Tag: 2024

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 August 2024.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen.

President, the situation in Yemen is desperate, with devastating flooding coming on top of an already dire humanitarian crisis and we express condolences to all those affected by the flooding. The prospect of regional escalation threatens to further undermine security and stability. We urge all parties to deescalate to avoid deepening the humanitarian crisis. The United Kingdom condemns the Houthis’ reckless and escalatory attacks across the region in conjunction with other Iranian-linked groups. We also reiterate our call on the Houthis to cease their attacks in the Red Sea which threaten international shipping.

Recent reports have also shown Houthi links to Al Shabaab. We firmly condemn these actions as part of a wider pattern of Houthi destabilising activity beyond Yemen’s borders. The relevant UN sanctions committees must coordinate closely to monitor and counter this worrying trend.

President, the UK condemns the Houthis’ closure of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sana’a. The OHCHR presence is critical for the protection of civilians and reporting of human rights abuses. As we’ve heard, this follows the detention of UN, NGO and former diplomatic missions’ staff in June, and is yet another blatant aggression which will severely impede the delivery of vital aid to those most in need.

These acts demonstrate, once again, the willingness of Houthi leaders to inflict harm and suffering on the Yemeni people to advance their own ambitions.

It is the duty of this Council, to ensure the Houthis guarantee a safe and unimpeded operational environment for humanitarian organisations. We call on the Houthis to immediately and unconditionally release the detainees, leave the OHCHR premises and return the assets they have seized.

Finally President, the Yemeni people deserve peace and further escalation will only move us further away from achieving this. We urge restraint from all parties to preserve space for negotiations in line with the UN roadmap.

We call on this Council to remain unified in support of the Special Envoy’s efforts to secure an inclusive and sustainable peace in Yemen.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 August 2024.

Take part in the consultation from the UK and France on the threat presented by proliferation and irresponsible use of commercial cyber intrusion capabilities.

This consultation is taking place under the Pall Mall Process, an international and multi-stakeholder dialogue to develop joint solutions to address this shared threat.

Led by the governments of the UK and France, a coalition of states, businesses and civil society came together in February 2024 to discuss the issue. They published the ‘Pall Mall Declaration’, also available in French: Processus de Pall Mall.

Through this consultation, we invite stakeholders to share views on good practice relating to commercial cyber intrusion capabilities (CCICs) across 3 stakeholder groups:

• states:  as regulators and potential customers of the market for CCICs
• industry organisations: involved in and around the market for CCICs, alongside their wider value chain
• civil society, experts, and threats researchers : with relevant expertise on the threat presented by the market for CCICs, and responses to it

The consultation will close on 11 October 2024.

Note that:

• we may share your details with our partners in the French government, as the Pall Mall Process is a joint initiative
• responding to the consultation questionnaire does not represent a formal commitment to the Pall Mall Process, nor membership of the initiative

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 August 2024.

Statement by Jonathan Hollis, Acting Deputy Political Coordinator, at the UN Security Council Meeting on South Sudan.

President, as we have heard today the picture in South Sudan remains precarious.

Since its independence, the country has been plagued by appalling violence. Now is the moment for the South Sudanese authorities to demonstrate the political will to tackle the country’s most pressing challenges and realise a more stable future. I would like to focus my remarks today on three points.

First, the UK calls on the Government of South Sudan to take the necessary steps to deliver peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections. While we recognise some progress has been made with the partial funding of key institutions, we remain concerned that the preparations for elections on 22 December remain behind schedule.

We urge the Government to fully disperse the resources needed to enable crucial preparatory work to get underway. We also call upon the parties to the Revitalized Agreement to engage in political dialogue to reach a consensus to deliver elections. This includes making decisions on voter registration, the type of elections that are to be called, and progress on the deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces.

Second, civic and political space are cornerstones of any functioning democracy and must be respected. The UK remains concerned at reports of threats and intimidation of political activists, journalists, and human rights defenders.

We are particularly troubled by the passing into law of the new National Security Service Bill, which allows the security services to arrest individuals without a warrant. We call on the Government of South Sudan to act in accordance with its constitutional commitment to respect human rights.

Third, we recognise that three quarters of the population in South Sudan is suffering from a protracted humanitarian crisis, deepened by conflict, climate and economic shocks.

We urge partners to work together to support the most vulnerable and for the Government of South Sudan to ensure a conducive environment, which enables the delivery of humanitarian assistance and prevents attacks on aid workers.

In closing, while the challenges ahead are significant, they are not insurmountable. With the right political will and courage, South Sudan can take an important step towards a more peaceful, democratic and prosperous future.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 August 2024.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) will join the Indian Air Force (IAF) and counterparts from Germany, Spain, and France in the first phase of the IAF’s maiden multilateral exercise Tarang Shakti today (6 August).

The RAF contingent comprising 130 personnel, six Eurofighter Typhoons, two A330 Voyager air to air refuellers and an A-400M military transport aircraft arrived at Sulur Air Force Station in Tamil Nadu.

The exercise provides an excellent opportunity for the RAF to work closely with the IAF alongside other nations in a more challenging multilateral environment, significantly enhancing interoperability and sharing best practice.

Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India, said:

I congratulate the Indian Air Force on organising its first multilateral air exercise, Tarang Shakti, and am delighted that the Royal Air Force is one of the key participants.

Our cooperation in security and defence extends across the seas, land, and air. It is crucial that our armed forces work together to preserve stability and enhance prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

Group Captain Neil Jones, Air Adviser, British High Commission, said:

Exercise Tarang Shakti adds to a significant milestone in the ongoing relationship between the air forces of our two countries. Training in a multilateral environment provides a unique exposure to new challenges as well as integration of our tactics and skills across all specialisations.

For the Royal Air Force, it also demonstrates our ability to deploy and sustain air operations over great distances and maintain an effective presence in the Indo-Pacific, whilst working with partner nations; it is a pleasure for us to be here.

Further information

• the six Typhoons from XI (Fighter) Squadron, from RAF Coningsby arrived in India after participating in Exercise Pitch Black in Australia, where they operated alongside the IAF
• the RAF and Indian Navy’s P8I aircraft flew together for the first-time during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) in July 2024. Both nations deployed the P8I maritime patrol aircraft to Hawaii for the largest maritime training exercise in the region
• in March 2023, the IAF debuted at RAF’s multilateral Exercise Cobra Warrior, organised at Waddington Air Base in the UK

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 August 2024.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke met with Honourable Adviser for Foreign Affairs of the interim government of Bangladesh Mr Md Touhid Hossain today in Dhaka.

The UK welcomes the appointment of the interim government in Bangladesh, led by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. The interim government has the UK’s support as it works to restore peace and order, ensure accountability and create a peaceful pathway to an inclusive and democratic future.

In the meeting, the High Commissioner and Adviser for Foreign Affairs discussed the strong and enduring relationship between Bangladesh and the UK, cemented by their deep people-to-people ties and shared Commonwealth values. They also discussed how the UK can support the interim government’s work towards a democratic and prosperous future and other issues of mutual interest including Rohingya.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke said

“As a longstanding partner and friend of Bangladesh, the UK welcomes the appointment of the interim government, led by Chief Adviser H.E. Professor Muhammad Yunus.

“We have been deeply saddened by the violence and all loss of life in recent weeks. We recognise the bravery of the students and many others who through peaceful protest called for a different future for Bangladesh.

“The interim government has the UK’s support as it works to restore peace and order, ensure accountability and chart a peaceful pathway to an inclusive, prosperous and democratic future for the people of Bangladesh.”