Tag: Foreign Office

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

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN General Assembly 54th plenary meeting 78th session.

Thank you President, and thank you Secretary-General for your report. The United Kingdom is clear that multilateralism is the best tool we have to tackle the shared challenges of the 21st century. Let me highlight three areas.

First, we must strive for peace, upholding the principles and agreements to which we have collectively committed. Two years since its illegal invasion, Russia continues to launch indiscriminate attacks on Ukrainian civilians. In Gaza, we witness the harrowing impacts of the humanitarian crisis on Palestinian civilians.

2024 should be the year that Russia withdraws its troops from Ukraine and ceases its aggression. We must immediately address humanitarian need in Gaza and take action to secure a sustainable, permanent ceasefire and bring peace and security to both Israelis and Palestinians.

Second, the United Kingdom is committed to ending extreme poverty, tackling climate change and biodiversity loss and promoting gender equality. We will champion action to accelerate progress towards the SDGs, including through UN and international financial system reform. UK priorities will be mobilising more and better development and climate financing, and promoting greater access to education, economic opportunities and the protection of sexual and reproductive health rights for all women and girls.

And finally, we look forward to the Summit of the Future as an opportunity to rebuild trust and strengthen the multilateral system. The UK is concerned by the financial challenges facing the organisation and we are committed to stabilising UN finances to ensure that the organisation can serve those in need.

The UK looks forward to working with you and all Member States in the year ahead.

Thank you.

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

Diplomatic missions call on Israel to halt demolitions and confiscations of Palestinian houses and property in the West Bank

Representatives of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the European Union  together with the Palestinian Ministry of Education call on Israel to rescind its recent decision of the Israeli Civil Administration to demolish a donor-funded school in Amera, Hebron.

Israeli authorities issued a final demolition order against the school on Education Day (24th January), leaving the school at imminent risk of demolition. Should the demolition go ahead, 39 Palestinian school children will be deprived of their basic right to education. The nearest alternative schools are approximately 5km away. Without adequate transport, students must make the long journey by foot, exposed to settler attacks, a heavily trafficked road and inclement weather. Under these conditions, girls and children with disabilities in particular are at a high risk of dropping out.

Palestinian schools in Area C – including those funded by donors – remain vulnerable to Israeli demolitions and settler violence. Since 2022, Israeli authorities have demolished three donor-funded schools. In addition, three donor-funded schools have been vandalised by Israeli settlers and are currently not operational.

Under international law, Israel, as occupying power, has an obligation to ensure that the occupied civilian population has adequate access to basic education.  Palestinian children’s right to an education is undermined by Israel’s planning and zoning system in Area C which prevents Palestinian development, and construction of schools in Area C.

Representatives of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the European Union  call on Israel to halt demolitions and confiscations of Palestinian houses and property in accordance with its obligations as an occupying power under international humanitarian law, and to cease the policy of settlement construction and expansion, of designating land for exclusive Israeli use and of denying Palestinian development.  Failure to do so seriously undermines a two state solution and is a major impediment to peace and security.

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

The agreement opens up opportunities for direct flights between the two countries.

On 23 January 2024, the Minister of Roads and Transport Development of Mongolia, Sandag Byambatsogt, and His Majesty’s Ambassador to Mongolia Fiona Blyth, signed an air services agreement between the government of Mongolia and the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.  The agreement opens up opportunities for direct flights between the two countries.

An agreement on air services between the governments of Mongolia and the UK was established on March 1, 2000.  However, with the departure of the UK from the European Union, the agreement has been renewed with the UK. During the signature meeting, the two parties discussed ways to strengthen mutual co-operation in air, road and railway transportation.

The newly signed agreement on air transport includes new provisions:

• compliance with laws and regulations
• fair competition
• flight safety
• code sharing
• lease
• take-off and landing slots
• ground services
• environmental protection
• registration with the international civil aviation organization

The agreement also includes an aviation security article which makes provision for In-Flight Security Officers.

“MIAT” the Mongolian flag carrier has been appointed to operate passenger flights from Mongolia to London while “Eznis Airways” LLC has been appointed to operate cargo flights.

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

Statement by UK Political Coordinator Fergus Eckersley at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

Thank you Madam President, and thank you to Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for your briefing. And we welcome the representative of Ukraine to the Chamber for this meeting. The UK deeply regrets all loss of life in this war wherever it occurs. But perhaps we should start with a few facts which Russia tries to hide from the world and its own people.

In the 700 days since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine began, many, many thousands of people have been killed or injured at the hands of Russian forces.

Russia has carried out relentless attacks on civilian infrastructure, homes, schools, hospitals, and places of worship. Russian forces are reported to be responsible for large-scale atrocities, including torture, sexual violence, forced deportations and summary executions.

In the process, staggering numbers of Russian soldiers have themselves been killed and Russian families bereaved. It is the Russian Government alone that is responsible for the death and suffering caused by this war.

No amount of disinformation can obscure the very basic fact that it was Russia who invaded Ukraine unprovoked, and in clear violation of the UN Charter. It is a war that President Putin refuses to end, despite all the damage that it has done to Russia’s standing in the world, and despite the enormous numbers of Russian men and women who have been killed. He has instead chosen to double down on an imperialist fantasy.

Russian strikes continue to rain down on Ukraine using weapons procured from Kim Jong Un in violation of Security Council Resolutions. So, when Russia comes to this Council, intent on disseminating their propaganda, let us instead all remember who is responsible for this war and its terrible human cost; who continues to trample all over the principles of this organisation; and who has the power to immediately bring this war to an end.

And when Russia campaigns to undermine the supply of Western weapons, as they do again today, let us instead be proud to stand resolutely with Ukraine in defence of their sovereignty and territorial integrity. The quickest path to peace is for President Putin to end his illegal invasion. We repeat our call for Russia to respect the UN Charter and to withdraw its forces from Ukraine.

Thank you.

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

Statement by UK Political Coordinator Fergus Eckersley at the UN Security Council meeting on Iraq.

Thank you, Madam President, I would like to welcome the representatives of Iraq and Kuwait to the chamber.

Let me start by thanking the Special Representative for her briefing, and for the important work of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq. I would like to highlight three points of particular importance for the UK.

First, we commend the progress being made by Iraq across the breadth of political and economic issues set out by the Special Representative. UNAMI’s contribution to that progress is deeply valued by the United Kingdom. We look forward to discussing the outcome of the Strategic Review being led by Volker Perthes and the future shape and function of UNAMI, in discussion with relevant parties, including of course the sovereign state of Iraq.

Second, Iraq has the potential to play a strong stabilising role in the region. To do so, it is critical that its territory not be used by Iranian proxies to destabilise the region. We offer our condolences to the families of those killed in Iran’s 15 January strike on Erbil. We urge Iran to deescalate tensions in the region. We reiterate our commitment to the Global Coalition against Daesh, which operates within Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government, as well as our commitment to a secure and sovereign Iraq.

Third, we congratulate Iraq on holding its first provincial elections for a decade. We look forward to the holding of elections in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq without further delay and encourage all relevant actors to take steps to ensure necessary preparations are made to ensure they are free, fair and timely. We hope a sustainable outcome on the transfer of budget allocations from Baghdad to Erbil can be agreed and we encourage relevant political parties to play a constructive role to support that.

Finally, Madam President, we welcome the Special Representative’s update on missing Kuwaiti and third-country nationals and missing Kuwaiti property and reiterate the UK’s commitment to the work of the Tripartite Commission. We urge further progress to resolve this long-standing issue.

In closing, can I express the UK’s sincere thanks to you, Special Representative, for your outstanding work in Iraq since 2018 and we commend your powerful and hopeful words as you depart about the future of a stable and prosperous Iraq.

I thank you.

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

The UK’s statement during Monaco’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Delivered on 29 January 2024.

Thank you, Mr President,

The UK welcomes Monaco’s commitment to the protection of human rights, and its longstanding guarantees on the freedom of religion and belief within the Principality.

We commend Monaco’s efforts to improve women’s rights, and welcome the repeal of the civil code provisions which prohibit women from remarrying within 310 days of the dissolution of a previous marriage.

We note, however, that there is still work to be done to ensure the protection of women, and provision of equal rights for same-sex couples.

We recommend:

1. Improvements to conditions inside prisons, such as access to daylight, and increasing space for activities, including those outdoors.
2. Reviewing legislation concerning same-sex couples to ensure continuity with rights and recognitions afforded to opposite-sex couples.
3. Conducting an official review of legislative barriers to justice for victims of sexual crimes and domestic violence, including adopting a broader definition of domestic violence in line with the Istanbul Convention.

Thank you.

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

The UK’s statement during Belize’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Delivered on 29 January 2024.

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

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

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

Joint statement by the United Kingdom, Ecuador, France, Japan, Malta, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, Switzerland, and the United States.

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

The UK has made a statement following the announcement of Senegal’s delayed presidential elections.

An FCDO spokesperson said:

As a close friend to Senegal, the United Kingdom deeply respects Senegal’s strong tradition of democracy. We are concerned about the uncertainty created by postponing the Presidential elections. We join with ECOWAS in urging the Senegalese authorities to swiftly set a new date for elections, and in encouraging all participants to work together peacefully towards a transparent, inclusive and credible election process.