Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 3 December 2023.

Writing in The Sun on Sunday, Foreign Secretary David Cameron outlined how the UK must build up defences, stay close to partners, and reach out to new allies.

In the last fortnight, I’ve stood in a bombed out cathedral in one of Ukraine’s most beautiful cities and watched as brave Ukrainian soldiers kiss families goodbye as they left for the front to fight Putin’s illegal invasion.

I’ve walked through an Israeli Kibbutz where parents were slaughtered in front of their children. I’ve listened to stories of families whose loved ones have cruelly been taken hostage by Hamas, and heard testimony from British citizens fleeing the bombardment of Gaza.

There have been warnings that Iran could escalate the conflict in the Middle East through their proxies like Hizbollah in Lebanon or the Houthis in Yemen.

And I’ve seen briefings that make clear the risks of cyber attacks and industrial espionage, whether they are coming out of China, Russia or North Korea.

Always, the conclusion I reach is the same.

It is hard to recall in recent memory a time of such danger and uncertainty.

When I started my first political job in the late 1980s working for Margaret Thatcher, things looked so different.  The Cold War was ending and the Berlin Wall coming down.  Democracy was spreading, trade barriers were tumbling and more countries and people were embracing freedom and prosperity.

How should we respond to this new reality?

First, by understanding how profoundly our world has changed.

The forces shaping it – a warmonger in the Kremlin, a more aggressive China, Islamist extremism poisoning young minds – these things aren’t going to disappear overnight.

There’s no point hoping for some magical return to the world as it once was. Hope isn’t a policy.

And there’s no point pretending that we can somehow insulate ourselves from these crises, or pull up some imaginary drawbridge.

It’s not just that Putin’s war has hit energy and food prices here at home.  Or that conflict in the Middle East, if it flares out of control, can do the same.

It’s that if Putin isn’t stopped in Ukraine he will be back for more. And we know from our history that appeasing dictators ultimately wrecks British interests and costs British lives.

Conflict in the Middle East doesn’t stay in the region.  It can destabilise our allies and trigger mass migrations.  And it deeply affects Jewish and Muslim populations in our own countries.

Our response needs to be one of strength, resilience and unity.

We need to build up our defences, stay close to our strongest friends and partners, and reach out to new allies.

That’s why next week I will be heading to Washington DC to work with our closest and strongest ally, the USA.

The debate there – about how much to help Ukraine and for how long – is underway.

I know the arguments – that European security is American security and that dictators shouldn’t be appeased – will win the day.

But I want to reassure them that we will stay the course and galvanise other allies too.

Yes, I stood in the bombed cathedral in Ukraine, but I also heard how Ukraine’s forces destroyed a fifth of Russia’s attack helicopters in Ukraine in just one night.  How Putin’s Black Sea fleet has been pushed largely out of Crimea.  How Ukraine is shipping grain again, with its economy growing again.

Likewise, while the scenes unfolding in Gaza are appalling, we doubled our humanitarian aid to those needing support in Gaza, and have been able to use the recent humanitarian pauses to get hostages out and aid in.

In these uncertain times, we need to make sure that the assets we have really deliver the results we need.

In recent years, the government has crafted a new security strategy which wins praise from allies. We have increased defence spending. We have shown leadership on Ukraine and in NATO. We have forged stronger ties in the Gulf and Indo-Pacific. We must keep driving this work forward.

It is a privilege to return to government with responsibility for the Foreign Office.

I want to use my experience to make sure that every part of it – from world class diplomats to experts in development, from our crises response teams to our world renowned intelligence capabilities – are focused on our security and our prosperity.

With strength and resilience must come unity.

Last week I sat in NATO’s first Council meeting with Ukraine and saw the strength of the most successful alliance in history.  Add together the economies of the countries backing Ukraine against Russia and we outmatch Putin by almost 30 to 1.  With the support we give to Ukraine – whether its artillery shells or economic support – we must make that economic strength count.

And if we can bring together all those who want a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians, we may even be able to turn this horrific situation into an opportunity for real progress.

We must be clear-eyed about both the threats we face and those who want to see us fail.

But if we turn this moment of danger and insecurity into something that brings a new sense of unity between allies, there is no reason why we cannot prevail.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 December 2023.

The UK government announces measures to support climate-vulnerable countries and joins calls for bolder action on climate adaptation.

• £100 million of UK funding will help climate-vulnerable populations adapt to climate change
• at COP28 Summit today, the UK will call for bolder action to fight the impact climate change is having on health
• package that contributes towards the £1.6 billion of climate aid announced by the Prime Minister on Friday

The UK government will make commitments to help vulnerable countries strengthen their resilience to the increasingly frequent and severe effects of climate change at the COP28 Summit on Sunday (3 December).

International Development and Africa Minister Andrew Mitchell will announce £100 million to support some of the most climate-vulnerable countries to tackle climate change. This will support an initiative to strengthen early warning systems in countries on the front line of climate change, giving people advanced warning of cyclones, flooding and other extreme weather so they can move away from danger, saving lives and protecting vulnerable communities.

The funding will also help make health care in these areas more resilient and able to withstand disasters, like floods, and ready to deal with spikes in infectious diseases, like cholera and malaria, due to floods caused by climate change.

Recognising the urgency of the situation, which forces 26 million into poverty every year, the government will also join calls for bolder collective action to protect the lives, health and livelihoods of those most impacted by climate change.

This supports the Prime Minister announcing major funding for climate projects and stressing the need for ambitious, innovative and pragmatic action.

International Development and Africa Minister Andrew Mitchell, said:

The devastating effects of climate change hit the most vulnerable the hardest.

These funding commitments will help countries and people be better prepared and protected against extreme weather events and natural disasters. They will help roll out measures such as early warning systems, and open up access to climate finance to build resilient health services.

The UK will continue to press for a bold and ambitious approach to support those on the frontline of our changing climate, and to create a safer planet for us all.

On behalf of the UK, Minister Mitchell will endorse the ‘Getting Ahead of Disasters’ Charter, the ‘COP28 Declaration on Relief, Recovery and Peace’, and the ‘COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health’.

Speaking at COP28, he will outline details of the funding package, which include:

• nearly £20 million for a package of disaster risk financing and early warning systems. This will help the one-third of the world’s population who are not covered by early warning systems to prepare for climate shocks and extreme weather, reducing disaster-related mortality and damage. It will also provide affordable insurance against climate disasters, such as droughts
• funding of £36 million for climate action in the Middle East and North Africa to support long-term climate stability. This will mobilise $500 million for clean energy and green growth projects, support 450,000 people to adapt to climate change, and support 200,000 women in better protecting their families from climate shocks. This delivers on the UK’s commitment to scale up pre-arranged finance for crisis recovery
• over £4.4 million to improve access to climate finance for Small Island Developing States and enable them to adapt to the impacts of climate change, with support from the Global Environment Facility’s Special Climate Change Fund and the Alliance of Small Island States
• another £3 million for a new research hub in partnership with Canada, to help local communities address climate shocks and adapt to the long-term impacts of a changing climate. This will be delivered through the Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE) programme, launched by the UK at COP26
• up to £18 million for an innovative new programme to adapt and strengthen health systems. This will help partner countries manage the growing health impacts of climate change, from infectious diseases and food shortages, to water insecurity and other health-related emergencies. It will be the first climate and health programme to be announced by a G7 country
• a further £20 million for a new research programme to guide the UK’s future work on climate-resilient health systems, recognising the fast-evolving agenda and the need for a stronger evidence base of what works to address the growing threats from climate change to health
• finally, £3 million for a new partnership with the International Rescue Committee to reduce the impact of climate-related crises on schools, students and communities. The Climate Resilient Education Systems Trial will build an evidence base of effective approaches to combatting climate change in and through education

At the COP28 Summit on Sunday (3 December), the UK will convene experts and thought leaders for a panel discussion on climate security. It will be the first time that the UK has hosted such an event, with the US, the EU, Iraq, Kenya, Mali, NATO, and United Nations Development Programme expected to attend. It aims to improve collective understanding of the security implications of climate change, including global instability and conflict, while exploring best practice to respond to these risks through data-informed policy making, stress testing, analytical foresight capability, and international cooperation.

Background:

The £20 million disaster risk financing package consists of:

• £5 million for the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative to enable the least developed countries and Small Island Developing States to better prepare for climate shocks and extreme weather
• £7.4 million to fund drought insurance protection for Somalia over the next 3 years through African Risk Capacity (ARC), Africa’s risk pool, which will provide rapid payouts to vulnerable communities if rains fail
• £7.1 million to fund disaster insurance cover in Senegal, Somalia, Madagascar and Zimbabwe over 2 years through the Start Network, which allows members to pool funds and risks in order to stretch funding further and provide additional cover. This will also cover locally-led responses to the impact of El Niño-driven extreme weather across multiple countries

The £40 million climate-health package consists of:

• £18 million for the UK’s flagship Climate Resilient and Sustainable Health Systems Programme
• £20 million for a newly approved Climate and Health Research Programme
• increased funding to UNICEF to help develop the climate resilience of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services and to unlock climate finance

The new CLARE Research for Impact (R4I) Hub will identify demand from key stakeholders and match it with past research investments made by the UK and Canada. By repurposing this evidence to meet the specific decision-making contexts and the local adaptation needs and priorities, it will lead to more tangible impacts on the ground.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 December 2023.

A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson gave a statement following Russia’s failure to gain election to the IMO Council.

In the last few weeks, Russia has failed to be elected to the International Court of Justice, Human Rights Council, UNESCO Executive Board, and the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.  Yesterday, it failed to be elected to the International Maritime Organisation Council.

This pattern of failure is no coincidence – any state that illegally invades another, commits a litany of human rights violations, attacks civilian ships, fires missiles at World Heritage sites, and contravenes the Chemical Weapons Convention, is manifestly unworthy of a role within these organisations.

The implications are clear: if Russia wishes to contribute to global governance, it must respect its international obligations.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 December 2023.

Explanation of vote by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Sudan.

Thank you President, the United Kingdom welcomes adoption of the resolution and thanks Council members for their engagement.

Let me be clear, the United Kingdom would not have chosen to close UNITAMS at this moment.  We commend the work done by the mission both before and since the outbreak of conflict. But given the unequivocal demand of the Sudanese authorities for the immediate termination of UNITAMS we have worked tirelessly as penholder to agree a compromise of an orderly transition and liquidation.

We reiterate that the Sudanese authorities remain responsible for the safety and security of UNITAMS staff and assets during this transition and call for their full cooperation in allowing an orderly withdrawal and the transfer of relevant tasks, including by granting necessary visas in a timely manner.

President, conflict in Sudan has derailed the political transition UNITAMS was created to support.  It has caused immense human suffering, atrocities against civilians and reports of ethnic cleansing in Darfur.  There can be no military solution to this conflict and that the two warring parties should engage in meaningful talks towards a permanent ceasefire and transfer of power to a civilian administration.

And though the UN mission to assist the democratic transition in Sudan will close, the need for the UN and international community to support the Sudanese people has not reduced. We welcome the appointment of Ramtane Lamamra as the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Sudan and we encourage all parties to engage with him constructively.

The United Kingdom looks forward to continuing its close cooperation with Council members, UN, the Sudanese authorities, and other stakeholders to support the Sudanese people in realising their aspirations for a peaceful, stable, democratic, and prosperous future.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 December 2023.

Explanation of vote by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Somalia.

Thank you, President, let me begin by congratulating China on their Presidency on the month of November, and in particular, welcoming you President to the Council. Wishing you all the best for your Presidency for the month of December, you have our full support.

President, the United Kingdom is pleased to table today two resolutions which together impose strong sanctions, including an arms embargo, on Al-Shabaab and lift the legacy arms embargo on Somalia.

The UK worked closely with Somalia in preparing these two texts, and is grateful for their constructive engagement throughout. The UK is also grateful to Council Members for their cooperation throughout the negotiation process and especially to African Members of the Council, and regional stakeholders, with whom we have consulted closely throughout.

President, we recognise these texts represent compromises for many delegations, we nevertheless urge all Council Members to vote for both texts, in solidarity with Somalia and against Al-Shabaab.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 December 2023.

The International Partners Group (IPG) co-led by the UK and EU, and also comprising Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway and the US, welcome and endorse the Resource Mobilisation Plan for the Just Energy Transition Partnership with Viet Nam.

Today, the International Partners Group, comprised of the United Kingdom (UK), the European Union (EU), Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway and the United States of America, and co-led by the EU and the UK, welcomes and endorses Viet Nam’s Just Energy Transition Partnership Resource Mobilisation Plan (RMP). The RMP is part of the Just Energy Transition Partnership, which was agreed between Viet Nam and the International Partners Group in December 2022 and will help the country deliver on its climate targets.

During the World Leaders Summit at COP28 on 1 December 2023, Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính launched the Resource Mobilisation Plan (RMP). The launch of the RMP represents a key milestone towards the implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), which was agreed between Viet Nam and the International Partners Group (IPG) in December 2022 at the EU-ASEAN summit in Brussels and outlined in the JETP Political Declaration.

The Partnership supports Viet Nam to deliver on its net zero 2050 goal and 2030 targets to accelerate and reduce the peaking of its greenhouse gas emissions and transition away from fossil fuels to clean energy.

The RMP is an important first step towards the implementation of the JETP and will by nature be a living document, updated regularly as implementation progresses. It includes an assessment of priority investments, which will help Viet Nam deliver on its pathway to net-zero emissions and identify a set of priority policy actions and regulatory reforms to develop an enabling environment for investment, to boost renewables and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The plan also identifies priority investment projects in JETP-related areas, and includes building blocks for a framework to analyse and monitor the just aspect of the energy transition with the ultimate objective to leave no one behind in the green transition.

Moving forwards, strong partnership will be required to implement the policy actions outlined in the RMP, particularly on improving the regulatory framework in order to facilitate the flows of necessary public and private investments.

The RMP provides further details on USD 15.8 billion of finance that has been committed to the JETP, USD 8.08 billion being provided by IPG and USD 7.75 billion by the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ).

The IPG public funds will be channelled via various financial instruments and mechanisms, such as grants, concessional loans and risk-sharing instruments over a period of 3 to 5 years. These funds will help to mobilise the much larger volume of private finance for the just energy transition.

With the release of this plan, Viet Nam makes an additional step to work toward achieving the JETP targets agreed to in the Political Declaration:

• bringing forward the projected peaking date for all greenhouse gas emissions in Viet Nam from 2035 to 2030
• reaching peak annual power sector emissions of 170 megatons CO2e by 2030
• limiting Viet Nam’s peak coal-fired generation capacity to 30.2 gigawatts
• accelerating the adoption of renewables so that renewable energy accounts for at least 47 percent of electricity generation by 2030

The Government of Viet Nam and the IPG will continue to work together to implement the RMP. The JETP Secretariat and 4 Working Groups (WGs) have been set up to progress on the implementation. As part of these WGs, the IPG will support technical analytic work to guide future investment and policy actions in view of achieving JETP ambitions. These combined efforts are designed to help catalyse additional investments in Viet Nam’s energy transition to enable the achievement of Viet Nam JETP targets.

Civil society also plays a crucial role for the advancement and acceptance of measures and impacts related to the energy transition. As stated in the Political Declaration, it is vital that civil society is actively involved in a transparent manner at all stages of the JETP to make sure the necessary transition will be just and inclusive.

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak, said:

The Resource Mobilisation Plan will unlock the vital finance needed to accelerate Viet Nam’s transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. It will help meet Viet Nam’s ambitious climate and economic goals while ensuring working people and communities are not left behind – delivering a just and fair transition to net zero. The UK is proud to be a partner in helping to deliver it.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said:

The launch of the Resource Mobilisation Plan is a great milestone for the implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership. It demonstrates Viet Nam’s leadership in paving the way for a clean energy future. The EU is proud to be part of this Partnership and we remain committed to working with Viet Nam to support the necessary reforms for speeding up crucial investment into renewable energy and a green economy.

The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, said:

The Vietnam Just Energy Transition Partnership Resource Mobilisation Plan demonstrates Viet Nam’s commitment to building the clean energy economy of the 21st century. Canada continues to support cleaner energy and coal phase-out in Viet Nam and looks to the future where the JETP will contribute to a global legacy of responsible energy practices and shared prosperity. Together, we lay the foundation for a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow.

The Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, said:

Congratulations to Prime Minister Chính and the government of Vietnam on today’s important step towards implementing the Just Energy Transition Partnership. At this critical moment in Vietnam’s transition, Denmark and IPG stand ready to support Vietnam to get on track to deliver on its ambitious Net Zero 2050 goal. Denmark has more than 40 years of experience with green transition and we have shown that the green transition can be a driver for jobs and green economic growth. We are committed to sharing our experiences and knowhow to support Vietnam’s just energy transition.

The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, said:

The launch of the Resource Mobilisation Plan is a key milestone that paves the way for a just energy transition that leaves no one behind. It symbolizes our collective efforts to enable Viet Nam to achieve its ambitious climate goals and accelerate its transition away from fossil fuels. France is pleased to be part of this just energy transition partnership that guarantees a resilient and prosperous future for the Vietnamese people, by reducing the consequences of pollution and promoting economic growth and job creation, and encapsulates the principle enshrined in the Paris Pact for People and the Planet, that no country should have to choose between fighting poverty and fighting for the planet.

The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Olaf Scholz, said:

Today’s launch of the Resource Mobilisation Plan for a Just Energy Transition Partnership marks an important step towards a green and just energy transition in Viet Nam. Germany highly appreciates Viet Nam’s ambitious climate targets and the commitment to increase renewable energies by 2030. We will work together to create a favourable framework and to implement the Plan swiftly. Germany is committed to provide substantial financing for implementing the Just Energy Transition Partnership with Viet Nam. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with the government, civil society and the private sector to ensure a transparent and equitable process to achieve our joint goals.

The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, said:

The launch of the Resource Mobilisation Plan for the Just Energy Transition Partnership  marks an important step forward in our collective efforts to support and accelerate Vietnam’s energy transition towards a sustainable future.  Italy is proud to be part of this ambitious initiative and is committed to continue working with the Partnership.

The Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Ghar Støre, said:

We welcome the finalization of the Resource Mobilistion Plan for the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with Vietnam. Now we can focus on implementation. Norway stands ready to contribute through investments and sharing of expertise and experiences.

The United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, said:

Today’s launch of the Resource Mobilisation Plan (RMP) marks an important milestone in Viet Nam’s clean energy transition and commitment to accelerating efforts to reduce emissions and achieve ambitious climate targets. The United States will continue to support Vietnam in this important endeavour to create the foundation and investment environment for a dynamic and just green economy and cleaner future for the Vietnamese people.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 November 2023.

The Foreign Secretary sent a video message to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Zagreb plenary, outlining priorities for the UK presidency next year.

Secretary-General, Ambassador Gras and Ms Lustig, distinguished IHRA members, it is an honour to address you all ahead of Britain’s Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

The Nazis’ murder of 6 million Jews was the darkest hour in human history. An abject moral catastrophe. A moment forever seared in our collective memory. A moment which must never happen again.

Tragically, recent events have underlined its continued relevance today. Israel was founded in the shadow of the Holocaust as a place of sanctuary for the Jewish people. Hamas poses an immediate, existential threat to the very idea of such a state.

And we have seen the ugly face of anti-Semitism resurface, with an unprecedented surge in hate crime globally since the barbaric attacks of October 7th. Shamefully, this was also the case in the United Kingdom.

And so, as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said, we all share a responsibility to keep the promise recently projected onto the Brandenburg Gate: ‘Never again is now’.

This Alliance exists to keep that promise. To uphold the 2000 Stockholm Declaration. To protect the memory of all Holocaust victims and survivors. To ensure we truly grasp its lessons for today. To contribute to the struggle against repugnant antisemitic beliefs, whatever form they take.

Remembrance requires a collective effort, bringing together governments and academics, educators and faith leaders, survivors and young people, countries from around the world.

It is something I have always tried to contribute to. As a father, sitting with my young children in the shadow of the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, trying to explain to them the horror of the Holocaust. As a citizen, learning from the bravery of survivors like Susie Lind or Jack Kagan, or my own visit to Auschwitz, a harrowing reminder of why we must stand up for inclusiveness and tolerance. And in my time as Prime Minister, setting up the Holocaust Commission, who recommended establishing the Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre that will soon be built right here in the heart of London.

I am therefore proud as Foreign Secretary that Britain will soon take over the presidency of the IHRA once again. I pay tribute to the Croatian presidency, in particular its co-chairs. We look forward to sustaining the momentum you have generated behind the Alliance’s work plan.

We will soon mark the 85th anniversary of the first Kindertransport, that great rescue of almost ten thousand Jewish children. I once met one, whose grandfather had written in their diary before they fled Prague, “be a great daughter to the country that gives you a home”.

And all of them were great children to their new homelands, living ten, twenty lives over, for all those they left behind. They became Nobel prize winners, a member of the House of Lords, the midwife who first held the future King Charles the Third.

Our Presidency coincides with other significant anniversaries. The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. And the 25th anniversary of the Stockholm Declaration.

Each anniversary leaves us torn, with joy at what was achieved, almost overwhelmed by grief at lives lost and potential unfulfilled. Each, however, must spur us on to guarantee the future of Holocaust remembrance.

With memory of it soon to pass out of our living history, I have always believed we have a sacred duty. To keep knowledge of it strong and vibrant, educating children of whatever faith or none, reaching out to all parts of society in each country represented today.

Our Presidency therefore aims to help children understand that the Holocaust did not happen in secret, hidden away in a dark corner, beyond most citizens’ gaze. It took place in plain sight.

We want to shine a spotlight on the circumstances that led up to the Holocaust, the nature of society that allowed it to happen, in plain sight. We will bring into focus all those who played a part, be it as perpetrators, rescuers or bystanders.

We will remember all those murdered for who they were and what they believed – the 6 million Jewish people, Roma, disabled, gay men, political opponents and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

We aim to reach thousands of young people across the Alliance, supporting them to undertake local projects on the impact of the Holocaust in their home towns.

Alongside this, we will prioritise tackling the continued rise of Holocaust distortion. We have a duty to protect the facts, fighting back against attempts to minimise or erase the devastation endured by the Jewish people.

Artificial Intelligence offers transformative possibilities for education. But there are  risks that it fuels distorted narratives. Our Presidency, together with the OSCE, will therefore convene AI, social media and other experts to address our response to Holocaust distortion, including from deep fake technology and disinformation online.

We also welcome IHRA support to Ukraine over the past 21 months, working with its remit to translate IHRA guidance into Russian and Ukrainian. Like many IHRA member states, Ukraine has a complex Holocaust history.

And I heard during my recent visit how Russia is spreading false narratives to justify its illegal invasion. Given this, it is vital that IHRA continues to support them in protecting their sites and records.

For 25 years, the Alliance has embodied the spirit of its first honorary chair, Elie Wiesel. Like him, we all “want to protect and enrich the kingdom of memory, glorify that kingdom and serve it”.

The UK is looking forward to welcoming you all next year, to Glasgow in June and London in December. And to working with you all in service of that kingdom.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 November 2023.

The UK, France and Germany have issued a joint statement in response to Iran’s announcement on the unveiling of the Fattah-2 missile system.

E3 statement on Iranian Fattah-2 missile announcement:

The E3 – France, Germany and the United Kingdom – condemn the unveiling of a further new ballistic missile variant by Iran on 19th November. Iran continues to develop its missile programme despite repeated international calls to halt it, and after years of disregarding UN restrictions.

Iran’s continued development of its ballistic missile programme follows continued nuclear escalation, beyond all credible civilian justification, and previously conducted research on nuclear weapons delivery. These escalations also highlight the grave threat Iran poses to global and regional security.

The E3 remain committed to taking every diplomatic step to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and to holding Iran to account for its destabilising activity around the region and internationally.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 November 2023.

UK Minister for Armed Forces James Heappey says the UK will ensure that Ukraine prevails and that OSCE principles should be the foundation of peace in Europe.

Thank you, Foreign Minister Osmani.

I wanted to begin by paying  tribute to you, for your personal leadership of the OSCE in such difficult times. And to the Secretary General and her staff.

Our thoughts are with those OSCE personnel cruelly detained by Russia. They must be released, immediately.

As our new Foreign Secretary said at dinner last night, we face a daunting set of challenges. But these only make clear why we must back the OSCE.

The return of war to Europe only underlines the enduring value of this institution.

OSCE principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-use of force should be the foundation of peace on the European continent.

Russia has trampled on these principles with devastating results.

Ukraine is fighting not just for its freedom but the right of all nations to make sovereign choices free from coercion.

Sustaining Ukraine’s success means sustaining our support.

The UK will continue to provide the economic, military, humanitarian, and diplomatic support to ensure that Ukraine prevails.

We want them to secure the lasting peace that their people deserve and that the European continent needs.

Nor can we waver in holding Russia to account for its actions against OSCE principles and commitments. Commitments that it co-wrote.

The OSCE has played a key role through the Moscow Mechanism reports in exposing the appalling reality of Russian atrocities in Ukraine.

Given the crucial role of the OSCE in holding Russia to account, it is no surprise to see their continued efforts to undermine this organisation.

We are delighted that in Malta we have a highly qualified Chair in Office.

But we also need an agreed and appropriate budget.

And above all we need institutional leadership as well.

All four job holders are carrying out their mandates extremely effectively and should be extended for at least a year.

The OSCE was forged in the middle of the Cold War.

Since then, it has had Britain’s full support.

Russia is failing in its illegal war.

And failing in its attempts to disrupt this organisation.

We must deliver a strong, functioning and adequately resourced OSCE.

We owe it to the OSCE’s founders, to our citizens, and to future generations to have an effective Organization.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 November 2023.

The UK Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Lord Stuart Peach paid a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) from 26 to 29 November 2023.

Lord Peach began with a visit to the Srebrenica Memorial Centre where he heard about the Centre’s efforts to create a long lasting, world renowned place of research and history. In his meeting with young people working at the Memorial Centre he emphasised the vital role of this institution in ‘helping all of us to understand what happened, how to explain it, how to build dialogue and how to learn lessons to prevent any repeat’.

In Sarajevo, Lord Peach met with a range of government and non-governmental representatives, as well as the representatives of the International Community including Commander of the EUFOR General Major Habermayer and the Head of the EU Delegation/EUSR Sattler. In separate calls with BiH Presidency Chairman Zeljko Komsic and member Denis Becirovic, he reiterated the UK’s continued support to BiH’s Euro-Atlantic path and to BiH efforts towards greater security, stability and prosperity for all.  In conversation with Mayor Karic and the Sarajevo City Assembly Speaker Jasmin Ademovic Lord Peach welcomed their initiative to support victims of GBV across the country and to promote greater protection for vulnerable groups.

At the conclusion of his visit, Lord Peach noted the experience and commitment to the country’s progress shown by civil society and some political leaders. He encouraged his interlocutors to remain committed to constructive cooperation, dialogue and compromise, as the only way to deliver for citizens.

Lord Peach reflected on his visit saying:

As I depart from my visit to BiH, I urge all in government to continue the positive momentum for all citizens. In our disturbed world, now more than ever, we should work together on our values and a better future. Not to give in and join in ethnic division, hate speech and those who revel in the past. The young people of this country deserve a better future.