Tag: Foreign Office

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

Joint Statement from the Leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom on the Middle East.

We, the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, welcome the tireless work of our partners in Qatar, Egypt and the United States towards an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages. We endorse the joint statement of HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, President Sisi and President Biden calling for the immediate resumption of negotiations. We agree that there can be no further delay. We have been working with all parties to prevent escalation and will spare no effort to reduce tensions and find a path to stability. The fighting must end now, and all hostages still detained by Hamas must be released. The people of Gaza need urgent and unfettered delivery and distribution of aid.

We are deeply concerned by the heightened tensions in the region, and united in our commitment to de-escalation and regional stability. In this context, and in particular, we call on Iran and its allies to refrain from attacks that would further escalate regional tensions and jeopardise the opportunity to agree a ceasefire and the release of hostages. They will bear responsibility for actions that jeopardise this opportunity for peace and stability. No country or nation stands to gain from a further escalation in the Middle East.

President Emmanuel Macron of France

Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany

Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom

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

Statement by Lord Collins of Highbury, Minister for Africa and the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on enhancing Africa’s effective representation in the UN Security Council.

It is a privilege to join you today as the United Kingdom’s new Minister for Africa and the United Nations.

I am grateful to President Bio for putting this vital issue on the agenda. It is important that we have this discussion today – we are running out of time.

The challenges we face today do not respect borders and they are sorely testing the international order the United Nations has championed.

The highest number of conflicts since the Second World War, a worsening climate crisis, widespread economic hardship and desperate humanitarian need. This is all fuelling a pervasive sense of insecurity and we must find truly global solutions to these problems.

Let me take this opportunity to underscore the United Kingdom’s belief that multilateral institutions remain indispensable here. But they are struggling under the strain of new global challenges.

For these institutions to represent the world of today, they must be as effective as they can be. So, we will work tirelessly with our allies and partners to strengthen them.
For this Council, that means expanding our membership in both categories, to include permanent African representation as a matter of urgency.

We have seen how much African members bring to this chamber through their experience and expertise, particularly as we’ve heard, in terms of responding to conflicts and promoting peace and security. As Ms Mbete said, they are vital agents for change and progress and they must be heard. The UK is proud to be working alongside our African partners on issues that are at the forefront of the Council’s agenda.

This includes on Sudan, where we seek a political solution to end the devastating manmade crisis which has now resulted in famine in the country. Or Somalia, where the Council is working closely with the African Union and Somali authorities to support security transition and counter Al Shabaab.

President, Your Excellency, your own country’s experience of transitioning from war to peace, in partnership with the UN, provides us with valuable lessons.
Of course, I recognise that the obstacles to reform are significant, but the United Kingdom is determined, absolutely determined, to overcome them.

Thank you, Mr President.

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

The Prime Minister spoke to the President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian this evening.

The Prime Minister said that he was deeply concerned by the situation in the region and called on all parties to de-escalate and avoid further regional confrontation.

There was a serious risk of miscalculation and now was the time for calm and careful consideration, the Prime Minister said.

He called on Iran to refrain from attacking Israel, adding that war was not in anyone’s interests.

The Prime Minister underlined his commitment to an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza. He added the focus should be on diplomatic negotiations, to achieve those outcomes.

The Prime Minister also raised the cases of foreign detainees in Iran, adding that it was vital that they received the necessary medical care.

The leaders agreed that a constructive dialogue between the UK and Iran was in both countries’ interests. The Prime Minister added that could only be furthered if Iran ceased its destabilising actions including threats against individuals in the UK and did not further aid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 August 2024.

UK statement following Israel’s decision to revoke the diplomatic status of 8 Norwegian diplomats.

An FCDO spokesperson said:

We are deeply concerned by Israel’s decision to revoke the diplomatic status of 8 Norwegian diplomats dealing with the Palestinian Authority. Norway has long played a unique and valued role in supporting peace for Israelis and Palestinians. We urge Israel to reconsider.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 August 2024.

The United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union have released a joint statement on the 4th anniversary of the fraudulent presidential election in Belarus.

Joint statement from the Governments of the United States of America, Canada and the United Kingdom, and the European Union:

Four years on from the fraudulent 2020 presidential election and the appalling human rights crackdown in Belarus, the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union stand in solidarity with the people of Belarus who, in spite of continued repression by the Lukashenko regime, have peacefully and courageously pressed for democratic change, respect for human rights, and the release of all political prisoners. We affirm that the sanctions we have recently announced represent a coordinated, multilateral effort to advance accountability for the Lukashenko regime.

We call on Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the almost 1,400 political prisoners being held in Belarusian prisons. We will continue to consider our options, including additional sanctions, to hold accountable those who enable the Lukashenko regime’s suppression of democracy in Belarus. We will also continue to take meaningful steps to expose and cut off the flow of crucial support and components through Belarus that fuel Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine, while maintaining our support for the Belarusian people.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 August 2024.

• UK sanctions 4 individuals and 3 entities from Belarus in coordinated action with international partners, in response to human rights violations and ongoing facilitation of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine
• today marks 4 years since the deeply flawed presidential election and start of the crackdown on civil society
• UK announces £2.5 million of planned funding to support the survival of Belarusian human rights and civil society causes in the face of continued political pressure

The UK has today (9 August) sanctioned a further 7 individuals and entities on the fourth anniversary of the deeply flawed 2020 presidential elections in Belarus in coordinated action with international partners, taking the total number of sanctions against Belarus to over 200.

The conduct of the election, which was widely condemned by the international community, sparked widespread peaceful protests across the country. These were met by a brutal campaign of repression and a purging of civil society, independent media and the democratic opposition at the hands of the Lukashenko regime, with political prisoners detained in penal colonies. Commanding officers of 4 of these penal colonies, who have contributed to human rights violations and the repression of civil society, have been hit with UK sanctions today.

Belarus has also provided instrumental support for Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine since it began in 2022. It has allowed the use of its territory and airspace to launch attacks and provided kit and logistical support, with three Belarusian entities in the defence and military industrial sector being added to the UK’s sanction list, preventing them from doing business with UK companies.

Following the designations, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

Four years on from the brutal scenes we witnessed in Belarus, Lukashenko’s relentless crackdown on civil society has shown no signs of abating: over 40,000 citizens arrested on trumped up political charges, civil society and independent media trampled and a regime with no regard for democracy or human rights.

We stand with the people of Belarus and their pursuit of freedom and democracy and call on the regime to release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally.

The individuals and entities sanctioned today are:

All 4 individuals are, or have been, responsible for, engaging in, providing support for and promoting the commission of a serious human rights violation, repression of civil society and democratic opposition and actions and activities that undermine democracy and rule of law in Belarus.

Alongside sanctions, the UK is announcing planned funding of £2.5 million this financial year to supporting Belarusian human rights and civil society causes, including further funding to the International Accountability Platform Belarus – a coalition that collect, verify, and preserve evidence of gross human rights violations constituting crimes under international law allegedly committed by Belarusian authorities.

Since August 2020, the Belarusian authorities have made over 40,000 politically motivated arrests and pursued at least 12,000 politically motivated criminal cases. According to the Viasna Human Rights Centre, a Belarusian non-governmental organisation, 1389 political prisoners remain incarcerated in Belarus, including human rights defenders, journalists, members of the democratic opposition and trade unionists.

At least 6 political prisoners have died in detention since 2021, while many others remain held in appalling conditions, subject to violence, deprived of medical attention and starved of contact with the outside world.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 August 2024.

British High Commissioner to Malaysia Ailsa Terry CMG has been appointed the UK Prime Minister’s Private Secretary for Foreign Affairs – advising Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on foreign policy issues, and working closely with the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office in London.

This is the first time that a British High Commissioner to Malaysia has been nominated as the Private Secretary to the Prime Minister. Terry will officially take on her new role in No. 10 Downing Street early next month.

On her move, Terry says:

This is a huge privilege. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has set out ambitious plans for the country. I am honoured to be given this opportunity to serve in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Since I started as the British High Commissioner to Malaysia in August 2023, my team here and I have accomplished so much in strengthening the UK-Malaysia’s partnership in the areas of trade, technology, education, climate, defence and security. I have visited many states and my family and I have also made so many friends around Malaysia. We will miss the people, sights and sound, smell and flavours of Malaysia.

With effect from 29 August 2024, David Wallace will take over as Chargé d’Affaires. Wallace, who has been the Deputy High Commissioner since 2022, will ensure that the work of the High Commission continues as usual during this transition.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 August 2024.

Security Council Statement by Jess Jambert-Gray, Deputy Political Coordinator, at the UN Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

The UK remains deeply concerned about the rising threat from Daesh and its affiliates. Whilst Daesh has been unable to resurge territorially it continues to propagate its poisonous ideology globally. Its branches present an acute threat to at-risk communities, whilst its propaganda seeks to exploit global events to inspire terrorist violence across the world.

The increasing threat from Daesh’s continued focus on Africa, including attacks from Daesh affiliates ISWAP and ISSP in West Africa and the Sahel threatens regional stability. As the Secretary General’s report notes, their activities in the region afflict grave violations on children, and in particular girls. This Council’s recent decision to include sexual and gender-based violence as a criterion for listing under the 1267 regime sends a strong message that these crimes should not go unpunished.

The development of African-led initiatives like the Abuja Process are a crucial response. Working closely with Regional Economic Communities and with the support of UN entities, the African Union plays a central role in these efforts. The Malabo declaration for a whole-of-government and a whole-of-society approach to tackling terrorism was a positive step forward and we stand ready to support the development of national action plans. It is vital these collective approaches work to address the underlying drivers of terrorism including reducing corruption, improving governance, and ensuring respect for the rule of law.

The threat from ISKP is increasing, and in recent months we have seen abhorrent attacks by the group on civilians in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Russia and Turkey. This emphasises our need to tackle ISKP at a strategic level. The international community must take a collective and creative approach to understand how they operate, starve their resources, and tackle their propaganda.

As part of this effort, the UK launched the ISKP Diplomatic Grouping in May 2023 to focus on increasing threats with regional partners. The Grouping most recently convened in Doha last month to share expertise and drive action on countering ISKP finance, travel, and propaganda.

Attacks on military bases in Iraq are increasing tensions across the Middle East, causing instability and threatening Iraq’s and the coalition’s collective ability to counter Daesh. De-escalation should be a collective priority, and we call for continued work with partners to suppress the threat.

As we mark ten years since Daesh perpetrated genocide against the Yazidi people, we cannot lose focus in the fight against Daesh as it spreads to new theatres.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 August 2024.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has responded to the dissolution of the main opposition party in Thailand.

In response to the Thai Constitutional Court’s decision to dissolve the Move Forward Party, an FCDO spokesperson said:

Pluralism and freedom of speech are central principles of democracy. The dissolution of another major political party in Thailand is therefore a setback for these principles. We encourage all parties to uphold democratic rights and representation.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 August 2024.

• ministers call for British nationals in Lebanon to leave now “as situation could deteriorate rapidly”
• government strengthens its support for British nationals as regional tensions in the Middle East increase
• Border Force, consular officials and military personnel deployed to the region to support embassy staff following Ministers visiting the Middle East this week

The government has called for British nationals in Lebanon to leave now as it bolsters its support for British nationals still in the Middle East.

The UK continues to advise against all travel to Lebanon and advises British nationals still in the country to leave now while commercial options remain available. British nationals in Lebanon are also advised to sign up to Register your presence to receive the latest information and important updates directly from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Officials have been sent to the region – including Lebanon – to provide additional support to embassy staff as part of government’s preparatory planning for a range of possible conflict scenarios, and with regional tensions rising.

Consular experts will assist with strategic planning and responding to enquiries from British nationals to make sure they get the help and advice they need, and Border Force has deployed officers who stand ready to aid consular operations.

With the potential for exit routes out of Lebanon – including roads – being affected, limited, or closed, due to events escalating with little warning, teams will continue to urge British nationals to leave while commercial options remain available.

Military personnel are also in the process of deploying to the region to provide Embassies with operational support to help British nationals. This is alongside Landing ship RFA Cardigan Bay and HMS Duncan already being in the eastern Mediterranean to support allies with humanitarian requirements, with the Royal Air Force also putting transport helicopters on standby.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

Tensions are high, and the situation could deteriorate rapidly. While we are working round the clock to strengthen our consular presence in Lebanon, my message to British nationals there is clear – leave now.

A widening of this conflict is in nobody’s interest – the consequences could be catastrophic. That’s why we continue to call for de-escalation and a diplomatic solution.

The deployment of additional staff to the region follows the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary visiting the Middle East, including Lebanon this week, where the pair stressed the need to de-escalate tensions and pushed calls for peace and stability.

Defence Secretary John Healey said:

Our Armed Forces will always step up to support British citizens around the world and reinforce regional stability with their professionalism and bravery.

As I told leaders in the Middle East this week, de-escalation must be the primary focus in the region, and we are urging all to dial down tensions. There must be an end to the fighting, an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and a diplomatic path to peace and security.