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The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 October 2024.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East.

Let me start by thanking the Secretary General for his briefing, and reiterate our full and unequivocal support to him and to the UN as they seek to address this crisis.

The events this week are gravely concerning. Yesterday the Iranian regime launched over 200 ballistic missiles at Israel. We categorically condemn this act of aggression, which escalates an already dangerous situation. As my Prime Minister said yesterday, Israel has our full support in exercising its right to defend itself against Iranian aggression.

President, we are deeply concerned about the prospect of further escalation in Lebanon and across the region.

We have been clear: All our efforts now must be on stopping this cycle of violence. Iran and its allies across the region must exercise restraint and step away from the brink.

We have been clear: my Foreign Secretary has consistently called for a ceasefire in Lebanon, by Lebanese Hizballah and Israel, and the implementation of a political plan in line with UNSCR 1701.

We have been clear: in Gaza, we need an immediate ceasefire and the release of the hostages. My Foreign Secretary has urged both Israel and Hamas to agree the ceasefire deal on the table. To choose peace and bring this chaos to an end.

Peace, not war, is the courageous option. It is also the best option to secure stability and security for Israelis, Palestinians, Lebanese and the wider region.

President, my Prime Minister has been working urgently to gather support for a political solution to this crisis. Only a ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza would create the space to agree a political plan, consistent with UNSCR 1701, that allows for the sustainable return of displaced Israeli and Lebanese civilians to their homes.

Innocent civilians in Israel and in Lebanon have been displaced from their homes for too long already. The only way they will return is through a sustainable peace across the Blue Line. The conflict in Lebanon is causing devastating consequences for civilians, especially for women and children, and draws us closer to a wider regional conflict.

President, we cannot let Lebanon become another Gaza. With mounting civilian casualties and hundreds of thousands of displaced people, all parties must do everything possible to protect civilians and fully respect international humanitarian law.

A widening of the conflict is in no-one’s interest. The actions taken now will impact a generation. I call on all actors to step back from the brink and find a political resolution.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 October 2024.

UK military advisor, Nicholas Aucott, says the UK’s military, financial, diplomatic and political support for Ukraine is iron-clad and will continue for as long as is needed as the cost of inaction would be far higher.

Thank you, Mr Chair. Last week Russia continued in its attempts to justify its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. There can be no justifications for a war that Russia initiated, unprovoked. In doing so Russia attempted to mislead this Forum. By invading a sovereign state Russia has wilfully violated the Vienna Document and the Helsinki Final Act, foundation documents to which we are all signatories, and which underpin diplomacy here in this Forum.

The bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian people in defence of their homeland has been an inspiration. In pursuit of Ukraine’s inherent sovereign right to exist as an independent nation, they have unsurprisingly garnered support from around the world.

Compare this to the actions of the Russian military who, this weekend, conducted a ‘double-tap’ strike on the Saint Panteleimon Clinical Hospital in the Sumy Region, killing 10 people and injuring at least 22 others. most of those killed and wounded were first responders, hit 45 minutes after the first strike, as they attempted to evacuate those initially wounded. This is yet another violation of the Code of Conduct which obliges armed forms to comply with international law.

Two years, 226 days into this horrific conflict, the Russian state continues to issue threats in an effort to subjugate the Ukrainian people and deter others from providing such support. But the Russian state cannot be allowed to operate with impunity: its war in Ukraine is the defining struggle for our generation and profoundly challenges the UN Charter and the international order on which global prosperity and security depends.

The reality is that this war is proving costly to the Russian people. Military operations in Ukraine have cost Russia up to $211 billion.  The militarisation of the economy is punishing the Russian people, with approximately 40% of the federal budget spent on Defence and security

Despite the appalling losses on both sides of the conflict, the Russian state presses on with little regard for the lives of its own soldiers. Russian air force personnel have been backfilling infantry roles due to the restricted Russian labour market. Russian fighting capability is depleted as it struggles to replace high casualty rates.

Russia can end this terrible war of choice immediately, by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine. The UK will continue to deliver £3 billion of military aid to Ukraine every year for as long as needed. The UK’s military, financial, diplomatic and political support for Ukraine is iron-clad – that includes backing calls for a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression, to support efforts to hold Putin’s Russia to account for its illegal war.

The UK recognises that we must lay the foundations for Ukraine’s long-term future.  We will accelerate Ukraine’s irreversible move towards NATO, while the Ukrainian people have decided their future is in Europe and the EU has opened accession talks.  We are supporting private sector-led growth and reform unlocking obstacles to trade and investment.  Doing more will not be without cost to us – but the costs of inaction are far higher.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 October 2024.

UK Statement for the Universal Periodic Review Adoption of Eritrea as delivered at the 57th Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Mr President,

We thank Eritrea for engaging with the UPR process and we note the recommendations that the government has accepted.

We are pleased to see that these include a number of recommendations relating to healthcare and education.

We would like to very much encourage the government of Eritrea to engage with the international community to support implementation, noting the challenges faced by the government in previous cycles.

We do however worry that the spread of accepted recommendations suggests a lack of commitment to the promotion and protection of the full range of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

We are disappointed that our recommendations to implement the 1997 constitution and also to allow access for the Special Rapporteur were not accepted.

We reiterate our belief that these recommendations would support the promotion and protection of all human rights for all Eritrean citizens. Furthermore, cooperation with HRC mandate holders are especially pertinent given that Eritrea remains a member of the Human Rights Council.

Thank you.