Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 February 2024.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

Thank you, President and I thank Special Envoy Pedersen and Under-Secretary Griffiths for their briefings today.

Like others, we recall the devastating effects of the earthquakes one year ago and offer our condolences to those affected.

For 13 years, this conflict has ground on. To make meaningful progress on Syria we need to see three changes.

First, we want Syria to stop its destabilising activity. Syria’s readmission to the League of Arab States last year was an opportunity for the regime to play a more constructive role in the region. But we have not seen that change.

In particular the regime continues to generate vast profits producing and selling captagon. With the support of Iranian-affiliated groups, its trade is becoming ever more organised, violent and destabilising. That dangerous activity – which puts our partners in the region at risk – has to stop.

Second, we need to act to address the humanitarian crisis in Syria. 72% of the population is in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. In the north-east, more than a million people have been cut off from electricity. We continue to call for sustained, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access for people in need across Syria, including in the north-west. And we call on all parties to stop escalating activities.

For our part, the UK is investing in early recovery interventions so that ordinary Syrians have a means to build a better future. In 2023 we dedicated $19 million to early recovery and livelihoods projects – for example, rather than handing out food parcels, we are fixing irrigation and drainage systems so Syrian farmers can produce more food themselves.

Third, we call on all authorities in Syria to protect fundamental human rights. We are concerned at reports of the de facto authorities in Idlib’s proposed ‘public morality law’. If implemented, this law could significantly affect women’s rights and freedom of expression.  We are monitoring the situation closely and urge partners to use their influence to uphold human rights.

President, in conclusion, we underline our continued support for the efforts of UN Special Envoy Pedersen and welcome his extensive efforts to organise a meeting of the Constitutional Committee, and it is welcome news that he is today issuing invitations for a meeting in Geneva in April. We call on the Assad regime to engage in this process.

Syrians deserve sustainable peace and stability and a solution to this long running conflict. Resolution 2254 is the only route out of this conflict.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 February 2024.

48 WTO members agreed a statement at the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13), Minister for Trade Greg Hands represented the UK.

Joint Statement of Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, European Union, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, The Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Ukraine and United States
We, the trade ministers/heads of delegation of the undersigned WTO Members, have met in Abu-Dhabi today on the occasion of the 13th Ministerial Conference of the WTO, to reiterate our full support for and solidarity with the people of Ukraine. We express our deep sadness at the devastating human losses and profound suffering caused by Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, which continues for the third year in gross violation of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations. In so doing, we reiterate our full support for the UN General Assembly Resolution of 2 March 2022 (A/RES/ES-11/1) and all other resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly at its eleventh emergency special session.

We reaffirm our commitment to Ukraine’s fight for its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and call for the Russian Federation to immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine continues to have devastating global and regional impacts, including on Ukraine’s economy and ability to trade. The destruction of significant parts of Ukraine’s transportation, port infrastructure, and grain storage facilities as well as mining of agricultural land is impeding Ukraine’s ability to produce, export, and import normally. We are gravely concerned about the consequences of this destruction for Ukraine and for global trade, in particular with regard to the supply to international markets of a number of key commodities produced by Ukraine, including agricultural and food products, fertilisers, and critical minerals. We are also deeply concerned by numerous reports of grain being plundered by Russia from Ukraine. These actions violate the principles and values of the WTO.

Ukraine is one of the world’s top exporters of key agricultural products such as wheat, maize, barley, and sunflower oil. We recognise Ukraine’s determination, despite Russia’s war of aggression, to ensure food security and supply to some of the most vulnerable parts of the world, particularly developing countries. In this regard, the “Grain from Ukraine” initiative continues to be an important tool to help to respond to hunger. Russia weaponized food, and hit the world’s most vulnerable with its sea blockade. We praise Ukraine’s achievement of reopening grain exports by its Black Sea corridor to the global markets and welcome the establishment in 2022 of the EU Solidarity Lanes, which have allowed the exports of around 67 million tonnes of grain since May 2022 from Ukraine to global markets. This benefits all countries, notably the countries most in need. In this context, it is necessary to ensure free, full, and safe navigation in the Black and Azov Seas and ensure that sea routes and ports are not threatened or blocked by threat of or use of force.

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has also caused profound environmental damage to Ukraine and resulted in unprecedented pollution and disruption of the regional ecosystems.

We underscore the need to reach, as soon as possible, a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine, in full respect of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, based on the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. We welcome Ukraine’s efforts aimed at achieving peace, including through the principles laid out in President Zelenskyy’s 10 Point Peace Formula. We reiterate that the Russian Federation must bear the legal consequences of all of its internationally wrongful acts, including making reparation for injury and loss, including for any humanitarian, economic, and environmental damage caused by such acts.

We will continue work to support Ukraine and to facilitate its exports and supply chains for the benefit of global food security. We encourage all WTO Members to do likewise in a manner commensurate with their capacity, including by facilitating the use of infrastructure, as well as facilitating and simplifying customs procedures. Within the capacity of each WTO Member, we will continue to provide assistance to Ukraine to alleviate the suffering of the Ukrainian people. We will also look for practical ways to help and assist Ukraine in its reconstruction efforts, activities, and projects to overcome the negative consequences of Russia’s war of aggression.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 February 2024.

Harnessing multilateral efforts to embed, amplify & realise the rights of persons with disabilities, with a focus on full & effective participation & inclusion in society. Statement delivered by UK Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French.

Thank you Mr President.

The United Kingdom is committed to providing greater voice, choice, and visibility for people with disabilities to help them achieve their full rights and freedoms. Through our international Disability Inclusion & Rights Strategy, we take a twin-track approach, with targeted support through disability-specific interventions alongside mainstreaming disability inclusion across our work.

It is imperative for multilateral institutions, alongside States, to increase their efforts in mainstreaming disability at all levels. We note in particular the transformative impact that inclusive financing and investment can have on leaving no one behind.

Beyond the vital work that Member States are taking in areas such as inclusive education and healthcare, we must also remember that services are only accessible if the built environment around them is accessible.

We must prioritise engaging with persons with disabilities and their representative organisations at every stage to ensure their voices and experience are heard as we tackle our shared global challenges.

Esteemed panellists,

How can States and multilateral institutions better incorporate disability inclusion by design as part of growth, investment, and development agendas?

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 February 2024.

• UK sanctions package, coordinated with the US, targets those that support or enable the work of the Houthis across the Middle East and around the Red Sea
• UK and US sanctions both include key units within the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC-QF) and the Deputy Commander
• Foreign Secretary warns the UK and our partners ‘will not hesitate to act’ to protect regional stability and maritime security in the Red Sea

Today the UK and US have announced a number of sanctions against those that support, enable or deliver work of the Houthis, the Iran-backed proxy group in Yemen responsible for widespread attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

The UK will today sanction 2 individuals and 3 organisations for their role in providing financial or military support to the Houthis, in order to expose and disrupt their efforts to undermine regional stability across the Middle East. The UK will also sanction a Houthi security minister for threatening the peace, security and stability of Yemen by supporting attacks against shipping in the Red Sea.

Today’s announcement follows the commitment laid out by the Prime Minister on the 23 January to cut off the Houthis financial resources. It is the second tranche of recent sanctions targeted at the Houthis or those that enable their activity and follows additional pre-existing sanctions against 11 Houthi individuals and 2 entities.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

The attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis are unacceptable, illegal and a threat to innocent lives and freedom of navigation.

As I have made clear to the Iranian Foreign Minister, the regime bears responsibility for these attacks due to the extensive military support it has provided to the Houthis.

All those who seek to undermine regional stability should know that the UK, alongside our allies, will not hesitate to act.

Over recent weeks, the Houthis have continued to carry out a number of dangerous attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

Iran has supported the Houthis to carry out these attacks, by providing intelligence, missiles and drones.

The individuals and entities that are subject to UK travel bans and/or asset freezes today including:

• Mohammad Reza Fallahzadeh: Deputy Commander of the IRGC Quds Force, also designated by the US today
• Sa’id al-Jamal: Iran-based financier who heads a network of front companies and vessels that generate revenue for the Houthis. Previously designated by the US
• IRGC Quds Force Unit 190: in charge of transferring and smuggling weapons to organisations, groups and states that are allied with Iran
• IRGC Quds Force Unit 6000: in charge of operations on the Arabian Peninsula and has personnel on the ground in Yemen supporting Houthi military activity
• IRGC Quds Force Unit 340: in charge of research and development and providing training and technical support to groups backed by Iran
• Ali Hussein Badr Al Din Al-Houthi: Undersecretary of the Interior and Commander of the security / police forces

The IRGC Quds Force is the branch of the IRGC responsible for foreign operations and has provided extensive support to the Houthis, Hezbollah, Hamas and Iran aligned militia groups based in Iraq, in recent years.

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.

A majority of today’s designations sit under the UK’s new Iran sanctions regime, which came into effect in December 2023 and provides new powers to hold Iran and those who undertake its hostile activity to account.

In addition to this, one designation also sits under the Yemen sanctions regime. Introduced as autonomous regulations in the UK in 2020, it enables the UK to hold individuals or entities to account where they threaten peace, security or stability in Yemen.

Last month, the UK and US sanctioned key Houthi figures to disrupt their ability to carry out attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, acts which undermine the peace, stability and security of Yemen. This was the first set of UK sanctions against the Houthis since the attacks in the Red Sea began in November.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 27 February 2024.

Portsmouth will host a major national commemorative event to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, in June 2024.

Thousands of members of the public will be invited to join D-Day veterans, Armed Forces personnel, the leader of Portsmouth City Council and VIP guests at the historic event on 5 June.

The personal stories and reflections of surviving D-Day veterans will be at the heart of the event, which will also feature military musicians, a Royal Air Force flypast and moving tributes from special guests. They will commemorate all those who died during the Normandy campaign, and pay tribute to the surviving veterans of D-Day.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

We must never forget the sacrifices made on D-Day and the selfless courage of the veterans of Normandy. It’s hard to imagine a more noble act than risking your life to defeat tyranny and oppression. I’m proud that the Armed Forces will lead the nation in tributes to the heroes of Normandy in Portsmouth in June.

The 80th anniversary of D-Day will remind us that we can never take peace for granted. With war raging in Europe once again, we must recommit to protect and defend Britain’s peace and freedom with our allies around the world. The alliances we forged on 6 June 1944 are still vital to the UK’s security today.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Johnny Mercer said:

We will forever owe a debt of gratitude to our veterans and the allied forces who fought so courageously at Normandy.

On the 80th anniversary, we will remember all those who put their life on the line for our freedom during D-Day, and continue to pay tribute to their brave service to this day.

D-Day veterans, serving Armed Forces personnel and the leader of Portsmouth City Council met at the Normandy Memorial Wall in Portsmouth today (Tuesday 27 February) to mark 100 days to go until the 80th anniversary.

To begin the countdown to D-Day 80, the names of 13 veterans from 12 allied countries are being added to the Normandy Memorial Wall, in recognition of the UK’s enduring international relationships which were forged during the Second World War.

These international alliances and partnerships are still vital to our security today. The names added to the Normandy Memorial Wall include:

• Stan Ford, Royal Navy, United Kingdom
• John Roberts, Royal Navy, United Kingdom
• Richard Pirrie, Royal Australian Navy, Australia
• Francois August Venesoen, Royal Air Force, Belgium
• William Howard Cameron, Royal Canadian Navy, Canada
• Miroslav Moravec, Royal Air Force, Czech Republic
• Kaj Birksted, Royal Air Force, Denmark
• Léon Gautier, Free French Movement, France
• Georgios Panagiotopoulos, Hellenic Navy, Greece
• Max Wolff, Royal Netherlands Army, The Netherlands
• Neil W. Harton, Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve, New Zealand
• Stanisław Maczek, Polish Land Forces, Poland
• Jimmie W. Monteith Jr, United States Army, United States of America

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 February 2024.

The UK government has outlined a package of energy and infrastructure support to boost trade and drive investment between the UK and the Western Balkans.

• the UK government will boost British exports and investment to the Western Balkans with up to £15.75 billion available to the region in export finance
• comes alongside £10 million to accelerate the region’s green transition
• combined support will boost prosperity and jobs both in the region and the UK

At the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Western Balkans investment summit in London today (Monday 26 February), the UK will outline a package of energy and infrastructure support to boost trade and drive investment between the UK and the Western Balkans, creating jobs and supporting livelihoods across the countries.

Security Minister Tom Tugendhat will use the summit at Lancaster House in London – attended by 4 Western Balkan Prime Ministers from Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo and UK business leaders – to highlight potential business opportunities in the region. Trade between the UK and the Western Balkans region was worth £4.5 billion in 2023 and is growing.

As the region looks to decarbonise, the UK will commit additional funding of £4.2 million to accelerate the transition away from coal and develop wind power to support many of the countries in the region to end dependence on Russian energy supplies, building on the £1.1 million provided last year for energy security through partners including the World Bank.

The UK government will continue its commitment to driving investment into the Western Balkans with up to £15.75 billion available to boost British exports through UK Export Finance, which provides guarantees for UK companies to trade overseas with confidence. This funding is already delivering tangible benefits for the region like the £363 million for the Morava Corridor Motorway in Serbia, which will connect the industrial city of Kruševac to important regional commercial centres of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the port city of Bar, Montenegro.

Against backdrop of a growing number of tensions across the region, UK programme funding will also be increased by £10 million from next financial year to support the region’s prosperity and security – from bolstering resilience against malign activity, interference and cyberattacks, to economic development and working alongside partners to tackle corruption and serious organised crime.

During the summit, Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said:

Today’s summit and announcements of extra funding demonstrates the UK’s enduring commitment to the Western Balkans and the associated opportunities to boost prosperity and jobs in the UK and the region itself.

By strengthening investment today, the UK is boosting the livelihoods of people across the Western Balkans, providing a longer-term solution in addressing drivers of illegal migration alongside the progress the UK government is making to disrupt the work of people smugglers.

In the margins of the summit, the Security Minister will hold talks with the Prime Ministers of Serbia, North Macedonia, Kosovo and with Prime Minister Milojko Spajić of Montenegro he will reaffirm UK support for Montenegro’s aspirations for a more inclusive democracy with a strengthened rule of law.

He will also meet Albanian Deputy Prime Minister Balluku to highlight the growing UK-Albania partnership which has helped to decrease small boats crossings by Albanian nationals by 90% on last year.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 February 2024.

UK Minister for Europe, Leo Docherty, condemns the undemocratic conduct of the 2024 parliamentary elections in Belarus, amid increasing repression.

The parliamentary elections in Belarus on 20 to 25 February represented a continued undermining of democratic freedoms and a further crackdown on civil society.

Minister for Europe, Leo Docherty said:

The UK condemns the repressive and opaque conditions in which yesterday’s elections in Belarus took place. The lead-up to the elections saw blatant intimidation and yet another wave of reprisals and arrests. Shockingly, this included harassment targeted at families of political prisoners, who have already experienced the trauma of their loved ones being detained for exercising fundamental freedoms.

The regime stifled genuine opposition parties and refused to invite independent OSCE election observers. These actions are at odds with Belarus’ international commitments and demonstrate a clear desire to avoid transparency in the election process.

The UK urges Belarus to follow its OSCE commitments and international human rights obligations in all respects, including restoring an open civil society, to create an environment in which fresh elections which meet international standards can be held.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 February 2024.

The UK government gave a statement on the 10th anniversary of the Russian annexation of Crimea.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said:

Ten years ago Russia illegally, and unacceptably sought to annex Crimea. An action which, eight years later was used to launch its full-scale invasion into Ukraine.

Today, Russia continues to deprive Ukrainians in Crimea of their liberty, waging a brutal and systematic campaign of human rights abuses and violations. This is unacceptable, and Russia must be held to account.

We want to be clear that the UK will never recognise Russia’s illegal claims to the region, or to any Ukrainian territory and that we will continue to do all we can to stop Putin’s war machine, and support Ukraine in their fight, for as long as it takes.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 February 2024.

New UK funding for innovative mobile phone technology will help change lives in the poorest countries around the world.

• entrepreneurs receive new support to develop innovative mobile technology to help tackle development challenges around the world
• previous funding through scheme has helped develop artificial intelligence (AI) to provide advice to farmers in remote areas
• the programme brings the mobile industry and development community together to boost livelihoods

New UK funding for innovative mobile phone technology will help change lives in the poorest countries around the world, Development Minister Andrew Mitchell will announce today.

Harnessing AI technology to provide real-time agricultural advice to farmers in Nigeria and pay-as-you-go solar powered fridges are just some of the ways UK-funded mobile technology is improving livelihoods globally.

At a speech at the Mobile World Congress today, Minister Mitchell will announce the UK is providing £37.3 million of new support for the Mobile for Development Programme, to help more people access mobile and digital technologies to find new opportunities and boost their livelihoods.

The programme, which the UK funds in partnership with UK-based mobile industry association GSMA and the private sector, has already benefitted more than 94 million people and focuses on women and girls, climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience and scaling up innovative solutions.

Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell said:

Mobile technology has the potential to revolutionise the lives of the poor by helping tackle the effects of climate change, creating jobs and boosting opportunities for women.

The Mobile for Development programme has already benefitted more than 100 million people, and the UK’s new announcement aims to up the ambition, reaching 110 million additional people, including 60 million women.

Together the worlds of development and mobile tech giants can be a powerful force to unlock opportunities and prosperity, and meet the UN Global Goals.

UK funding has previously helped scale up a digital hub in Pakistan, BaKhabar Kissan (BKK), which provides accurate weather forecasting data to farmers to help them make critical farming decisions such as the timing of seed sowing, irrigation, and fertilisation. With the help of this programme, BKK has almost doubled users from 6.6 million to 12.4 million.

Another innovative business, Ensibuuko, is providing digital skills training to help community savings groups in rural Uganda keep up with the latest digital products and services where previously they relied on paper record-keeping. Since gaining funding, Ensibuuko has benefited over 236,000 members of rural savings groups, 60% of whom are women, providing them with digital skills training.

John Giusti, President of the GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation, said:

For more than a decade, the FCDO and the GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation have worked closely in partnership to drive socio-economic and climate impact for the most underserved populations through digital innovation, and to date our partnership has improved the lives of more than 127 million people.

Today’s renewal of our partnership will further amplify our joint impact by leveraging the power of digital and emerging technologies to support innovation, improve access to opportunities for women, and tackle the effects of climate change for the most vulnerable.

With the increase in climate crises around the world, the need for new solutions to help vulnerable countries adapt is growing and mobile technology can make a big difference to people’s lives.

At the Mobile World Congress, GSMA will announce the grantees for its Climate Resilience and Adaptation Fund which is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. This fund is designed to test and scale up new technology to combat the effects of climate change in countries throughout Africa and Asia.

Some of the projects being funded include one using AI-powered satellite imagery to help smallholder farmers increase their yields and another to reduce food waste via an online grocery platform.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 February 2024.

Minister for Armed Forces, James Heappey, met President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and UK troops delivering training and capacity building to Somali Security Forces.

• UK Minister for Armed Forces visited Mogadishu to strengthen the UK-Somalia partnership.
• The Minister met President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at Villa Somalia, as well as UN Special Representative Catriona Laing and other international partners.
• The Minister also visited UK troops delivering training and capacity building to Somali Security Forces.

UK Minister for Armed Forces, James Heappey MP, visited Mogadishu on 25 February in order to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to defence and security cooperation with Somalia.

His visit offered the opportunity to engage the Federal Government of Somalia following the launch of the UK Somalia Strategic Partnership in November 2023. Minister Heappey spent time with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at Villa Somalia, where the pair discussed how to further strengthen bonds between the two countries, particularly to help improve security in the country and prepare for the ATMIS transition process.

The Minister also met British soldiers delivering training to the Somali Security Forces and discussed options for further support to Somali efforts to counter al-Shabaab.

James Heappey, UK Minister for Armed Forces, said:

Somalia is a key partner for the UK and is vital to security and stability across the region. My visit enabled me to see first hand the impact of UK-Somalia security cooperation, as well as encourage greater collaboration and deconfliction with key international partners, including the UN, US and EU.

The challenges facing Somalia are complex, but we remain steadfast supporters of the efforts of the Federal Government to take the fight to al-Shabaab, take greater control of domestic security and deliver a secure and stable future for the Somali people.

Meetings with key international partners provided an opportunity for the Minister to emphasise the need for continued cooperation and to ensure effective and efficient support is provided to the Federal Government of Somalia.

Minister Heappey will continue his regional visit with engagements in Kenya, demonstrating the vital importance of the region to the UK.