers.

    For years to come the regulator will also be crucial in ensuring the sector can modernise and innovate to meet the challenges of the future, while protecting consumer rights  – as set out in our 10-year strategy Flightpath to the future.

    Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:

    Civil aviation regulation is the lynchpin of an industry which pre-pandemic carried millions of passengers every year, contributed £22 billion to our economy and supported nearly one million jobs.

    This review will ensure UK civil aviation regulation continues to be world-leading on safety, security, environmental considerations, economic regulation and consumer protection – which often supports other countries in driving up global standards.

    Sir Stephen Hillier, Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, said:

    At the Civil Aviation Authority, we work tirelessly on our mission to achieve improvements in aviation and aerospace for consumers and the public.

    We welcome the opportunity this review presents to highlight the dedication, skill and continuous learning culture of our organisation, whilst identifying any areas for improvement.

    It will help ensure that we continue to be a diverse, innovative and future-focused regulator, dedicated to improving aviation safety, security and consumer interests and enabling a thriving aerospace sector.

    We look forward to working in an open, transparent and collaborative way with government to support this review.

    The review forms part of a wider programme looking at public bodies across government, announced in April this year.

    It comes at a crucial time for the aviation industry as it continues its strong recovery from the pandemic and will also run in parallel, but entirely separate to, the International Civil Aviation Organisation safety audit due to take place.

    Jeremy Newman, an independent panel member at the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, will lead the review, which will run until spring 2023.

  • PRESS RELEASE : President of Ukraine in Davos – There is no notion of distance for the occupation, the most important thing is to stop any aggressor from the very beginning

    PRESS RELEASE : President of Ukraine in Davos – There is no notion of distance for the occupation, the most important thing is to stop any aggressor from the very beginning

    The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 24 May 2022.

    Today, Ukraine is fighting for freedom and independence, for the values of all mankind, so the countries of the free world must support our state so that their citizens do not have to face the horrors of war. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an online conversation at the Ukrainian House in Davos.

    “Our task is to ensure that the world doesn’t get tired of war and keeps supporting Ukraine, because we are fighting for the values that people live by, the values they breathe like oxygen,” the President said.

    According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine expects support from the West, including the necessary defense and financial assistance, as well as strengthening sanctions against Russia.

    “There is no notion of distance for the occupation, the most important thing is to stop any aggressor from the very beginning,” the President said.

    “Ukraine is the first. It is on the border with Russia, which is going on the offensive today. If we fall, if Ukraine does not endure – Russia will move on. And then it will go to the Baltic states – Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia. These are small states that, even if the three of them unite, will not be able to protect those values. And then the military of NATO member states will have to come here. And in order for the military of NATO countries, your families, not to see what we see, you need to help Ukraine,” he explained.

    The Head of State noted that almost 100 Ukrainian servicemen die every day in battles with the Russian aggressor, but the Russian authorities do not care how many of their soldiers died in this war, and they do not even think about burying them.

    “We have tens of thousands of black packages with people who are not taken away by Russia. These are their soldiers,” the President of Ukraine said.

    He told how he presented orders to the families of servicemen who were posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. According to him, there wasn’t happiness from receiving the award, but the tragedy and tears brought by the war in the eyes of the relatives of the Heroes.

    “But we have no choice, because we did not start a war. We are on our own land, we have nowhere to go. And that’s why we are strong. And that’s why we’re united. That is why we are fighting for freedom. No one wants to lose their life, but people give their lives for the future. This banal phrase – they give their life for the sake of others – contains great pain, great suffering of the Ukrainian people and any people going through the war. That’s how wars end. And it is impossible to assess this pain,” the President is convinced.

    According to him, this is not a war to the last Ukrainian, but “we simply do not have the right to give away the land and the people who live on this land.”

    “Therefore, there will be a victory. Because this is our land, our people, we fight for them and pay a high price. There will definitely be a victory, because there is simply no other way out,” the Head of State is convinced.

    The President stressed that without the wars for independence there can be no freedom and independence, and this should be remembered by the citizens of other free democracies, whose ancestors also fought bravely for the independence of their states.

    “We need weapons and sanctions, and we give you freedom and independence for that. It seems to me that this is fair,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

  • PRESS RELEASE : We must integrate psychological support into all spheres of our lives – Olena Zelenska at the 75th World Health Assembly

    PRESS RELEASE : We must integrate psychological support into all spheres of our lives – Olena Zelenska at the 75th World Health Assembly

    The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 23 May 2022.

    Ukraine plans to set up a psychological assistance service to support war survivors. This was stated by First Lady Olena Zelenska during a speech at the 75th World Health Assembly, the highest governing body of the WHO.

    “Yes, war is a tragedy. But we must find an opportunity to do good even in the midst of the horrors of war. Let us use this period as an opportunity to integrate psychological support into all areas of our peaceful life. I hope for your support. Let’s gain this victory together!” Olena Zelenska urged the attendees.

    The President’s wife reminded that the WHO is committed to protecting the most crucial human rights – to life and health. These rights are currently being violated in Ukraine due to an armed attack by Russia.

    “None of the Ukrainians, neither an adult nor a child, can be sure that they will wake up tomorrow. That the missile will not fly into his house. The doctor cannot be sure that his ambulance will not be bombed on the way to the patient. Today, there are health ministers from different countries. This is especially important because we cannot now ensure the life and health of Ukrainians on our own. And your countries are coming to our aid,” she said.

    Olena Zelenska noted that the battles will end, every displaced Ukrainian will return, every family will be reunited, wounds will heal, and destroyed schools, orphanages and hospitals in Ukraine will be rebuilt. But the consequences of this war, unfortunately, will remain for years and decades. So today there is another task – the battle for the mental health of Ukrainian citizens.

    After the things Ukrainians experienced in the occupation, at the front, in bomb shelters, under shelling, abroad, they need rehabilitation just as the physically wounded, the President’s wife is convinced.

    That is why the Office of the First Lady, together with representatives of the Ukrainian government in cooperation with civil society and international partners, is already launching a nationwide initiative to enhance mental health and psychosocial support.

    “We want to do it with you. Based on your best experience. We count on your expert support to build a truly efficient psychological care service in the world,” the President’s wife noted.

    The First Lady expressed her sincere hopes that Ukraine would set an example of strengthening global support for the mental health and psychosocial well-being of war survivors. And it will do it quickly, so that “along with the victory in the war, we also gain this victory – over the grief, shock and stress of our citizens.”