Tag: 2019 Press Release

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 16/12/2019.

Statement by Tom Woodroffe at the General Assembly on strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance at the UN.

Thank you Madam President and good afternoon, colleagues. And may I start by aligning the United Kingdom with the statement delivered by the European Union earlier this morning.

Mr President, the needs of people affected by crises around the world have never been as high or as pressing as they are today. In 2020, nearly 168 million people in 53 countries – and that is one in only 45 people in the world – will need humanitarian assistance and protection. In many cases, crises are lasting well over 10 years. We are facing an increasingly diverse range of crises: armed conflict that endangers millions of lives in Yemen, Syria, South Sudan and Nigeria; Ebola continues to threaten development in DRC and Uganda; and, as the tragic floods and cyclones in southern Africa have demonstrated, climate change has led to more frequent and extreme weather events. And violence against aid workers and violations of international law are on the rise.

In order to tackle these challenges, it is more important than ever for the international community to come together to harness our resources and ideas to anticipate better the humanitarian challenges and assist those most in need.

Mr President, the United Kingdom is proud to be the third largest bilateral donor of global humanitarian funds. We provide multi-year bilateral humanitarian funding to tackle over 30 crises, substantial core funding to the UN and Red Cross Movement, and have been the largest supporter of the Central Emergency Response Fund since its establishment. However, with crises affecting more people for longer periods of time, the international community needs to be better at supporting those most in need – even if it means doing things differently. Member states have provided a record $16 billion of humanitarian funding in 2019. But this is still not enough to cover global needs. So the UK continues to work towards a more efficient and effective humanitarian system. We are proud of our commitment to double our use of cash in crises by 2025 and are working with partners to drive better data and assessment of need as well as a response prioritisation. We are keen to explore how member states can renew momentum to deliver on humanitarian reform priorities. This includes fostering a more accountable humanitarian system, including to those it is there to serve. And we are keen to work together to develop a new and stronger approach to managing the risk of crises. As well as improving our responses, we must continue to improve the ways we anticipate and prepare for them. Disasters and crises should no longer be treated as unpredictable catastrophes. So to save lives, we need to act earlier and invest better in prevention, resilience, preparedness and risk financing. That is why the UK recently supported the launch of a Risk-Informed Early Action Partnership of the UN Climate Summit. This provides an exciting opportunity and a global platform to scale up investment in early action and preparedness.

Mr President, the UK would like to express its severe disappointment that member states have been asked to consider amendments today. We urge all states to reject any attempts to undermine sexual and reproductive health, rights and services. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls should be at the core of principal humanitarian action. Effective, equitable and participatory humanitarian action cannot be achieved without understanding and responding to the specific priorities and capacities of diverse women, girls, men and boys. And this includes ensuring women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in peace processes and their full enjoyment of all – and I stress all – their human rights. The UK is proud to be a global leader in efforts to eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls, including conflict related sexual violence and advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights. Our commitment remains unwavering and we will continue to push for these to be central to humanitarian responses.

In 2020, we will all need to do more to face the scale and severity of the challenge ahead. The UK will continue to fight towards delivering principled humanitarian action to those who need it most. We will continue to push for improved coherence to better tackle protracted crises and reduce humanitarian needs.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 16/12/2019.

Statement by Ambassador Karen Pierce, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, UN Security Council Briefing on Afghanistan.

Thank you very much, Madam President. And thank you to the Special Representative and Ms Khurram for their really helpful briefings and nice to see Ms Khurram here again. And thank you to my colleague, the Afghan Ambassador. We’re very pleased to be part of the Group of Friends of Women in Afghanistan and it’s very heartening to hear so much support from colleagues around the table. So thank you very much for that. And also, big thank you to the Indonesian Foreign Minister for her guidance as well.

First of all, I think for the Special Representative, it’s a huge thank you once again for what you’re doing and for the work of UNAMA in incredibly challenging circumstances. So thank you for that. And I’d like to come on in a minute to the three main issues of today: the peace process, the elections and economic development.

But at first, I just wanted to add the United Kingdom’s voice to all those condemning the attack on the UN vehicle in Kabul last month and the recent attack that killed Dr. Nakamura. We join all those who lament the loss of these fine colleagues. We send our sympathies and our condolences to their families and to all those who knew them. There is absolutely no justification for these disgraceful acts of violence. The Taliban claim to speak for the people of Afghanistan and yet if they do not take part directly in such attacks, they certainly create an environment where such attacks become possible. And in that connection, I would like to mention the Taliban attack on Bagram last Tuesday, which killed two civilians and injured many more. And the United Kingdom calls on the Taliban to end such attacks in order to give Afghans a chance for the stable and just peace that they so much deserve.

Turning to the peace process, we share the view of other members that only a political process can deliver a lasting and just peace. And a deal between the US and Taliban is crucial to unlocking intra-Afghan talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. The United Kingdom also hopes talks can resume soon, but it’s clear the Taliban need to firmly commit to a concrete reduction in violence as a matter of urgency. The Taliban needs to show it’s serious about peace, the Afghan people need respite from the awful violence, and we need to create a conducive environment for these crucial intra-Afghan talks to succeed.

Madam President, I’ve mentioned the vital role that women have to play in the peace process and I join my colleagues in once again underscoring that. I wanted to commend you now on the opening of the Nationwide Global Open Days on women, peace and security with the symposium in Kabul in October.

My second point concerns the Afghan presidential elections. Madam President, we join others in calling on all stakeholders to respect and uphold the integrity of the electoral management bodies as they work to complete the process and deliver the results in a timely manner.

We welcome UNAMA’s continued engagement around the elections with national and international partners. And we likewise support UNAMA’s call for transparency, impartiality and independence as the results of process. It was good to see that the Independent Electoral Commission will be able to move forward with recounts in the remaining provinces. We hope this process can move forward expeditiously and transparently and we look forward to preliminary results.

My last point, Madam President, is on Afghanistan’s economic development needs, regardless of what happens in the months ahead. Afghanistan will continue to have considerable economic development and humanitarian needs, as the Indonesian representative so clearly set out. Financial commitments made at the Brussels Summit in 2016 will run out next year. The UK supports the holding of a pledging conference in 2020 to address the financing gap and identify development priorities for the remainder of the transformation decade. And we therefore welcome, Madam President, the work that UNAMA is doing with the Afghan government in preparation for the 2020 Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan and the initiation of discussions with potential hosts for that event.

Thank you.

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 18/12/2019.

The UK’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Julian Braithwaite delivers statement to the Human Rights Council in response to the oral update of High Commissioner on Ukraine.

Thank you, Mr President,

The United Kingdom thanks the Deputy High Commissioner for her update and welcomes the 28th report of the OHCHR Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.

Fighting regrettably continues in and around civilian areas of eastern Ukraine in this fifth year of the conflict. In this reporting period, we saw 42 civilian casualties, seven of which were children. We remain concerned about mines and explosive remnants of war, which continue to cause fatalities on both sides of the Line of Contact. We call on both sides to better protect civilians.

Russia continues to commit human rights violations in illegally annexed Crimea. We condemn the arbitrary arrests, detentions and crackdown on freedom of expression, all aimed at intimidating the people of Crimea. Russia continues to ignore UN General Assembly resolution 73/263. We urgently call on Russia to allow international monitoring organisations access to the peninsula.

We are particularly concerned by reports of torture, ill-treatment and denial of medical care to persons unlawfully detained in Crimea and Russia. Following the release of Oleg Sentsov and four other Ukrainian detainees on 7 September, the released men informed the OHCHR of torture, including electroshocks, threats of sexual violence, suffocation, and beatings, during their time in detention. Over 86 Ukrainian political prisoners remain in detention in Crimea and Russia. We call on Russia to immediately end this appalling treatment and release all remaining Ukrainian political prisoners.

Madam Deputy High Commissioner,

What can the international community do to help end the ill-treatment and torture of detained Ukrainian citizens in Crimea and Russia?

Finally, I would like to thank Deputy High Commissioner Gilmore for her for her years of exemplary service and her contributions to the cause of human rights around the world. Thank you.

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 18/12/2019.

Statement by Ambassador Jonathan Allen, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the Security Council briefing on South Sudan.

Thank you very much, Madam President. And let me, like others, thank Special Representative Shearer for his briefing and not only that, but for his work and that of all his team out on the ground of South Sudan. We really enjoyed coming to see you, David. We were impressed by what you and your team were doing and we really want to thank you. And I’d also like to very much thank Ambassador Wronecka for her tireless efforts as the chair of the 2206 Sanctions Committee.

Madam President, this is our first Council meeting since the 100-day extension, but it’s not the first time that the parties have failed to deliver progress. We are over one third of the way through the 100-day extension. And I believe that this council must repeat and reinforce the clear and united message that we delivered collectively in Juba: that all parties must seize this opportunity and agree the steps that are necessary to form an inclusive government. And those steps include, of course, efforts to make progress on cantonment. And we heard from you today, SRSG Shearer, about the importance of resources being delivered into those cantonment sites, of food being delivered, of training being conducted and a genuine reintegration taking place to ensure security for all in South Sudan. I also very much want to pay tribute to those efforts of the Vice President of South Africa, David Mabuza, on the thorny question of states in South Sudan. It’s a crucial issue, one that we perhaps have to recognise that there may not be fully resolvable before the hundred days are over. But we do need commitment by the parties to continue to engage in that process and I very much welcome that, those efforts by the South African Vice President.

Of course, Madam President, we welcome the recent meetings and positive statements that have taken place between President Kiir and Dr Machar. But I have to say that so far we haven’t seen those shift the dial and I want to stress today the importance of actions and results, as well as statements and promises. And I echo the need expressed by others to resolve the status of Dr Riek Machar. I just do not understand how he does not hold a South Sudanese passport while he’s busy negotiating to be part of the South Sudanese government. And I hope that this can be sorted out quickly as a gesture of good faith and that his status can be resolved by the region.

Madam President, to achieve these ends, we strongly welcome the region’s engagement and leadership. History has shown that without external pressure, the parties fail to act and we therefore urge our partners in the region, particularly IGAD, to redouble efforts to ensure progress. We believe that the IGAD 50-day report will be an important moment. The Security Council must work hand-in-hand with IGAD, that is key, and I think we should consider in our consultations how we could deepen that cooperation. Madam President, we also need to look beyond the 100-day extension and issues around South Sudan’s future. It is deeply concerning that subnational communal violence remains at worrying levels across the country. And the persistence of conflict related sexual violence, as evidenced in the Secretary General’s report, is extremely worrying. All parties to the conflict must take immediate action to stop conflict related sexual violence. We welcome UNMISS’ focus on this important issue and its support for efforts to end impunity for such crimes. And I want to strongly support my Belgian colleagues intervention on this point and echo concerns over the re-appointment of the Gany County Commissioner. Humanitarian partners continue to face high levels of bureaucratic impediments to humanitarian access and serious insecurity and the urgency, as others have said, has only been further deteriorated by the recent flooding; the worst in 30 years with almost 1 million people affected. The UK’s contribution has been of 210 million dollars in 2018 and we continue to do all that we can to improve the situation.

Madam President, in closing, let me stress that the ongoing ceasefire must continue to hold and the two leaders must commit – must unequivocally commit to that ceasefire and to peace. This council must stand ready to support the parties in coordination with IGAD and the African Union to support the parties forward on the pathway to peace, to make necessary compromises. That cannot happen unless the best interests of the people of South Sudan are prioritised over the self-interest of the elite.

Madam President, there must be consequences for those who do not live up to their responsibilities to bring about a lasting peace in South Sudan. Thank you.

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 18/12/2019.

Statement by Ambassador Jonathan Allen, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the Security Council briefing on the Middle East.

Thank you Madam President.

Thank you Special Coordinator Mladenov for your briefing, and for the work you and your team do in difficult circumstances.

Thank you also to Ms Raemer for your briefing and the perspective you shared.

Madam President, three years since the adoption of resolution 2334 by this Council, the United Kingdom notes with concern the Secretary-General’s assessment that the situation on the ground since then has only deteriorated.

In light of the continued increase in Israeli settlements, we reiterate that settlements are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace, and threaten the physical viability of a two-state solution.

The United Kingdom notes the Israeli Defence Minister’s instructions to act for the advancement of a new Jewish neighbourhood in Hebron. We understand that this does not signal the start of a formal planning process; however, if such plans were to advance this would be of grave concern given the sensitivities of the location.

Demolitions of Palestinian-owned homes and structures have also increased. The UK is concerned in particular by the targeting of donor-funded structures in Area C – which are provided on humanitarian grounds to support vulnerable communities.

As we have made clear before, any suggestion that parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territories should be annexed is contrary to international law, damaging to peace efforts and could not pass unchallenged.

Madam President, as the UK made clear last month, following the escalation of hostilities in Gaza, the indiscriminate attacks against Israeli civilians by Palestinian Islamic Jihad were completely unacceptable.

All countries, including Israel, have a legitimate right to self-defence, and the right to defend their citizens from attack. In doing so, it is vital that all actions are proportionate, in line with International Humanitarian Law, and are calibrated to avoid civilian casualties.

It is critical that the Palestinian leadership continue their efforts to tackle terror and incitement. Israeli security forces must also avoid the use of excessive force and we encourage Israel to properly investigate all potential breaches of law, holding those responsible to account.

The UK is concerned to hear of a further increase in the number of attacks by settlers on Palestinians. As the Occupying Power, Israel has a responsibility to protect the Palestinian population. We urge Israel to thoroughly investigate every instance and bring those responsible to justice.

Turning to positive steps, the United Kingdom welcomes the progress made on implementation of the AHLC-endorsed package of interventions for Gaza, but we remain concerned by the dire humanitarian situation. We call again on Israel to ease restrictions on water, electricity, and movement and access, which impact the livelihoods and life prospects of ordinary Palestinians in Gaza and breed resentment.

We welcome the renewal of UNRWA’s mandate, and encourage partners to step up with more funding and more predictable disbursements as the UK has done.

And we welcome continued work towards genuine and democratic national elections for all Palestinians, which is crucial to the establishment of a viable and sovereign Palestinian State.

Finally, Madam President, at this highly sensitive time in the region, we call on the parties to show real leadership, including the willingness to make tough compromises, in order to achieve a secure Israel, standing alongside a sovereign Palestinian state.

Thank you.

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 18/12/2019.

The UK’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Julian Braithwaite, delivers a statement to the first-ever Global Refugee Forum.

Thank you, High Commissioner.

As displacement numbers continue to grow, it is more important than ever to pay tribute to the huge generosity of host nations and communities welcoming those forced to flee.

We are clear this is a shared challenge and responsibility for the international community. UK commitment is steadfast.

More than £2.8 billion in funding for the Syria conflict marks our largest ever response to a humanitarian crisis. In just the last few months, we have committed an additional £30 million to vulnerable Venezuelans (£44.5m in total for 2019) and £117 million of life-saving aid for the Rohingya refugee crisis.

We are also one of the few countries to spend 0.7% of our Gross National Income on development, at least half in fragile states and regions – the drivers of today’s refugee crises.

Additional and predictable funding is critical, but we must also be smarter with how we use what we have. The UK strongly backs the Common Position on Financing for Refugee Situations endorsed by INCAF, to more efficiently and effectively address forced displacement. We look forward to working together to implement its principles.

The UK will continue to play its part in delivering on the transformational promise of the Global Compact on Refugees. For example:

On jobs and livelihoods for example – we’ve helped deliver more than 120,000 work permits for Syrian refugees in Jordan.

Our latest funding to the Rohingya crisis response is ensuring protection for more than 450,000 refugees in Bangladesh.

And on education our support includes £85 million in new funding to the Education Cannot Wait initiative.

As co-Chair of this year’s Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement, we fully support UNHCR’s 3-Year Strategy on solutions. The UK’s resettlement schemes have provided safe and legal routes for tens of thousands of people.

This year, the UK reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to resettlement, announcing a new global scheme to start in 2020, resettling around 5,000 vulnerable refugees in its first year.

Our Community Sponsorship scheme continues to grow. From next year, refugees resettled this way will be counted in addition to our main resettlement offer. And we continue to work with the Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative to encourage and support states to develop community sponsorship schemes of their own.

The UK Government has also committed in our new Integrated Communities Action Plan to work with civil society and others to increase integration support for all refugees in the UK. That includes support with English language, employment and entrepreneurship, mental health and wellbeing.

We endorse the regional Support Platforms launched this week. In line the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR), UK aid in Pakistan is helping to deliver quality textbooks and teachers to host and refugee children alike, while our new funding in Afghanistan will support more than a quarter of a million Afghan returnees.

Our engagement in Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) countries is well established. In Ethiopia, we’re backing market creation and economic opportunities in refugee-hosting areas, helping to create tens of thousands of jobs for both refugees and Ethiopians. In Kenya, we’re providing skills-based training in business and agriculture and helped to solarise the largest hospital in Kakuma. And in Uganda, alongside scaling up cash support we played a key part in developing the country’s first ever education response plan for both refugees and host communities.

Finally, we must remember today’s Forum is an important stepping stone but not an end in itself. This is about where we go next – a chance to identify priorities and opportunities, to ensure a common understanding and direction of travel. The UK looks forward to continuing that journey alongside you.

Thank you.

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 18/12/2019.

Statement by Susan Dickson, UK Minister Counsellor and Legal Adviser at the UN, at the Security Council briefing on Sudan and South Sudan.

Thank you, Mr President.

Mr President, let me also thank the Prosecutor for her 30th report on the situation in Darfur pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1593 (2005) and for her briefing to the Council today.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Prosecutor and her team for their dedication and pursuing these investigations and continuing to seek justice for victims in Darfur. The International Criminal Court has an important role to play in seeking justice and holding perpetrators of the most heinous crimes to account. And the United Kingdom strongly supports its efforts.

Since the prosecutor’s last briefing, we have seen positive developments in Sudan with the agreement of a transitional period that sets out a pathway to lead Sudan into a democratic future. The appointment of a civilian prime minister and of cabinet of technocrat ministers are welcome steps, as are the pledges to protect human rights and the rule of law.

There are, however, still significant challenges for the transitional government to address. We welcome the commitment to build a credible Sudanese judicial system and the pledge to seek accountability for past crimes, including by the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry into the brutal attacks on protesters earlier this year. The United Kingdom will support the Prime Minister of Sudan and the transitional government in these efforts and in building a new Sudan, as called for by the Sudanese people.

Mr President, the Sudanese people have suffered as a result of Sudan’s long history of internal conflicts. Past crimes cannot be forgotten and we must ensure accountability is delivered. This includes the crimes committed during the conflict in Darfur, which the United Nations estimates left over 300,000 people dead and 2.5 million displaced. These victims deserve to see justice served, as well as the achievement of a long-term solution to the root causes of this conflict. Almost 2 million people remain internally displaced in Darfur and the United Kingdom is concerned by reports of further violence and displacements in North Jebel Marra and returning IDPs being met with violence.

The transitional government has stated that securing a long lasting peace in Sudan is a priority and have demonstrated positive steps by engaging with armed groups and entering into peace talks.

The United Kingdom welcomes the signing of declarations in Juba and the resumption of talks on 10th of December. We continue to urge all groups to engage productively in these discussions and without any preconditions. Sustainable peace, underpinned by justice and accountability, must be found for the victims of this conflict and for the people of Sudan.

Mr President, the security situation and safety of the civilians of Darfur must be a priority, as we consider a transition from peacekeeping to peacebuilding in the region.

Mr President, we appreciate that during the momentous changes in Sudan, there have been limited opportunities for the Prosecutor and her team to make the progress that he would like on this case. We welcomed the Prosecutor’s briefing and note that she has been able to strengthen her case. The United Kingdom again renews its call to all state parties to cooperate with the ICC and encourages the transitional government in Sudan to engage constructively with the Office of the Prosecutor with the intention of making progress with regard to this case. We stand ready to support the civilian administration as they seek to build rule of law across the whole of Sudan, ensuring that those responsible for horrific crimes committed in Sudan are held to account and that these horrors are not experienced again.

Finally, Mr President, we again thank the Prosecutor and her team for their continued commitment to making progress in their investigations, despite longstanding access restrictions and lack of cooperation. We urge them to continue with this important work in striving to achieve justice for the victims of the Darfur conflict.

I thank you, Mr President.

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 30/12/2019.

Thank you very much, Madam President. May I join the others in welcoming His Excellency to the Council. Kuwait has made an outstanding contribution, if I may say so, as a donor and as a Security Council member. It has been an honour to work with you and your delegation, Minister, and you have always, your delegation has always focussed on the heart of the issue, whether it’s international peace and suffering or today, the relief of human suffering. So thank you very much for everything Kuwait has done for the Security Council.

Madam President, we share the concerns that have been expressed around the table, and I think they follow a common theme. For various reasons, the international community has not served the Syrian people as well as we might since 2012, despite some specific heroic efforts involving OCHA and the UN and volunteers like the White Helmets. And I’d like to, through the Assistant Secretary-General, once again salute the work that OCHA and the other humanitarian agencies do to help the Syrian people.

And now, as others have noted, after seven long and terrible years, the political process may finally have an opportunity to turn the corner. And of course, we support that and we will do what we can to help Mr Pedersen deliver that.

But very sad to relate, other areas on the ground have not made such progress. And this is not due to the international community. This is due to the Syrian authorities and the countries who give them the most support. In particular – I’ll come on to the worsened humanitarian situation in a minute – but I think we need to look at Idlib and Rukhban, the added upcoming pressure of winter, as others have said, the targeting of civilian objects around Idlib and the need for IHL to be upheld. Terrorism is no justification for violating the Geneva Conventions. We say it every time we meet in this chamber but it remains as true today as it did when the Geneva Conventions were first drawn up.

But the situation that’s worst of all, I think, is the one that the Assistant Secretary-General outlined. The situation is getting worse, and people – 4 million people – are at very grave risk. And this is why exceptionally cross-border assistance remains needed and it has been needed since 2014; this is set out clearly in the letter that the Emergency Relief Coordinator sent the Security Council and it’s been set out by others and other correspondents in the last few days. And we should be, no doubt, I think, having heard this briefing, that fewer than four crossings and less than 12 months means that we save fewer of the 4 million lives at stake and it leads to more suffering for the Syrian people.

Now, as others have mentioned the impending resolution, Madam President, let me turn to that as well. The German representative set out in his statement why they have drafted the resolution in the way they have, and we respect that. The penholders are trying to find a way through on this very important issue so that as many of those 4 million lives as possible can be saved and their suffering relieved.

It’s not clear to us, Madam President, what has changed since last year when the cross-border resolution was passed. What has changed to justify such a dramatic reduction in cross-border assistance, as has been proposed by other members of the Council, down to two crossings for only six months? In 2014, the cross-border resolution passed unanimously. It passed unanimously in 2015 and 2016. In 2017, it passed with 12 votes in favour and three abstentions. And in 2018, last year, it passed with 14 votes in favour and two abstentions. So I repeat, it is not at all clear why the situation should be deemed by some to be so drastically different today.

I would make a real appeal – joining others, Madam President – for us to take the penholder text and do the very best we can to protect the Syrian people. This is a humanitarian briefing, some very important humanitarians are around the table today. The most important thing we can do, as Ursula said, is to pass a resolution that brings genuine relief over a serious period of time based on end state, not on end date, and with all the crossings that the UN believes it needs.

OCHA is the part of the international system that UN Member States, all of us, have charged with coordinating humanitarian efforts. We may not always agree with OCHA or the UN on every individual point or every individual issue, but they are discharging their responsibility to the membership and to the Syrian people to get the assistance to reach those communities in direst need. If the UN does not help these communities, there is no evidence, no evidence at all to believe that the Syrian government either wants to or can or will provide that assistance. So I hope we can find a way forward on the resolution so that the Assistant Secretary-General and her teams can do the job we have bestowed upon them to do.

Thank you, Madam President.

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 19/12/2019.

Thank you very much, Madam President.

Thank you to the Under-Secretary-General, to the head of the EU delegation, and very good to have our Iranian colleague with us.

We welcome the Secretary-General’s eighth report on the implementation of 2231. And we offer our thanks to the Secretariat for their continued professionalism and the support they provide to the Secretary-General in enabling the production of this report.

When I spoke to the Council in June, Madam President, I said that the United Kingdom remained committed to the JCPOA and this commitment stands. The JCPOA is critical to the wider global nonproliferation architecture, and it’s vital for our national security and the shared security of our partners and allies. We believe it is the best means to avert a nuclear armed Iran.

As we have said before, we regret the US decision to leave the JCPOA and reimpose sanctions on Iran. We’ve said this in our most senior levels and on the public record and we understand the impact this has had in Iran and on the Iranian people.

Our commitment to the JCPOA and its instruments, including the procurement channel, is evidenced by our work as co-chair of the Arak modernisation project and with E3 partners on INSTEX. We therefore deeply regret Iran’s decision to reduce compliance with the JCPOA. At the Joint Commission on 6 December, we made our concern clear: Iran’s actions are extremely serious. They are hollowing out the nonproliferation benefits of the nuclear deal and are not all reversible.

As the United Kingdom, we have made clear our determination to find a way forward and to address Iranian non-compliance through the JCPOA, including the Dispute Resolution Mechanism. This is not a step we want to take, but Iran’s actions are leaving us little option other than to respond within the parameters of the agreement. Should we be forced down the path of triggering the DRM, we would do so in order to find a diplomatic way forward with the aim of protecting the agreement.

Madam President, Iran faces a stark choice: continue down this damaging path or take immediate steps back into compliance and rebuild international confidence.

Madam President, turning to ballistic missiles, In November the E3 – France, Germany UK – wrote to the Secretary-General regarding Iran’s development and testing of ballistic missiles and related technology. Over the past year, Iran has tested the Shahab 3 medium range ballistic missile, unveiled the Borkan-3 medium range ballistic missile and attempted the launch of the SAFIR satellite launch vehicle. All of these actions are inconsistent with paragraph 3 of Annex B of Resolution 2231.

Iran argues that the provisions in 2231 are not legally binding. They have also taken issue with the E3 use of MCTR categories to define nuclear capable missiles.

Madam President, we should be clear: the definition encapsulated in the MTCR is the most objective, widely accepted standard of nuclear deliverability in the world. It is internationally recognised and observed by states which seek to prevent the proliferation of ballistic missile technology, capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction. For many states, it is incorporated into their national legislation.

The purpose of the provisions in Annex B paragraph 3 is to give the international community confidence that Iran is not developing technology capable of serving as a means of delivery for a nuclear weapon. In undertaking the activity described in the E3’s communications to the Security Council, Iran is not providing much confidence.

Madam President, turning to regional activity, during the last year, there has been a continued increase in Iran’s destabilising activity around the Middle East, including activities which are inconsistent with UNSCR 2216 and other resolutions. In May and June, we saw attacks on commercial shipping near Fujairah and in the Gulf of Oman. A thorough UK assessment concluded that both attacks were almost certainly the work of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Likewise, the IRGC was almost certainly responsible for May’s attack on the Yanbu pipeline near Afif. And then, in September, we witnessed a large-scale drone and missile attack against Aramco Oil facilities in Saudi Arabia. This was a reckless, destabilising and completely unacceptable attack affecting more than 5 percent of the world’s oil and gas production.

Madam President, as the UK, France and Germany have made clear, we are confident that Iran bears responsibility for that attack. The Houthi claim of responsibility is implausible for a number of reasons, not least the scale, sophistication and range of the attack.

We note the Secretariat’s continued efforts to collect and analyse information on the weapons used in the 14 September attack, and we welcome the Secretariat’s observation that the number of impact points at the oil facilities was consistent with the figures provided by Saudi Arabia and inconsistent with Houthi statements. We look forward to hearing the Secretariat’s findings in due course.

Iran has also transferred missiles to a number of armed groups in violation of several Council resolutions, including 2231, 2216 and 2514. The latest Secretary-General report details concerning evidence regarding the transfer by Iran into Yemen of UAVs and optical sights of rocket-propelled grenade launchers. Such proliferation is destabilising for the region and escalates already high tensions and should stop.

Current tensions in the region remain deeply concerning. Further escalation is in no one’s interest, and I want to, once again, call for de-escalation, dialogue and full respect for international rules.

Madam President, I note the interest of some members of the Council and of Iran in resolution SCR 598 about regional dialogue. At the right time, and if genuinely intentioned, this may be able to play a useful role. But I think both timing and intent are critical ingredients, if any initiative on those lines is to get off the ground in the right way.

Madam President, we continue to hope that Iran will take steps to regain the confidence of the international community and assume its rightful role as a prosperous, responsible power, constructively engaged in the region. We respect the Iranian people. We have deep respect for Iran’s civilisation and the achievements of her past. But I urge Iran not to undertake any more actions that would take her further beyond JCPOA limits and instead to work closely and in good faith with other participants to implement its commitments fully and to help reduce escalating tensions in this region of the world.

Thank you, Madam President.

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 20/12/2019.

Mrs Emma Hopkins OBE has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark in succession to Mr Dominic Schroeder who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mrs Hopkins will take up her appointment during August 2020.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Full name: Emma Kate Hopkins

Married to: Steven Hopkins

Children: Two daughters

2015 to present Sofia, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
2012 to 2014 FCO, Head of Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative
2009 to 2012 Home Office, Head of EU/International Team, Legal Adviser’s Branch
2006 to 2009 Home Office, Head of Organised Immigration Crime, Organised and Financial Crime Unit
2001 to 2006 Home Office, Legal Adviser’s Branch, Senior Advisory Lawyer
1995 to 2001 Chambers of Kieran Coonan Queen’s Counsel, Barrister