Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 September 2024.

UK government announcement of significant measures against Iran and Russia, following the Iranian regime’s transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia.

• UK and E3 partners cancel bilateral arrangements with Iran, which will restrict Iran Air services into the UK and Europe
• UK and US announce co-ordinated sanctions against Iranian and Russian individuals and organisations
• Russian cargo ships sanctioned for their role in transporting military supplies from Iran to Russia
• response taken in co-ordination with international partners to expose Iran and Russia’s attempts to undermine global security

The UK government is today announcing new and significant measures against Iran and Russia, following the Iranian regime’s transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia for use on the battlefield in Ukraine.

In coordination with our international partners, the UK will cancel its bilateral air services arrangements with Iran, which will restrict Iran Air’s ability to fly in to the UK.

This follows repeated warnings from the UK and international partners calling on Iran to cease its planned transfer of the deadly weapons to Russia, whose intent is to cause further humanitarian devastation and loss of life in Ukraine.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

Iran supplying Russia with ballistic missiles to fuel its illegal invasion of Ukraine is a significant and dangerous escalation.

We have been clear in that any transfer of ballistic missiles by Iran would face a significant response. Today, alongside our international partners, we are calling out this behaviour and its attempts to undermine global security.

Iran must stop supporting Putin’s unprovoked, premeditated and barbaric attack against a sovereign democratic state. The UK will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Together with France and Germany, the UK has today also issued a joint statement condemning the transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia and outlined the necessary steps being taken in response.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said:

This government stands firmly with the people of Ukraine.

We will continue to use every lever at our disposal to put pressure on Iran to end its support for Putin’s illegal invasion, which is why we have begun the termination of all direct air services between the UK and Iran.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

By transferring ballistic missiles to Russia, Iran is actively supporting Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine.

Iran has already supplied Russia with hundreds of one-way attack drones. Ballistic missiles are highly dangerous weapons, likely to threaten innocent lives.

Resorting to collaboration with countries such as North Korea & Iran shows the desperate situation Russia is in. We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Alongside the US, the UK is sanctioning a number of key individuals and organisations for their role in facilitating Iran’s military support to Russia, including those involved in ballistic missile and drone supply chains. Those subject to an asset freeze and travel ban include:

• Brigadier General Seyed Hamzeh Ghalandari, Director General for International Relations of the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL): linked to Iran’s exports of defence products to its partners
• Second Brigadier General Ali Jafarabadi, head of the Space Command of the IRGC Aerospace Force (IRGC-ASF): oversees Iran’s testing of space launch vehicles which has supported the development of Iran’s long-range ballistic missile arsenal
• Majid Mousavi, Deputy Commander of the IRGC-ASF and Deputy to the IRGC-ASF Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh: oversees the development and operation of Iran’s inventory of ballistic missiles

Those subject to an asset freeze include:

• The Anzali Free Trade Industrial Zone Organisation (Anzali FTZ)
• Baharestan Kish Company
• Saad Sazeh Faraz Sharif (SSFS)
• Chekad Sanat Faraz Asia (CSFA)

Several Russian organisations are also sanctioned today for their intent to use the weapons systems to bring destruction to Ukraine. These include:

• The 924th State Centre for Unmanned Aviation
• The Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS)
• Command of the Military Transport Aviation (VTA)

Five Russian cargo ships are also sanctioned today for their role in transporting military supplies from Iran to Russia. These include:

• SKIF-V (IMO 8858087)
• OMSKIY (IMO 8889385)
• MUSA JALIL (IMO 8846814)
• BEGEY (IMO 8943210)
• BALTIYSKIY (IMO 7612448)

To date, the UK has more than 400 sanctions designations in place on Iranian individuals and entities, including those that seek to use malign influence regionally and internationally. The UK has also sanctioned 2,000 individuals and entities under the Russia sanctions regime, with over 1,700 of which sanctioned since Putin’s full-scale invasion.

Iran is one of Russia’s key military backers and has transferred hundreds of drones to Russia for use in its war of aggression in Ukraine since August 2022.

New legislation is also being laid in Parliament later this week to strengthen trade sanctions on Iran, targeting items that are used in the production of ballistic missiles, UAVs and other weaponry.

The UK will continue to work with international partners to hold Iran to account for its malign behaviour, including for its military support to Russia, and to hold Russia to account for its illegal invasion of Ukraine.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 September 2024.

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

Colleagues, over two and half years since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine it is the Ukrainian people who continue to bear the terrible consequences of Russia’s aggression.

14 million Ukrainians are already in need of humanitarian assistance.

Rather than end this suffering, Russia has chosen to sharply increase its attacks on schools and hospitals in recent months.

This Council met in July to discuss the particularly shocking damage caused by a Russian missile strike on the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital. Since then, the situation has only got worse. The UN reports that Russian attacks have led to 184 civilian casualties in the last month, in cities and towns across the country.

And Russia continues to target key energy facilities across the country. Over 100 attacks since March, have caused extended power cuts affecting millions of people. To be clear, direct attacks on civilian infrastructure constitute a war crime.

This must end.

This constant bombardment, and Russia’s aggression along the frontline and in Ukrainian territory, is also complicating the humanitarian response.

As reported by OCHA on World Humanitarian Day, Ukraine is now one of the most dangerous contexts in the world for aid workers. There were over 225 incidents that directly impacted humanitarian operations last year, averaging four a week.

The systemic denial of humanitarian access also means we cannot verify the full scale of violations and abuses being committed against Ukrainian civilians.

The UK calls on Russia to comply with all its obligations under International Humanitarian Law, to take all feasible precautions to protect civilians and to cease targeting infrastructure that provides the essential needs for Ukraine’s population.

Until Russia ends its aggression, Ukraine has the right to defend itself, under Article 51 of the UN Charter. And in defending itself, Ukraine is defending us all.

Ukrainians are risking their lives day in, day out to stand up for the values at the heart of this very institution – the UN – and the right of all our countries to sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Mr President, the UK remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine. We’ve committed £12.7bn of support so far, including vital lethal aid, crucial humanitarian assistance and funding for energy supplies. We will continue to support Ukraine in the face of this appalling aggression.

We reiterate once again our call for Russia to end this brutal war, to withdraw from Ukrainian territory, and to uphold its commitments under the UN Charter.

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

Core Group statement on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. Delivered by the UK at the 57th Human Rights Council.

Thank you Mr President,

This statement is on behalf of  Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

High Commissioner,

We welcome your report on Sri Lanka.

We share your concern about the impact on human rights and fundamental freedoms of several new or proposed laws. All legislation, including that relating to counter terrorism, online safety, and civil society must align with Sri Lanka’s human rights obligations.

Civil society, journalists and  impacted  communities face sustained surveillance and harassment. We also are concerned about reports of arbitrary arrests and torture. We reiterate the need to promote and protect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, including during memorialisation events.

While we welcome the return of some military-held land to civilian control, we stress the importance of addressing land disputes in the north and east, which exacerbate inter-communal tensions and impact the ability of communities to freely practice their faith.

As Sri Lanka approaches elections we urge the government to re-engage with the Human Rights Council process; to build a conducive environment for meaningful reconciliations and transitional justice; and to ensure mechanisms are independent, inclusive, transparent, and address the priorities of affected communities.

We remain ready to support Sri Lanka in addressing these concerns.

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

UK Statement for the Interactive dialogue on the report of OHCHR on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka.

Thank you, Mr President.

High Commissioner,

The United Kingdom welcomes your report and shares your concern at the human rights trends that it highlights.

Fifteen years since the end of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka, there has been little to no accountability for conflict-era violations and abuses. The whereabouts of thousands of people who have disappeared in Sri Lanka remain unknown, causing ongoing anguish for their families. A comprehensive transitional justice process that carries the support of affected communities is more pressing than ever.

We call for independent investigations into the violations highlighted in your report, including all reports of abductions, arbitrary detentions, torture, and enforced disappearances. The human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Sri Lankans must be respected.

We remain concerned by the harassment of civil society, victim communities, and journalists, which undermines their vital role in national reconciliation and building a peaceful society in the future.

We hope that following presidential and parliamentary elections, the government prioritises improving human rights including through building confidence and transitional justice processes. These should be impartial, independent, inclusive, transparent, and offer meaningful accountability.

The United Kingdom stands ready to support Sri Lanka in addressing these challenges.

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

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council open debate on strengthening UN Peacekeeping.

Thank you President. I thank our briefers, USG Lacroix, Dr Ero and Mr Al Hussein, for their insight and continued support to UN peacekeeping. Let me also thank the brave peacekeepers who put their lives at risk across the world every day, and pay tribute to those peacekeepers who lost their lives in the pursuit of peace this year.

President, UN peacekeeping is an indispensable element of the UN Security Council’s toolbox for global peace and security, and an important symbol of global cooperation. As peacekeeping faces new and systemic challenges, as we’ve heard, we must protect, and improve, this tool for the future. I would like to make three broad points this morning.

First, peacekeeping faces evolving challenges. These include the challenges of maintaining the relationship with host states and the importance of setting clear expectations on host state responsibilities.

This should reduce the risk of accelerated withdrawals of missions as we’ve seen recently. In addition, rising misinformation and disinformation against missions puts the safety and security of our peacekeepers at risk.

Peacekeeping needs stronger partnership and collaboration, as well as political support and consent, from host nations to ensure the effective delivery of mandates and well-planned transitions.

Second, we should continue to adapt our approach to meet unique needs of each context. Peacekeeping works best when there is a political process to support or a peace to keep. New missions should be better tailored, more nimble and flexible, with focused, realistic mandates.

We must continue to strengthen missions by boosting peacekeeping intelligence, situational awareness, embracing new technologies such as AI, and tackling sexual exploitation and abuse. We must all reaffirm our commitment to the Action for Peacekeeping Strategy and support its implementation.

Sustainable transitions, guided by best practice and lessons learned and which safeguard the protection of civilians, will also help ensure that the gains from missions are preserved.

Third, we should recognise the progress made on the Women, Peace and Security agenda and commit to all peace operations being fully representative and safe for women. Women’s contributions are integral in all stages of peacekeeping missions, including drawdowns, transitions and withdrawals.

The United Kingdom will continue to help create an enabling environment for women peacekeepers through our support to the Elsie Initiative Fund, the Senior Women Talent Pipeline, and through our bilateral training by the British Peace Support Team.

President, the UK remains a committed supporter of UN peacekeeping, including through deployment of peacekeepers and military advisers and of peacekeeping reform.

We look forward to more discussions, including at the Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference in Berlin and its Preparatory Conferences, on the ways we can help peacekeeping evolve to ensure it can effectively respond to the challenges of the future.

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

The Media Freedom Coalition gave a statement on media freedom in Hong Kong following the guilty verdict against two former editors of Stand News.

Following the guilty verdict against two former editors of Stand News on 29 August 2024, the members of the Media Freedom Coalition issued the following statement on media freedom in Hong Kong.

The undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition are gravely concerned about the guilty verdict against the former editors of Stand News and the wider suppression of media freedom in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Journalism is not a crime. Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam have been prosecuted for over two and a half years. Their guilty verdict falls against a wider backdrop of increased media self-censorship and the hostility by Hong Kong authorities against local and foreign journalists and their representative bodies, especially since the imposition of the National Security Law in June 2020. The introduction of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance in March 2024 is further hampering the free exchange of opinions and information which is vital to Hong Kongers, Hong Kong’s institutions, and its international reputation as an open place to do business.

Media freedom has been a central factor for Hong Kong’s success in the past and is an essential foundation of a free and inclusive society. To enable media workers to safely fulfil their legitimate role in scrutinising government policy and actions, journalism should not be prosecuted under the guise of national security.

We urge the Hong Kong and China authorities to abide by their international human rights commitments and legal obligations, and to respect freedom of the press and freedom of speech in Hong Kong, in line with the Basic Law and the recommendations of China’s 2024 Universal Periodic Review and Hong Kong’s 2022 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights review.

Signed by:

Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States.

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

The UK’s statement for the Interactive Dialogue on the Report of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar.

Thank you, Mr President.

The Mechanism’s latest report provides further shocking evidence of gross human rights violations perpetrated by the Myanmar military. Civilians are being subjected to brutal extrajudicial killings, arson attacks on their homes, gender-based and sexual violence, and sharp increases in forced recruitment, including of children.

We believe that the international community must act to break the cycle of impunity and demonstrate to the Myanmar military that they will be held accountable for violations of international law.

The IIMM’s meticulous evidence-gathering and recent reports on hate speech and sexual and gender-based crimes are crucial to that effort. The UK is proud to have provided £800,000 to support the Mechanism’s work.

We also welcome the ICJ’s consideration of The Gambia’s case against Myanmar, and have submitted a joint intervention in that case. We urge Myanmar to comply with the Court’s provisional measures.

While we promote accountability, we must also seek to de-escalate tensions and protect innocent lives. We call on all actors, especially the Myanmar military, to prioritise the protection of civilians.

Mr Koumjian, how can the international community do more to support the IIMM’s vital work?

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

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

Three new reviews launched to enhance the UK’s global impact, support growth and maximise the diplomatic and development expertise in international development.

The Foreign Secretary has today announced 3 strategic reviews to help reconnect Britain and deliver the UK government’s missions internationally.

Three appointed external experts will look at:

• the UK’s global impact
• how to maximise the benefits of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) joint integrated development diplomacy model in our development work
• our economic capability in diplomacy

The reviews will underpin a continued drive to bolster our reputation and relationships overseas and help to inform the department’s international approach in a changing world.

Professor Ngaire Woods, Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government and Professor of Global Economic Governance at the University of Oxford, will lead the review on the UK’s global impact – identifying ways to enhance relationships with both new and longstanding international partners in pursuit of shared objectives, and ensure we are well prepared to assess and act on geo-political opportunities and shifts.

Baroness Minouche Shafik, former Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Development and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, will consider how to maximise the UK’s combined diplomatic and development expertise in its international development work. The review will also look at how we modernise the UK’s development offer in a rapidly changing global context, and ensure the UK has the right capabilities to deliver for the future.

Sir Martin Donnelly, former Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Trade and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, will identify ways to ensure that UK jobs and growth are at the heart of our foreign policy including by assessing FCDO’s role in developing international economic partnerships, supporting trade and investment shaping international rules and recommending changes to FCDO’s economic diplomacy capability.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

From day one I have been clear that we will deliver a pragmatic approach to both diplomacy and development, restoring our reputation overseas and drawing on expertise to help us navigate the great threats and opportunities of today.

These reviews will help us shape our strategy to increase the UK’s global impact, build growth internationally and ensure development and diplomacy work hand in hand. I want to thank the external experts for their efforts as we work together to reconnect Britain for our security and growth at home.

Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds said:

A credible, clear and effective development policy is key to delivering this government’s mission to create a world free from poverty on a liveable planet.

The review we’re launching today will help in that mission, ensuring we bring together the best of UK skills and capability to deliver a modern approach to international development based on genuine respect and partnership.

The reviewers will be supported by government officials both within the FCDO and other government departments to ensure they are able to deliver an informed assessment, including working closely with the Department of Business and Trade to maximise the impact of our collective capability overseas.

The outcomes of these reviews are expected to be delivered by the end of the year, with further work on the development review continuing into early 2025. They will ensure that the FCDO remains at the cutting-edge of diplomacy and international development. We will communicate a summary of the review findings upon their conclusion.

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

Foreign Secretary David Lammy and UAE Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed have given a joint statement following a meeting in the UAE.

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, received the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon David Lammy MP, who conducted his first official visit to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday (5 September).

The Foreign Secretary and His Highness discussed the UK-UAE relationship, and how to build on deep historic ties to develop a forward-looking partnership, including strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties, cooperation on clean energy and artificial intelligence, and close coordination on regional security and humanitarian issues. The Ministers discussed the wider regional situation and agreed on the importance of de-escalation. His Highness Sheikh Abdullah and the Foreign Secretary looked forward to staying in close contact.