Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 June 2024.

Ambassador Holland underlines continued UK support for the work of OSCE Mission to Serbia, including on media reforms and integration of national minorities.

Welcome back to the Permanent Council, Ambassador Braathu. Thank you for this comprehensive Report on the Mission’s activities and achievements.

Your Report clearly sets out the political context for the Mission’s work over the last 12 months. The UK welcomes your continued partnership with the Government of Serbia throughout this period, helping Serbia to meet its OSCE commitments and continue on the path of reform.

The United Kingdom recognises that the work of the Mission in this reporting period had been strongly influenced by early elections and we welcome the formation of a new government on 1 May. The UK notes the preliminary conclusions of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission to the local elections on 2 June, stating that elections were well-administered and offered voters a wide range of political alternatives – though longstanding concerns relating to pressure on public sector employees, misuse of public resources, and media bias remain. We encourage the Serbian government to engage constructively with ODIHR and international partners to swiftly address outstanding recommendations.

The UK recognises that recent months have been dominated by sensitive issues for Serbia, including the adoption of a resolution in the UN General Assembly to create an International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide. We encourage Serbia to work constructively with its neighbours and international partners to address legacies from the conflicts of the 90s, to build a more prosperous and peaceful future for all. We call on Serbia to refrain from any action and rhetoric that threatens regional stability, and to cooperate fully with efforts to hold to account those responsible for the shocking attacks in Banjska last September. We also urge action to tackle cross-border arms smuggling.

The UK welcomes the work of the OSCE Mission this year in improving the integration of national minorities, including through support to National Councils, language training for students and recruitment to the police service. We commend the Mission’s work on advancing media reforms and welcome its continued engagement. We share concerns about the continued polarisation of the media environment and the alarming rise in attacks against journalists. We thank the Mission for its swift interventions, including through its role in the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists.

The UK also particularly appreciates the Mission’s continued commitment to mainstreaming a gender equality perspective across all areas of Mission activity, including through engagement with parliament and support to universities in implementing gender action plans.

Madam Chair, we regret that it is again necessary to underline the hugely negative impact the continued non-agreement of the Unified Budget is having on the work of OSCE field missions, including through cancelled programmes and staff attrition. It is high time that participating States who are obstructing agreement look beyond a narrow national focus and ensure all OSCE institutions have the funding they need.

Ambassador Braathu, I would like to thank you once again for your leadership of the OSCE Mission to Serbia during this reporting period. I wish you and your team success in your work over the coming year.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 June 2024.

Statement by UK Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen.

Thank you, President and thank you to Special Envoy Grundberg and Director Wosornu for your briefings, sobering as they are.

I am going to focus on three points.

First, the UK strongly condemns the Houthis’ arbitrary detention of United Nations personnel and staff who work for or previously worked for international and national non-governmental organisations and diplomatic missions. We extend our sympathy to them and their families at this very difficult time. We call on the Houthis to immediately and unconditionally release them. The safety and security of all humanitarian workers, UN personnel, and current and former diplomatic staff is vital.

Second, we share Director Worsornu’s concern at the dire humanitarian and economic situation in Yemen.

We know:

• 18.2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance; over half of them are children.
• 17.6 million people – over half the population – remain food insecure and 80% of the population live below the poverty line.
• Only 50% of hospitals across the country are partially or fully functioning.

It is critical that the parties take steps to address this, including through facilitating unfettered access for aid workers to provide essential support to those in need. Additionally, we call on the parties involved to engage in dialogue, de-escalate and resolve the ongoing banking dispute as a matter of urgency, and safeguard the wellbeing of ordinary Yemenis. The UK has committed to spend over $175 million this year to help alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable; we urge the international community to scale up assistance.

Thirdly, we call on the Houthis to cease their illegal and unjustified attacks on maritime shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including recent attacks on the M/V Tutor, the M/V Norderney and the MSC Tavvish. As a Council, we have been unequivocally clear, in our statements and in our adoption of Security Council Resolution 2722, that we condemn the Houthi attacks. These dangerous and reckless acts must end.

To conclude, President, we reiterate our unwavering support of the Special Envoy’s efforts to secure an inclusive and sustainable peace in Yemen. We continue to urge all parties to de-escalate tensions and preserve space for negotiations, under the UN roadmap.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 June 2024.

UK announces 50 new sanctions designations and specifications to degrade Putin’s war machine, in co-ordinated action with G7 partners to support Ukraine.

New targets include ships in Putin’s shadow fleet, institutions at the heart of Russia’s financial system and suppliers supporting Russia’s military production.

These new sanctions, announced while the Prime Minister attends the G7 Leaders Summit in Italy, will bear down on Russia’s ability to fund and equip its war machine and show the UK’s steadfast support for Ukraine.

Today’s action includes the UK’s first sanctions targeting vessels in Putin’s shadow fleet, used by Russia to circumvent UK and G7 sanctions and continue unfettered trade in Russian oil.

As part of its enduring commitment to the region, the UK has today committed to providing £242m in bilateral assistance to Ukraine, to support immediate humanitarian, energy and stabilisation needs, and is also working with counterparts to agree a mechanism to bring forward the extraordinary profits stemming from immobilized Russian sovereign assets to the benefit of Ukraine.

Russia’s oil exports are Putin’s most critical revenue source for funding his illegal war in Ukraine. Tax on oil production collected by the Kremlin in 2023 amounted to 8.9 trillion roubles, or 31% of Russia’s total federal revenues. Today’s sanctions aim to disrupt and increase the costs of Russia’s efforts to bypass UK and G7 sanctions through its shadow fleet.

These new sanctions also target suppliers of munitions, machine tools, microelectronics, and logistics to Russia’s military, including entities based in China, Israel, Kyrgyzstan and Türkiye, along with ships which transport military goods from North Korea to Russia.

In addition, this new package cracks down on institutions at the heart of Russia’s financial system, including the Moscow Stock Exchange. This action is taken in coordination with the US, which designated the Moscow Stock Exchange on 12 June.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

The UK will always stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine in its fight for freedom.

Today we are once more ramping up economic pressure through sanctions to bear down on Russia’s ability to fund its war machine. Putin must lose, and cutting off his ability to fund a prolonged conflict is absolutely vital.

Foreign Secretary, David Cameron said:

UK sanctions are starving Putin of the revenue he desperately needs to fund his war chest and making it harder to supply his war machine.

We will continue to work alongside our partners to increase economic pressure and demonstrate that the UK and the G7 will stand by Ukraine in this fight.

So far, sanctions have deprived Russia of over $400bn worth of assets and revenues since February 2022. That’s equivalent to four more years of funding for the invasion. The UK has sanctioned over 2,000 individuals and entities under our Russia sanctions regime.

This includes 29 banks accounting for over 90% of the Russian banking sector and over 130 oligarchs and family members who had a combined net worth around £147 billion at the time of the invasion. Over £20 billion of UK-Russia bilateral trade (2021 figures) is now under full or partial sanction. There has been a 99% fall in Russian imports into the UK, and a 73% fall in UK exports to Russia.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 June 2024.

Ambassador Neil Holland says that the recent Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin shows that the international community is committed to supporting Ukraine to win the peace and build back better and stronger.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The UK continues to be appalled by developments on the ground in Ukraine and we reiterate our determination to ensure full accountability for those responsible. But today I would like to note some optimism emerging from the embers of Russia’s illegal war. This week Germany and Ukraine have co-hosted the 2024 Ukraine Recovery Conference. Governments and business leaders from around the world have given Ukraine an unwavering vote of confidence.

We were proud to co-host the last Recovery Conference in London last year. It engaged and mobilised partners across the international community and the private sector in support of Ukraine and announced $60bn to support Ukraine’s recovery.

This year’s conference in Berlin has showcased Ukrainian reform progress and economic resilience. It has addressed critical areas such as energy, infrastructure, housing, and climate protection. And it has highlighted healthcare, education, environment, and gender-related aspects of the recovery challenge. It has integrated cross-cutting issues like macro-economic stability and security.

Of course, it is deeply regrettable that Russia’s war of aggression has made these commitments necessary. As of 31 December 2023, the World Bank has calculated that the total cost of reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine will be $486 billion over the next decade, up from an estimated $411bn the year before. The scale of the challenge is real and colossal. But it is surpassed by the collective resolve of Ukraine’s supporters. And by the spirit of a vibrant, dynamic, creative, European country that refuses to be subdued.

This week in Berlin the international community has stood united in dedication to Ukraine’s swift recovery and long-term reconstruction. As the UK Foreign Secretary said “Unleashing Ukraine’s potential – that is our shared goal”. That is why the UK, and our international partners, will continue to support Ukraine to win the peace so they can build back, better and stronger.

Madam Chair, could I also take this opportunity to note the prisoner exchange announced on 31 May. That this took place was encouraging, but we were horrified at the condition of the released Ukrainian prisoners in the images that followed. I therefore reiterate my call from 23 May on Russia to abide by the laws of conflict that it helped draft.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 June 2024.

Ambassador Neil Holland recalls the vital contribution of media freedom to security in the OSCE region, and calls on Russia and Belarus to live up to their OSCE commitments.

Thank you Madam Chair, and welcome back to the Permanent Council Madam Representative, dear Teresa. Thank you for your detailed report and your broader reflections on the Helsinki Spirit. The UK commends your personal commitment to upholding your mandate at a time of increasing challenges which you describe with great skill in your presentation.

As you have consistently argued, there can be no security without media freedom. Since 1975, all OSCE participating States have – as you remind us – accepted individuals’ right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas without interference. The UK will remain a strong supporter of the mandate for the Representative on Freedom of the Media.

Securing media freedom requires continued investment and effort in all participating States. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your work with the UK on our approach to online safety and the safety of journalists.

As you note in your report, Madam Ribeiro, journalists and other media workers face torture, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, intimidation, and harassment in many parts of the OSCE region.

According to UNESCO’s Observatory of Killed Journalists, fourteen journalists have been killed in the line of work since Russia’s full scale, illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia continues to persecute dissenting voices in Ukrainian territory under its temporary control, as it has been doing in Crimea since 2014. Since 2012 the free media inside Russia has been silenced. The September 2022 Moscow Mechanism report showed a clear correlation between Russia’s internal repression and its external aggression. Sadly, as you note in your report, Russia’s relentless domestic crackdown on media freedom continues today, including through ongoing imprisonment and harassment of journalists and media workers.

Last year’s Moscow Mechanism report found that freedom of expression in Belarus has been seriously undermined. Legislation can target any independent voice, particularly critics of government or of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. Anyone who administers social media networks or communication channels for listed so-called “extremists” can face serious charges, even of terrorism.

Such actions are not compatible with participating States’ obligations under international law and their OSCE commitments. So the UK once again calls on Russia and Belarus to live up to their OSCE principles and commitments, to enable freedom for the media to report on matters of public interest without undue interference, threats, and intimidation.

Teresa, thank you again for your commitment to your mandate and your professionalism in the defence of media freedom. And many thanks to your dedicated team. I assure you that the UK will continue to reiterate – in this Council and beyond – the importance of free media for peace and security in the OSCE region. We wish you all the very best for whatever comes next.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 June 2024.

British High Commission Dhaka celebrated the official birthday of His Majesty King Charles III on 12 June 2024 in Dhaka.

Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury, MP, Honourable Minister, Ministry of Education, Government of Bangladesh, graced the reception as the guest of honour. A wide range of dignitaries from the Government of Bangladesh; Bangladesh Parliament; the Diplomatic Corps and representatives from the fields of trade, business, academia, social development, arts, culture, media and sports joined the celebration.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, said

“It is my pleasure to host this reception to celebrate the official birthday of His Majesty King Charles III.

“It is also an opportunity to celebrate the strength of the UK-Bangladesh partnership, based on our deep shared history; our strong cultural and people-to-people links; and our Commonwealth ties”.

Notes to editors

The King’s Birthday Party is celebrated by British High Commissions and Embassies around the world. This year, The King turns 76 on 14 Nov.

His Majesty The King is Head of the Commonwealth, which is a family of 56 countries working together for prosperity, democracy and peace.

The British High Commission Dhaka’s King’s Birthday Party 2024 was supported by: HSBC (Platinum Partner); Le Meridien Dhaka (Hospitality Partner); and Unilever and Standard Chartered Bank (Diamond Partners).

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 June 2024.

The governments of the United States of America, Canada, and the United Kingdom gave a statement on Russian actions in the leadup to the Moldovan presidential election.

Statement by the governments of Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America:

We, the governments of Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, are united in confronting Russia’s aggression and subversion against democratic societies.  We continue to support Ukraine as it defends its freedom and independence from Russia’s illegal and unjustified full-scale invasion.  We also stand firmly against persistent Kremlin attempts to use disinformation, criminal and covert activities, and corruption to undermine sovereignty and democratic processes.

Free, fair, and independent elections are the cornerstone of any democratic society.  We have consistently witnessed Russia’s attempts to influence, subvert, and undermine democratic elections in order to secure results favorable to the Kremlin.

This threat is especially relevant in 2024, a year when hundreds of millions of people across Europe and North America go to the polls to select their leaders in European, national, regional, and local elections.

The Kremlin relies on lies, deceit, corruption and disinformation to undermine sovereignty and democracy.  While democracy thrives on openness and truth-telling, authoritarianism and disinformation depend on secrecy and deception.

We want to address today the Kremlin’s actions in Moldova.  President Maia Sandu and Moldova’s security institutions have warned that the Kremlin is seeking to undermine Moldovan democratic institutions in the leadup to the October presidential elections and a referendum on Moldova’s EU membership.  We share President Sandu’s strong concerns about the Kremlin’s use of criminal groups to finance political activities and undermine Moldova’s democratic institutions.  We commend Moldova’s leaders for continuing to capably manage these threats, build resilience, and maintain peace and security, while driving forward democratic reforms and reviving the country’s economy.

That is why today, in defense of our shared democratic values, we are taking this step to warn our democratic partners and Allies that Russian actors are carrying out a plot to influence the outcomes of Moldova’s fall 2024 presidential election.  They intend to incite protests in Moldova should a pro-Russia candidate not win.

They seek to foment negative public perceptions of Western governments and Moldova’s incumbent leadership, while degrading public confidence in Moldova’s ability to secure itself and maintain rule of law.

Russia is currently supporting candidates for Moldova’s presidency and is exacerbating societal tensions.  These Russian actors are actively using disinformation and propaganda online, on the air, and on the streets to further their objectives.

They are agitating criticism of the incumbent Moldovan president’s government and political party, in order to incite protests.

Part of these operations would include spreading lies about the incumbent president’s character and intentions, and about supposed electoral irregularities.

If Russia’s election meddling proves unsuccessful in Moldova, there is reason to believe Moscow will work to incite protests.

Russia’s political interference in Moldova in the lead-up to the October election goes back years.  For example, personnel of state-funded media outlet RT have been involved in providing direct support to fugitive Moldovan Ilan Shor for several years with Russian government assent.  All three of our governments have sanctioned Shor for his destabilizing electoral activities.

We have full confidence in Moldova’s ability to manage these threats linked to the Kremlin’s interference.  We are taking a range of measures to support those efforts as part of our partnership with Moldova and its people.  We have shared the information outlined above, and additional details, with our Moldovan partners so that they can further investigate, thwart, and disrupt the Kremlin’s plans.  We will continue to work closely with the Moldovan government on this.

We will also continue to promote accountability for those involved in these Kremlin-sponsored schemes to covertly finance political activities in Moldova.  And we have sanctioned – and will continue to take action against – those individuals and entities attempting to destabilize Moldova’s democratic institutions.

We will continue to support Moldova and the Moldovan people as they manage Kremlin interference and the impacts of Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine.  We strongly support Moldova’s democratic, economic, security, and anti-corruption reforms.

By revealing the Kremlin’s plot, we are making it clear to Moscow that we stand for free and fair elections and will not tolerate its attempts to meddle and undermine democratic processes.  We urge the Kremlin to abandon these efforts to subvert Moldova’s democracy and to respect its sovereignty and the outcomes of free, fair, and independent elections.

We will continue to stand with all of our friends, partners, and Allies in defense of our shared democratic values and freedoms.

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

Statement by UK Permanent Representative Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on North Korea.

President, I thank the UN High Commissioner and the UN Special Rapporteur for their briefing, and I extend my thanks as well to Mr Kim Gumhyok for your courageous and moving testimony. It is evident that widespread and systematic human rights violations in the DPRK continue.

On the 10th anniversary of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the DPRK, perpetrators remain largely unaccountable, and the North Korean people continue to suffer as we’ve heard so vividly from our briefers today.

As we’ve also heard, you cannot separate DPRK’s human rights violations from the threat DPRK poses to international peace and security. The DPRK authorities continue to divert resources away from their people, to fund their illegal weapons programme.  These illegal weapons are financed through forced labour, as we’ve heard, from the pay of workers sent overseas, often into modern slavery. I urge the DPRK to end these practices without delay. It is incumbent on all UN Member States to implement resolution 2397 in full, a resolution that was unanimously agreed by this Council, and includes obligations to end the exploitation of overseas workers.

We are witnessing forced repatriations, state-sponsored abductions, and enforced disappearances. The United Kingdom also recognises the suffering of other nationals who have been abducted by the DPRK and we call for their return.

I also echo the call of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and urge all member states to respect the principles of non-refoulement and to not forcibly return those who have escaped the DPRK and then face threats to their safety and human rights.

The 2014 UN Commission of Inquiry Report concluded wide-ranging human rights violations taking place in the country may amount to “crimes against humanity.” Ten years on, the DPRK regime continues to refuse to cooperate with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights or with the UN Special Rapporteur.

Colleagues, we urge the DPRK Government to prioritise the rights of its citizens over the illegal development of its weapons programmes and encourage them to ease border restrictions on the international community.

The UK urges the DPRK to use their upcoming Universal Periodic Review to engage with the international community on human rights and implement lasting change and improvements for the people of North Korea.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 12 June 2024.

His Majesty The King has approved the appointment of four Lord Justices of Appeal.

His Majesty The King has been pleased to approve the appointments of Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, Mr Justice Cobb, Mr Justice Holgate and Mr Justice Zacaroli as Lord Justices of Appeal.

These appointments will fill vacancies within the Court of Appeal.

Biography

Mr Justice Jeremy Baker: Was Called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in 1979 and took Silk in 1999. He was appointed as a Recorder in 1996, as a Circuit Judge in 2010 and as a High Court Judge appointed to the King’s Bench Division in 2013.

Mr Justice Stephen Cobb: Was Called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1985 and took Silk in 2003. He was appointed as a Recorder in 2004, authorised to hear cases under section 9(1) of the Senior Courts Act 1981 in 2009. He was appointed as a High Court Judge in 2013 and assigned to the Family Division.

Mr Justice David Holgate: Was Called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in 1978 and took Silk in 1997. He was called to the Bar in Hong Kong from 2001 to appear in several cases. He became a Bencher of the Middle Temple in 2004. Between 2012 and 2014 he was joint head of Landmark Chambers. He served as a Recorder (in Crime and Civil) from 2002 and was authorised to hear cases under section 9(1) of the Senior Courts Act 1981 in 2008. He was appointed as a High Court Judge to the Kings Bench Division in 2014 and was also authorised to sit in the Chancery division in 2022. He served as President of the Lands Chamber (Upper Tribunal) between 2016 and 2019. Since 2017 he has been the Planning Liaison Judge (the lead judge of the Planning Court).

Mr Justice Antony Zacaroli: Was Called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in 1987 and took Silk in 2006. He was appointed as a High Court Judge to the Chancery Division in 2017. He was President of the Upper Tribunal, Tax and Chancery chamber between 2018 to 2021. He has been Supervising Judge for the Business and Property Courts, Midlands, West and Wales Circuits, since 2021 and Chair of the Insolvency Rules Committee, since 2018.

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

The Prime Minister will be clear that the UK will lead from the front on supporting international peace and security as he attends the G7 Leaders Summit in Italy against a backdrop of heightened volatility.

The Prime Minister will be clear that the UK will lead from the front on supporting international peace and security as he attends the G7 Leaders Summit in Italy against a backdrop of heightened volatility.

At the Summit, the Prime Minister will announce up to £242 million in bilateral assistance to Ukraine, to support immediate humanitarian, energy and stabilisation needs, and lay the foundations for longer term economic and social recovery and reconstruction.

This funding demonstrates the UK’s continued international solidarity with Ukraine, and our flexibility in responding to immediate needs created by Russian aggression. Critical energy infrastructure, for example, has suffered from an intense Russian missile and bombing campaign over the past few months.

A priority for the PM at the Summit will be to work with partners to agree a way to use immobilised Russian assets to support Ukraine. Last month, the Chancellor attended the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting, where the G7 discussed potential avenues to bring forward the extraordinary profits stemming from these assets, to the benefit of Ukraine.

The UK and G7 leaders have been clear that Russian must pay for the damage it is causing Ukraine. We will explore all lawful avenues by which immobilised Russian assets can be used to support Ukraine. The value of the assets held in G7 jurisdictions is $285 billion.

The UK was the first country to introduce legislation explicitly enabling us to keep sanctions in place until Russia pays for damage it has caused. We also introduced new powers to compel sanctioned individuals and entities to disclose assets they hold in the UK.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

We must be decisive and creative in our efforts to support Ukraine and end Putin’s illegal war at this critical moment. The UK remains at the forefront of the international response as we have been from the outset. We must move from ‘as long as it takes’ to ‘whatever it takes’ if we are to end this illegal war.

From Ukraine to the Middle East, we will be discussing significant global threats at the Summit. Such threats are why it is so vital to strengthen the UK’s national defence, through our commitment to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2030.

The UK has now committed almost £12.7 billion in military, humanitarian and economic support to Ukraine and has often been the first mover on vital lethal aid, from Storm Shadow cruise missiles to a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks.

The Prime Minister recently announced that the UK will send our largest-ever package of military equipment from the UK, designed to help push back the Russian invasion on land, sea and air.

While at the summit, he will attend sessions on Ukraine; Illegal Migration; Economic Security and China; The Middle East; and a credible G7 and UK offer to ‘the global majority’.

The Prime Minister will work to encourage G7 unity in response to the situation on the ground in Gaza, focused on the long-term goal of a stable and prosperous Middle East.

He will press other leaders to recognise migration challenges ‘across the route’ and to take collective action.

He will also seek to strengthen our economic security in relation to China and work collaboratively with partners to identify ways to ensure we leverage the revolution in green technologies for the benefit of the British people and our industries.