Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 June 2024.

Leaders of the United States, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement on Gaza.

As leaders of countries deeply concerned for the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, including many of our own citizens, we fully support the movement towards a ceasefire and hostage release deal now on the table and as outlined by President Biden on May 31, 2024. There is no time to lose. We call on Hamas to close this agreement, that Israel is ready to move forward with, and begin the process of releasing our citizens.

We note that this agreement would lead to an immediate ceasefire and rehabilitation of Gaza together with security assurances for Israelis, and Palestinians, and opportunities for a more enduring long-term peace and a two-state solution. At this decisive moment, we call on the leaders of Israel as well as Hamas to make whatever final compromises are necessary to close this deal and bring relief to the families of our hostages, as well as those on both sides of this terrible conflict, including the civilian populations. It is time for the war to end and this deal is the necessary starting point.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 June 2024.

France, Germany and the UK (the E3) welcome the adoption of an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors resolution on Iran.

We, the Governments of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, welcome the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors’ adoption of a resolution on Iran this afternoon. The resolution responds to Iran’s persistent refusal to cooperate in good faith with the IAEA to clarify outstanding issues relating to undeclared nuclear material detected at multiple locations in Iran. Iran is legally obligated under its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement to cooperate with the IAEA and account for all nuclear material and activities.

18 months ago, the IAEA Board stated that it was essential and urgent for Iran to act without delay to fulfil its NPT-required safeguards obligations to ensure the IAEA is able to verify that no nuclear material is diverted. Since then, Iran has consistently failed to meaningfully cooperate with the Agency, further restricted Agency access by de-designating experienced inspectors, and accumulated provocative statements on its technical capability to build nuclear weapons that are contrary to Iran’s NPT obligations. Despite the repeated efforts by the IAEA Director General to engage in a substantial dialogue with Iran, Iran has made no progress to resolve the issues.

With this new resolution, the IAEA Board sends a strong and renewed message of support for the IAEA and its Director-General’s relentless efforts to address the issue. The Board will not sit idly by when Iran challenges the foundations of the non-proliferation system and undermines the credibility of the international safeguards regime. Iran must cooperate with the Agency and provide technically credible explanations which satisfy the Agency’s questions. This resolution supports the Agency to pursue its dialogue with Iran to clarify all outstanding safeguards issues, while setting the stage for further steps to hold Iran to account if it fails to make concrete progress.

If Iran meaningfully cooperates with the Agency, and the Director General is able to report that the unresolved safeguards issues are no longer outstanding, the Board could then close its consideration of this matter.  We hope Iran takes this opportunity to resolve these outstanding matters so that no further Board action is necessary.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 June 2024.

On behalf of France, Germany, the UK, the UK Ambassador to the IAEA Corinne Kitsell introduced a resolution on Iran’s insufficient cooperation with the IAEA.

Thank you, Chair.

I have the honour to speak now on behalf of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. We would like to thank the Director General for his report on safeguards in Iran. We commend the Agency for its continued efforts to engage Iran to clarify and resolve the outstanding safeguards issues.

Chair,

It has been five years since the Agency first detected nuclear material at Turquzabad, and four years since nuclear material was detected at Varamin. In that time, the Board has, on numerous occasions, expressed its concern about these issues. We recall the last resolution adopted by this Board in November 2022, when the Board decided it was essential and urgent that Iran clarify all outstanding safeguards issues. One and a half years later, the Director General’s latest report shows that once again, Iran has made no progress to resolve these issues. Instead of implementing this resolution and resolving outstanding issues, Iran has taken further negative steps, including announcing the development of new facilities without providing design information to the Agency, in clear violation of its legal obligations under Modified Code 3.1.; and de-designating several experienced Agency inspectors essential to the Agency’s verification work. These actions show Iran’s flagrant disregard for its safeguards obligations and the work of the IAEA.

Chair,

Over a year has passed since Iran and the IAEA signed their Joint Statement in March 2023. Iran has not implemented the commitments it signed up to in this statement, despite ample time and space to do so. Nor has Iran implemented the agreements it made with the IAEA in March 2022, December 2021, September 2021, and August 2020. Indeed, Iran has made repeatedly clear that it does not feel bound to implement any voluntary commitments with the Agency that were agreed in good faith.

Chair,

Over five years, Iran has been given unprecedented opportunities to clarify and resolve the open safeguards questions – issues which call into question the credibility of Iran’s safeguards declarations and the possibility of undeclared nuclear material in Iran today. No other Member State has been afforded such time and patience by this Board to resolve issues critical to the correctness and completeness of its safeguards declarations. Whilst these issues remain unresolved, the Agency has made clear that it is unable to assure that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful. At a time when Iran’s nuclear programme has never been more advanced, this is of grave concern to us all. This is especially the case when Iran has made several public statements on its technical capability to build a nuclear weapon, and possible changes to its nuclear doctrine – in contradiction with Iran’s obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Chair, colleagues,

We believe it is now necessary that the Board take action to send a clear message to Iran that it cannot continue on its path, and that it must urgently co-operate with the Agency to resolve these issues, as it is legally obliged to do under its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement under the NPT. We therefore propose to the Board a resolution on this issue. We must demonstrate our resolve and our collective responsibility as Board members to renew our support to the DG and the Agency’s efforts to ensure that safeguards are implemented in a fair and objective manner.

For the sake of the integrity of the international non-proliferation architecture and ultimately, global security, we cannot allow Iran to evade its obligations any longer. Our utmost objective is to provide full support to the Agency and the Director-General and call upon Iran to provide the substantive cooperation required to clarify and resolve all outstanding safeguards issues.

Our draft resolution submitted for the Board’s consideration contains the following main points:

1. First, the Board would express continued, strong support for the Agency’s professional and impartial efforts in carrying out its mandate to verify the implementation of Iran’s safeguards obligations.
2. Second, the Board would reiterate its decision that it is essential and urgent, in accordance with Article 18 of Iran’s NPT Safeguards Agreement, that Iran fulfil its legal obligations and take the specific actions called for by the Director General without delay. The Board would also call on Iran to implement without delay the Joint Statement between the IAEA and Iran of 4 March 2023, reverse its withdrawal of the designations of several experienced Agency inspectors and implement Modified Code 3.1, the application of which Iran has no right to unilaterally suspend in the first place.
3. Third, following years of Iran’s failure to co-operate to resolve these issues, this resolution also recognises that continued failure by Iran to resolve these issues may necessitate the production, by the Director General, of a comprehensive and updated assessment on the presence or use of undeclared nuclear material in connection with past and present outstanding issues regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.

Chair,

We have been repeatedly clear that once Iran co-operates fully and the DG confirms that all questions have received technically credible answers, and that Iran fulfils its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement obligations, this Board will no longer need to consider this item. But this can only take place when Iran demonstrates full, unambiguous and sustained co-operation with the Agency. We believe the renewed call in this resolution is essential to support the Director General’s efforts. We sincerely hope that Iran recognises the seriousness of these issues and takes the opportunity to resolve them. As we have expressed before, reaching this outcome would be a significant success for Iran, for the IAEA, and for the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Chair,

We are fully aware of the current political context in Iran. However, it remains vital that Iran does not continue on the path of escalation while delaying urgently needed co-operation with the IAEA. This is why we see the need for the Board to act now – 18 months after the last resolution and 15 months after the last Joint Statement.

Chair,

Our delegations have engaged broadly with Board members to explain our thinking, to solicit their feedback, and to listen to their views on these matters. We thank the many states that contributed to this process for this resolution and request the resolution be derestricted and made public once it is adopted.

Thank you, Chair.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 June 2024.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on UNITAD.

President, as we approach the end of UNITAD’s mandate in September, it is important to reflect on what it has achieved over the past six years. This includes:

• The vast collection and digitisation of evidence of Daesh atrocities so that it can be meaningfully accessed and searched.
• Support for judicial proceedings in 20 jurisdictions, leading to 15 convictions.
• The excavation of mass graves, which has facilitated the return of remains to the families of victims.

This has been possible thanks to the close co-operation between the UNITAD team and the Iraqi authorities, as well as the brave and unwavering commitment of survivors to give their accounts and document the atrocities that occurred. It is the pursuit of justice for such heinous crimes which led the United Kingdom to support the establishment of UNITAD in 2017 with Iraq, and we believe there is more work to be done.

Looking ahead to the final few months of UNITAD’s mandate, we encourage the Special Adviser and the Government of Iraq to intensify co-operation to ensure the team’s closure is smooth and effective. We also encourage UNITAD to share evidence with Iraq wherever possible and to continue capacity building so that the Iraqi authorities are well-placed to continue accountability efforts after September.

It is also essential that UNITAD evidence retained by the United Nations remains fully accessible so that it can continue to contribute to prosecutions against members of Daesh for international crimes wherever they may be.

The United Kingdom does not see the closure of UNITAD as the end of the fight for accountability against Daesh. As we mark the tenth anniversary since acts of genocide were committed against the Yazidi people by Daesh, the United Kingdom remains committed to working closely with the Government of Iraq, the United Nations, and the Security Council to ensure justice for survivors both in Iraq and around the world.

I thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 June 2024.

UK military advisor, Nicholas Aucott, says Russia has chosen to construct a false narrative of victimhood as it attacks its smaller neighbour, stifling debate as the facts around its illegal invasion are unpalatable and laid bare for all to see.

Thank you, Mr Chair. Since we met in this forum last week Russia has continued to press across the front line. However, it does so reaping little strategic gain and at significant cost.

Where Russia has attempted to attack military targets, the results have been notably modest. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have repelled Russia’s attacks on the village of Starytsia, close to Vovchansk, inflicting significant losses on Russia’s forces. Only three weeks’ ago, I mentioned that Russia was on track to sustain half a million casualties by 2025. Throughout May, however, Russia’s casualties have averaged over 1,200 per day – the highest reported since the start of the war – and that figure of 500,000 has now already likely been reached.

However, Russia’s offensive in Kharkiv has also had a devastating impact on the local civilian population as they have resorted to pulverising residential areas and striking non-military targets. In the last two weeks, Russia has struck a Ukrainian home improvement store, hit a residential apartment block, and turned a Ukrainian printing house to rubble, instantly killing dozens of civilians in the process. These attacks show not only a wilful disregard for civilian lives but the real intention behind Russia’s war – to terrorise the innocent and attack Ukrainian culture and identity in all its forms.

Mr Chair, this senseless and illegal invasion could end tomorrow if Russia chose to withdraw its forces from Ukraine’s territory. Unfortunately, we have seen no will from Russia to do so. Rather, it is attempting to double down, regardless of the misery it inflicts on the Ukrainian population and its own people.

Russia has chosen to construct a false narrative of victimhood as it attacks its smaller neighbour. It has chosen to weaponise this Forum, to stifle discussion and debate because the facts around its illegal invasion are unpalatable and laid bare for all the delegates here to see.

The United Kingdom will maintain its support for Ukraine in the face of this aggression, along with all of those who believe in international law and the principles upon which this organisation was founded. Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 June 2024.

The leaders of G7 countries issued a joint statement on Gaza.

We, the Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), fully endorse and will stand behind the comprehensive deal outlined by President Biden that would lead to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, a significant and sustained increase in humanitarian assistance for distribution throughout Gaza, and an enduring end to the crisis, with Israel’s security interests and Gazan civilian safety assured. We reaffirm our support for a credible pathway towards peace leading to a two State solution.

We call on Hamas to accept this deal, that Israel is ready to move forward with, and we urge countries with influence over Hamas to help ensure that it does so.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 June 2024.

Mr Gareth Ward has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to Georgia in succession to Mr Mark Clayton.

Mr Gareth Ward has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to Georgia in succession to Mr Mark Clayton. Mr Ward will take up his appointment during August 2024.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Gareth Edward Ward

Date	Role
2022 to 2024	FCDO, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Department
2018 to 2022	Hanoi, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
2017	UK Defence Academy, Higher Command and Staff Course
2014 to 2017	FCO, Deputy Director and Head of China Department, Asia Pacific Directorate
2010 to 2013	St Petersburg, Her Majesty’s Consul General
2007 to 2010	Beijing, First Secretary (Foreign and Security Policy)
2002 to 2006	FCO, Head of Justice and Home Affairs, Europe Directorate
1998 to 2002	Moscow, Second Secretary (Political)

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 June 2024.

The UK is proud to support the work of authorities across the Pacific who are working to challenge the threat posed by corruption and money laundering.

A three-day conference has commenced in Fiji, with discussions focused on the role that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can play in the fight against corruption across the Pacific.

Bringing together senior officials from across the region’s anti-corruption sector, alongside regional and international experts in the field of digitalization, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji is leading the way on efforts to harness new approaches to combatting corruption.

With support from the Government of the United Kingdom, via the UNDP-implemented Pacific Anti-Corruption Project, UNDP Pacific is working across the region to improve public financial management and address corruption. This approach includes using technology to assist in budget preparation, promoting the right to information and accountability, and strengthening anti-corruption institutions and civil society engagement in social transparency.

The pace of technological advancement has been relentless in the 21st Century, transforming the way we live, work, and communicate. From the rapid proliferation of smartphones and the rise of social media to the more-recent emergence of the widespread use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), technology has become an integral part of our daily lives.

However, those yet to be connected remain cut off from the benefits of this new era, and remain further behind – in the Pacific alone, 40 percent of our region’s population remains ‘digitally excluded’. Connectivity, and the need to temper the view of digital as a one-size-fits-all fix will be an essential aspect of the three-day event.

His Excellency Dr. Brian Jones, British High Commissioner to Fiji, in his opening remarks said:

We see all over the world the horrible consequences of money laundering and corruption; it hits the poorest people hardest and compounds harm on the most vulnerable, including women and girls in our communities. Illicit funds are used to enable a whole range of threats, including funding serious organised crime – trafficking of narcotics and cyber attacks. In the Pacific we’re working to increase the flow of climate finance to help mitigate the worst impacts of climate change and the use of mobile money for payments and remittances grows, so too does the risk that these areas can be exploited by criminal actors.

Therefore, we must use this opportunity of our partnership, which the UK is proud to support, to share knowledge, foster new relationships, build integrity and bring together the Pacific family to share regional best practice and experience and build our defences to illicit Finance.

Munkhtuya Altangerel, Resident Representative, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, opened the conference and said:

While we must adapt and innovate to keep up with the relentless march of progress, we must also be cautious when it comes to digitalization and technology. The digital revolution offers powerful tools to combat corruption, but these tools alone won’t win the fight. We need strong institutions, empowered citizens, and a commitment from Pacific Island nations to work together, and this conference offers the opportunity to forge a path toward a more transparent and accountable future in the Pacific.

Tackling corruption in the Pacific: Can technology and artificial intelligence facilitate a breakthrough? is supported by the Government of the United Kingdom, as well as the European Union. The three-day conference will conclude on 31 May.

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

UK statement on adoption of International Health Regulations amendments. Delivered on 1 June 2024 at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva.

The UK would like to thank the Bureau and Working Group for all their work.

The International Health Regulations are an important technical framework that helps to prevent and protect against the spread of disease.

This set of proposed amendments updates the regulations to reflect lessons learned, including from COVID-19.

Every Member State, including the UK, now has the right under the Regulations to evaluate each and every amendment before making a sovereign choice of whether to accept or opt out of each of – or all of – the amendments.

In the UK, we have a general election on 4th July and we are therefore in a formal pre-election period. It will be for the elected government to make that choice.

The UK recognises the importance of ongoing cooperation including as we continue to discuss a new pandemic accord following the delay agreed this week.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 June 2024.

The Most Reverend Justin Welby Archbishop of Canterbury is in Guatemala at the beginning of a 12-day tour to Central America.

The Archbishop will meet Anglican churches, ecumenical communities and religious and political leaders. The British Ambassador, Nick Whittingham, joined him today at a meeting with the President of Guatemala, His Excellency Bernardo Arévalo.

His visit will take him to El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Panama as well. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury.

The full statement from the Church of England here.