Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 May 2024.

The British Ambassador to Guatemala Nick Whittingham visited Quetzaltenango on 23 May to strengthen ties with the new authorities and advance UK priorities.

Ambassador Whittingham engaged with government officials, civil society, and private sector.  He reinforced the UK commitment to addressing shared priorities on boosting economic development, promoting democratic values and accountability, and tackling climate change.

The Ambassador met with the Governor of Quetzaltenango, Aldo Herrera Scheel; and the Mayor, Juan Fernando López.  He highlighted the opportunities to continue boosting trade through the UK-Central America Association Agreement, the possibility of sharing UK experiences in sectors such as agriculture, green-infrastructure and financial services, and the impact of UK assistance on protecting the environment and reducing poverty in rural communities.

With representatives of the private sector, Ambassador Whittingham learnt more about the work of the Management Groups and their role in promoting local economic development, with the aim of improving the standard of living of the population, through the generation of jobs and increased income. He also visited the production plant of Ron Zacapa, the emblematic Guatemalan rum, which is distilled in the highlands of Quetzaltenango 2,300 metres above sea level.

Finally, the Ambassador visited Association 32 Volcanoes jointly with the organization Rescue the Planet to promote initiatives amongst youngsters that could reduce the consumption of single-use plastics, and to share ideas on small steps that could contribute to preserve forests and water sources.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 May 2024.

Today [Tuesday 21 May] Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to his counterpart Chancellor Karl Nehammer in Austria on tackling illegal migration.

The leaders agreed that it must be the governments deciding who enters our countries, not criminal gangs, and stronger action must be taken to end the vile people smuggling trade.

The leaders committed to implementing stronger frameworks to deal with migration, and that new innovative solutions are crucial to this end.

The leaders agreed that working with designated safe third countries are part of the solution for best protecting Europe from irregular migratory pressures and preventing people from making illegal, dangerous journeys – such as the Rwanda style model.

In that respect, the Leaders agreed that States may develop and implement solutions to securing their borders and dealing with challenges like migration, while maintaining full compatibility with international law. They welcomed the new procedures relating to Rule 39 interim measures adopted by the European Court of Human Rights, following consultations with State parties. As already noted in the Izmir Declaration in 2011, it is essential, when examining cases related to asylum and immigration, to assess and take full account of the effectiveness of domestic procedures and, where these procedures are seen to operate fairly and with respect for human rights, that the Court should avoid intervening except in the most exceptional circumstances.

The leaders are acutely aware of dangers of the efforts other actors will take in instrumentalising migrants to destabilise Europe and agreed more needed to be done to secure our borders and strengthen our security.

Both think the answers lay with deeper partnerships with others, and increasing cooperation with countries involved in all stages of the migrant journey was essential to tackling this growing pan-European challenge.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 May 2024.

The UK and Finland have signed a strategic partnership declaring Russia as the most significant and direct threat to European peace and stability.

• UK and Finland set out commitment to bolster ties and highlight risk of Russian aggression for European security
• Foreign Secretary will sign new Strategic Partnership with Finnish counterpart to deepen bilateral cooperation
• Declaration sets out the 2 countries’ ambition to work together on global security challenges and support Ukraine until the war is won

Finland and the UK will declare Russia as the most significant and direct threat to European peace and stability in a new Strategic Partnership signed today.

The agreement, which will bolster the relationship between the 2 countries, will be endorsed by Foreign Secretary David Cameron and his Finnish counterpart Elina Valtonen at an event in London.

The UK and Finland already share a long history of defence cooperation, including through military exercises and training, with the UK instrumental in securing Finland’s NATO accession. Today’s renewed partnership will expand cooperation across a range of other areas.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said:

As long-standing partners and new NATO Allies, the UK’s relationship with Finland is going from strength to strength.

As we stand together to support Ukraine, including through providing military aid and training, we are clear that the threat of Russian aggression, following the war it started, will not be tolerated.

This Strategic Partnership, built on our shared values, will see the UK and Finland step up cooperation to bolster European security as well as seize new opportunities, from science and technology to closer energy ties.

A joint statement between the 2 foreign ministers will set out how Russia’s illegal, full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine has fundamentally changed the European security environment.

It will underline the importance of the bilateral partnership, working together to deny Russia any benefit from the war it started, counter Russian disinformation, malicious cyber activities, and hybrid threats, and support Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation.

The text will also outline the shared ambition to scale up collaboration on science and technology, trade and investment and tackling illegal migration.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 May 2024.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

Thank you, President. Let me start by thanking Mozambique for convening this important debate and thank all our briefers, today, for their powerful presentations.

The Secretary-General’s latest report on the protection of civilians presents a stark picture: a 72% increase in civilian deaths in armed conflict from 2022 to 2023; 117 million people experiencing conflict-related hunger; and a ten-fold increase in persons with disabilities in Ukraine due to conflict.

The United Kingdom is also concerned about escalating violence in El Fasher, Sudan, the deaths of civilians in Israel and Gaza, and the shocking levels of conflict-related sexual violence in the central Sahel and the DRC, among many other grave situations.

We should reverse these trends by taking a comprehensive approach to protection.  I wish to make three points today.

Firstly, warring parties must fully comply with international humanitarian law and uphold their obligations to protect civilians. They must respect the special rights, needs, and vulnerabilities of children affected by conflict. We call on states to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing. This includes in Sudan where the UK’s atrocity monitoring work investigates attacks against civilians and infrastructure, and monitors hate speech and incitement of violence across the country.

Second, we urge all states to take practical steps to improve international humanitarian law implementation, which in turn will enhance protection. The UK is updating our voluntary report on domestic implementation of IHL, with a strong focus on the protection of civilians. We encourage others to undertake similar exercises.

Third, the protection of civilians should always be prioritised in peacekeeping missions. The UK is supporting peacekeepers with training on preventing conflict-related sexual violence, and our programming is increasing the participation of women in uniformed roles and helping to address misinformation and disinformation about missions. We call on member states to deepen their support to peacekeepers to ensure that UN peacekeeping remains an effective tool to protect civilians.

President, to conclude, I stress the importance of working to prevent conflict. And I note that in his long list of events in Ukraine, our Russian colleague forgot to mention the fact that this all could have been avoided without the illegal invasion and aggression against Ukraine.

We must invest in anticipating the risks, working in partnership with national governments and local organisations to address the drivers of conflict. Progress in this area would go some way to ending the harm facing civilians around the world.

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

Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, visited Maldives to build closer links on maritime security, climate, and trade.

UK Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan arrived in Maldives on 9 May for the first UK ministerial visit to the country in two years.

During the visit, Minister Trevelyan held talks with Maldives Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef, Minister of Climate Change, Environment and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan, and Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed. Topics focused on opportunities for closer bilateral and regional cooperation including on justice reform, climate change, the security sector, trade and maritime security.

With around 60% of global shipping passing through the Indo-Pacific, ensuring maritime security is of critical importance to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s priority of growing the UK’s economy.

Minister Trevelyan met Maldivian and British businesses operating in Maldives and discussed opportunities to further strengthen trade and commercial links between the UK and Maldives.

Minister Trevelyan also met with female judges in Maldives to hear about the impact of UK programmes to support the justice sector, and understand the challenges faced by female judges.

The Minister also visited the first, UK-backed marine plastics lab in Maldives where she met beneficiaries of UK programmes.

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

Explanation of vote by Ambassador Barbara Woodward on the General Assembly resolution on Palestinian UN membership, rights and privileges.

Thank you, President. The UK remains firmly committed to a two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people.

As we said in the Security Council last month, we are abstaining on this resolution because we believe that the first step towards achieving this goal is resolving the immediate crisis in Gaza. The fastest way to end the conflict is to secure a deal which gets the hostages out and allows for a pause in the fighting in Gaza. We must, then, work together to turn that pause into a sustainable, permanent ceasefire.

Setting out a horizon for a Palestinian state should be one of the vital conditions for moving from a pause in the fighting to a sustainable ceasefire. Recognising a Palestinian State, including at the UN, should be part of that process. As my Foreign Secretary has said, “while this shouldn’t be at the start of a new process, it doesn’t have to be at the very end of the process”.

President, we remain deeply concerned about the prospect of a major operation in Rafah. We are clear that we would not support this unless there is a very clear plan for how to protect civilians, who must be safe and able to access food, water and medical care. We have not seen that plan, so in these circumstances we would not support a major operation in Rafah.

The UK is doing all it can to reach a long-term solution to this crisis. In addition to our support for a deal which would secure a pause in the fighting and the immediate release of all hostages, we are pushing as hard as we can to get aid to Palestinian civilians; working with partners to deescalate the situation in the region; and building momentum towards a lasting peace.

The UK has offered the Palestinian Authority our support as the new Palestinian government implements much-needed reforms. An effective Palestinian Authority is vital for lasting peace and progress towards a two-state solution.

And just as the PA must act, so must Israel. This means releasing frozen funds, halting settlement expansion and holding to account those responsible for extremist settler violence. Last week, the UK announced a second package of sanctions targeting individuals and groups directly responsible for egregious violence against Palestinian civilians. The Israeli authorities must put a stop to this.

President, in conclusion, we will continue to work urgently to bring the Gaza conflict to a sustainable end as quickly as possible, and to build a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution and lasting peace.

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

Ms Samantha Job CMG MVO has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden in succession to Ms Judith Gough CMG.

Curriculum Vitae

Full name: Samantha Louise Job

Date	Role
2023 to present	Full time language training
2019 to 2022	FCDO, Director, Defence and International Security
2016 to 2019	Washington, Counsellor, Foreign and Security Policy
2013 to 2015	FCO, Joint Head, North Africa Department (Job Share)
2010 to 2012	FCO, Deputy Head, Digital Diplomacy Department
2004 to 2008	UK Mission to the United Nations, First Secretary (New Threats, Counter Terrorism and Counter-Proliferation)
2003 to 2004	FCO, Head, European Security and Defence Policy, Security Policy Department
2001 to 2003	FCO, Head, Weapons of Mass Destruction Export Controls, Non-Proliferation Department
1999 to 2001	FCO, Head, War Crimes Section and International Criminal Court Bill, United Nations Department
1994 to 1999	Bangkok, Full Time Language Training (Thai), then Second Secretary (Political)
1992 to 1994	FCO, Desk Officer, Libya/Tunisia then Middle East Peace Process, Near East and North Africa Department

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

Mr Malcolm Green has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Oriental Republic of Uruguay in succession to Ms Faye O’Connor OBE.  Mr Green will take up his appointment during August 2024.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Full name:  Malcolm Christopher David Green

Date	Role
2023 to present	FCDO, Africa Directorate, Deputy Director (Sahel, Sudan and South Sudan)
2018 to 2023	FCDO, UN and Multilateral Department, Head of the UN Peacekeeping Joint Unit
2017 to 2018	Buenos Aires, Deputy Head of Mission and Consul General
2013 to 2017	Santiago, Deputy Head of Mission and Consul General
2009 to 2013	UK Mission to the United Nations, New York, First Secretary – Peacekeeping, Human Rights and Conflict
2006 to 2009	FCO, Security Policy Department, Team leader – Military Operations and Exercises
2003 to 2006	Buenos Aires, Second Secretary – Political Affairs
2001 to 2003	FCO Policy Officer – Future of Europe, European Union Department

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

Ambassador Holland welcomes the Report by the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, and the work of the Mission over the last six months across the three pillars of its mandate.

Firstly, I would like to welcome Ambassador Davenport back to the Permanent Council for the final time as Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your expert leadership of the Mission over the last three (plus) years, during such a pivotal time for the Western Balkans region. Thank you, as always, for the written report on the activities of the Mission over the last six months, and the comprehensive presentation this morning.

Madam Chair, the United Kingdom shares the assessment in the Report of the concerning lack of progress towards Kosovo-Serbia normalisation, which continues to have negative implications for stability in the Western Balkans.

While the UK welcomes the progress in December on the energy roadmap and licence plates, many fundamental issues remain unresolved. We encourage both sides to engage constructively in the EU-facilitated Dialogue and to deliver on their respective obligations, including on establishing an Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities.

The UK will continue to encourage Kosovo to ensure that non-majority communities can play a full and equal role in the country’s future. In this respect, we urge Kosovo and Serbia to continue to work with the EU Special Representative to agree technical solutions to the implementation of the new regulation on foreign currencies.

We are also clear that Kosovo Serbs should be free to exercise their democratic rights and further integrate into Kosovan society. The recent boycott of the mayoral recall votes in the four northern municipalities is a step away from securing the representative democracy that the local population deserves, and we encourage Kosovo Serbs to return to institutions and serve their communities.

The UK reiterates the importance of ensuring justice and accountability for all acts of violence. We call on Serbia to cooperate fully with efforts to hold to account those responsible for the shocking attacks in Banjska last September, and on NATO KFOR troops last May. We also urge Serbia to take action to tackle cross-border arms smuggling.

In this context, the UK commends the work of the OSCE Mission during the last six months across the three core pillars of its mandate. In particular, we highly appreciate the Mission’s continued prioritisation of monitoring and early warning functions in light of the fragile security situation in northern Kosovo.

We value the Mission’s ongoing support to government institutions on human rights and inter-community relations, including recent support to delivery of the Kosovo government’s Strategy for the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Communities. We also welcome the Mission’s continued work to strengthen institutional cooperation in tackling domestic and gender-based violence.

Madam Chair, the United Kingdom will remain a long-standing and strong supporter of Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state. We remain committed to supporting an inclusive, diverse and multi-ethnic democracy in Kosovo, and its full participation in the international system.

I would like to end by again thanking you, Ambassador Davenport, for your leadership of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo – both during this reporting period, and throughout the last three years. I commend your team’s expertise, engagement and hard work, and I wish you well in your future endeavours.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Ambassador Holland calls on Russia to release members of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission who have been unlawfully detained in Ukraine for more than two years.

Thank you, Madam Chair. It is with regret that we feel compelled, once again, to raise the cases of Vadym Golda, Maxim Petrov, and Dmytro Shabanov. All three are members of the Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (SMM) and have been unlawfully deprived of their liberty for more than two years by the Russian Federation and its proxies in Ukraine.

The SMM was established in 2014 through a decision of this body. Its mandate was agreed by all participating States, including Russia. For eight years the SMM, through its monitoring and reporting, acted as the eyes and ears of the international community, giving us much needed insight on the security situation in Ukraine.

In the years leading to Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion, independent and objective reporting of the SMM – which was provided equally to all participating States – was of significant value. It observed that an overwhelming majority of ceasefire violations took place in non-government-controlled areas of Ukraine. It observed advanced weaponry in these areas, weaponry that we know could only have been supplied by Russia. And it observed no unusual military build-up on the Ukrainian government-controlled side of the Line of Contact, demonstrating that Russia’s claims of a Ukrainian threat to the Donbas region were a fabricated pretext for Russia’s aggression.

So, you can see why Russia feared the impartial and fact-based reporting of the SMM.  The truth was an inconvenience.

So, over several years, Russia picked away at the ability of the SMM to operate; critically undermining the Mission’s freedom of movement and levelling unjustified criticisms.  Ultimately Russia was able to close down the SMM by blocking consensus on the extension of their mandate in the same way that it had closed down the Border Observation Mission.

Madam Chair, my government has previously put on record our sincere gratitude to the brave women and men of the SMM in Ukraine. They performed their OSCE-mandated roles with integrity and professionalism. They did so despite the risks to their safety, a risk underlined by the tragic loss of our two late colleagues:  Joseph Stone and Marina Fenina.  We should all be proud of them.

What none of us imagined was that our colleagues faced the risk of unlawful detention by the very people who asked them to do this difficult and dangerous job. Russia signed the SMM mandate, contributed to its operating costs and then betrayed their – and our – colleagues. It is truly shocking. The suffering that they and their loved ones are enduring remains a constant concern to us.

Russia’s actions fit a pattern, one that was set out very clearly in the report by the latest Moscow Mechanism expert mission. This found that: Russia had detained thousands of Ukrainian civilians, cutting them off from access to, or communication with, their loved ones; detainees were often subjected to torture and other ill treatment; and, the Russian authorities were restricting access to lawyers and denying fair trials.

As the expert mission noted “The continued detention of staff members of the OSCE SMM is incompatible with OSCE commitments”.

Madam Chair, we continue to call on Russia to end its unlawful detention of our colleagues and all Ukrainian citizens it has illegally detained. Thank you.