Tag: Foreign Office

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

The UK IHRA presidency commemorated Roma Genocide Remembrance Day on 2 August, at an event in Newcastle alongside representatives of the Roma community.

On 2 August 2024, the UK Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) partnered with the Roma community in Newcastle, to participate in an event to mark the 80th anniversary of the ‘genocide of the Roma’. Associate Professor and Programme Director at University College London’s Centre for Holocaust Education, Ruth-Anne Lenga, attended in her capacity as Deputy Head of the UK Delegation to the IHRA, on behalf of the UK Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues Lord Pickles.

The event took place in Newcastle Civic Centre Memorial Garden and was hosted by former Newcastle Councillor, Mr Nicu Ion. Mr Ion invited attendees to lay wreaths and flowers at the exact site where a permanent memorial to the victims of the genocide of the Roma, is due to be built next year.

Once built, this memorial will be the first and only permanent memorial in the UK, dedicated to remembering the suffering and murder of the Roma during the Nazi era.

The event was attended by representatives from Roma civic society, local councillors, the Sheriff and Deputy Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Councillor Henry Gallagher, Roma community leaders, poets, singers and activists from Newcastle and further afield.

Nicu Ion, who was the first elected Roma councillor in Newcastle, and a former teacher said:

“Today we stand at the spot of what is to be the first memorial to be built in the UK. There are very few in Europe. This will be a place to recollect, to share the story of suffering of our tragic history – which will hopefully be unveiled in January 2025.”

Associate Professor Ruth-Anne Lenga said:

“Today marks a triumph following years of struggle for recognition of this history. We are witnessing a watershed moment as we unveil the site on the landscape of this country where the first permanent memorial to the victims of the genocide of the Roma will lie. The UK Presidency of IHRA, join the community in mourning the souls of those that were murdered in the genocide and stand with you, side by side in friendship and solidarity.”

The IHRA has long advocated for the inclusion of the history of ‘the genocide of the Roma’ into learning programmes in schools and other educational settings. Later this year, the IHRA will launch a new publication: ‘Recommendations for teaching and learning about the persecution and genocide of Roma during the Nazi Era’.

These recommendations will offer advice to policy makers and teachers about what to teach, how to teach it, and why it is so important to teach about ‘the genocide of Roma’.

Miško Stanišić, Director of Terraforming, a Serbian organisation which develops educational methodologies and teaching materials about the Holocaust, and who has led the development of these recommendations within the IHRA, spoke of how he could sense the pride of Newcastle for being one of the only cities in Europe to have established a permanent site for a memorial to this catastrophic event, and how remembrance and education go hand in hand.

Following the Roma anthem and the raising of the Roma flag, second and third generation survivors also spoke, alongside other leading figures from within the Roma community.

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

On 25 and 26 July, 35 Stolpersteine were laid in the Channel Islands: 20 in Jersey and 15 in Guernsey. These follow the first and only UK Stolperstein, laid in May 2022 in Golden Square, London, for Jewish Dutch woman Ada Van Dantzig.

Stolpersteine were created by the studio of German artist Gunter Demnig, and are 10cm by 10cm concrete cubes topped by brass caps, stating the name and life dates of victims and survivors of Nazism. They are laid into pavements outside the last freely-chosen address of those they commemorate before their arrest or deportation. Over 106,000 have been laid across mainland Europe. ‘Stolpersteine’ translates as ‘stumbling stone’, but these stones are laid flush with the surface of pavements. You ‘stumble’ across them, as Demnig puts it, ‘with your heart and head.’

Dr Gilly Carr of the University of Cambridge, and a member of the UK’s delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, introduced the Stolpersteine project to the Channel Islands.

The Stolpersteine in Jersey were laid, in all but two instances, for survivors to ensure no crossover with the purpose of other memorials in the island which commemorate the 21 women and men who died in Nazi prisons, forced labour camps and concentration camps. Chris Addy of Jersey Heritage, who oversaw the stone laying in the larger island, said:

“The Jersey stones will raise awareness of Islanders who were persecuted for their Jewish heritage or went into hiding for that reason; those convicted of acts of resistance and defiance, including those caught while attempting to escape from the island; individuals sent to Alderney as forced labourers; or interned in Germany for being English born.”

In Guernsey, the Stolpersteine were laid to eight Islanders who died in Nazi prisons and camps for acts of resistance and defiance; three Jewish women without protective British citizenship, deported to France in 1942 and later murdered in Auschwitz; and a Viennese-born Jewish islander with British citizenship who was deported to civilian internment camps and survived. Another stone was laid in memory of Frank Falla, who survived Nazi prisons and later campaigned for compensation for all Channel Islanders who were victims of Nazism. The final two stones were laid for Frank Tuck and Kingston Bailey, two of 16 policemen who were deported to Nazi camps in 1942 for stealing food from German stores and distributing it to starving Islanders. None of the 16 men have had their sentences overturned or received an official apology from the States of Guernsey.

Helen Glencross, Head of Heritage Services in Guernsey, who organised the installations in Guernsey, said:

“Guernsey Museums is honoured to be part of the Stolpersteine project. Logistically it has been challenging and I am very grateful to all those who have assisted. I hope that the Stolpersteine will raise awareness with islands and visitors about those who were victims and survivors of Nazism during the Second World War.”

On bringing the project to the Channel Islands, Dr Gilly Carr said:

“Each stone is so eloquent; they are quietly defiant. They say ‘you deported me but I’m back home and here to stay. I belong here.’ They also speak of pride and of acknowledgement that those deported did no wrong. I am proud to have been involved in this project and I hope it won’t be too long till we can bring more Stolpersteine to the Channel Islands.”

 

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.”

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

Mr Nick Low has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Maldives in succession to Ms Caron Röhsler. Mr Low will take up his appointment during January 2025.

Curriculum Vitae

Full name: Nicholas David Low

Year	Role
2023 to present	FCDO, Counsellor, India & Indian Ocean Directorate
2020 to present	Visiting Fellow at China & Emerging Economies Centre, University of Northampton
2019 to 2023	Kolkata, Deputy High Commissioner
2015 to 2019	Beijing, Head of China Regional Network & Sustainable Urbanisation
2014 to 2015	FCO, Acting Head of Crisis Management Department
2010 to 2014	Dhaka, Deputy High Commissioner
2007 to 2010	FCO, Head of Nuclear Issues, Counter Proliferation Department
2004 to 2006	Algiers, Deputy Head of Mission
2004	French language training
1999 to 2003	Brasilia, Head of Trade, Investment, Trade Policy & Economics
1999	Portuguese language training
1995 to 1999	Santiago, Second Secretary (Politics & Development)
1994 to 1995	Spanish language training
1994	Rabat, Secondment to Court of HRH Crown Prince Sidi Mohammed
1993 to 1994	FCO, Security Policy Department
1993	Joined FCO
1982 to 1993	Metropolitan Police Service, serving in London Boroughs of Greenwich, Camden, Brent and Tower Hamlets (Uniform and CID)
1980 to 1981	National Health Service, Guy’s Hospital London

The article written by David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, for Asharq Al-Awsat and issued as a press release on 14 August 2024.

For months, the Middle East has been teetering on the brink of full-scale conflict. None of us can know precisely how close we are to falling into the abyss of all-out war. But everyone recognises that this is a critical moment for the stability of the entire region. And that the risk of things spiralling out of control has been growing sharply.

The new British Government is doing all it can to push for de-escalation. At the end of my first full week in office, I travelled to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Ramallah, meeting Israeli and Palestinian leaders and communities. British Defence Secretary, John Healey, and I made a joint visit to Qatar and Lebanon.

Our message to counterparts in the region and beyond has been simple. A widening of the conflict is in nobody’s interest – least of all civilians on all sides. Britain is committed to getting behind a diplomatic solution so that together, we can ease the current tensions.

This week, there has been a renewed push for precisely such a diplomatic solution, starting with a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza. Such a deal is absolutely critical. Britain and our European partners welcome the efforts by Qatar, Egypt and the United States: there is no more time to lose. The fighting must stop – now. All the hostages still cruelly detained by Hamas must be released – now. Urgent delivery of unfettered aid into Gaza needs to start – now.

All sides must seize this opportunity to open a pathway towards a lasting solution. That requires restraint. Iran and Iranian-aligned groups must refrain from attacks that would jeopardize this. We cannot risk further delay.

Of course, a ceasefire is just a first step on the path to long-term peace. The UK will play a full diplomatic role in seizing the opportunity for momentum towards a two-state solution, creating safety, security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

At the same time, we must support a sovereign Lebanon with strong state institutions. The Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces have a critical role to play in Lebanon’s future, and we continue to back them with training and equipment. Investing in Lebanese institutions like these will maintain the country’s stability and reduce the threat of terrorism in Lebanon and the wider region.

And we urge Israel and Lebanon to engage with the US-led discussions to reach a political settlement and resolve their disagreements diplomatically. UN Security Council Resolution 1701 remains the basis for a long-term solution. It calls for the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon. For no foreign forces in Lebanon without its government’s consent. And for no armed forces other than UN and Lebanese government troops south of the Litani river near the border with Israel.

While diplomatic efforts intensify, the UK continues to offer extensive humanitarian support. Our new government has restarted funding for UNRWA, the UN agency whose life-saving aid is most critical for Palestinians in Gaza and the wider region. We have announced new funding for UK-Med field hospitals in Gaza and UNICEF’s efforts to give food, water and essential services to vulnerable Palestinian families.

And I will continue to speak out over actions which make a diplomatic solution more difficult. The deaths of civilians at Madjal Shams were appalling – Hizballah and Hamas must both cease their rocket strikes, which only make a ceasefire less likely. And Israel must comply with international humanitarian law – the loss of life at the al-Tabeen school was also a tragedy.

The Israeli government should retract and condemn Minister Smotrich’s recent remarks – international law is clear that the deliberate starvation of civilians is a war crime. An Israeli government minister praying at the holy sites at Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound was also inflammatory – we oppose unilateral action in Jerusalem absent a final status settlement.

At a time of such serious tension, our guiding star is diplomacy. Only with diplomacy can we end the current destructive cycle of retaliatory violence. Only with diplomacy can we deliver long-term peace and security for all.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 August 2024.

Joint Statement from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy on the Middle East.

We, the leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy discussed the situation in the Middle East. We expressed our full support for ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions and reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza. We endorsed the joint call from President Biden, President Sisi of Egypt, and Amir Tamim of Qatar to renew talks later this week with an aim to concluding the deal as soon as possible, and stressed there is no further time to lose. All parties must live up to their responsibilities.

In addition, unfettered delivery and distribution of aid is needed. We expressed our support for the defense of Israel against Iranian aggression and against attacks by Iran-backed terrorist groups. We called on Iran to stand down its ongoing threats of a military attack against Israel and discussed the serious consequences for regional security should such an attack take place.