Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Home Office on 19 February 2024.

Government provides certainty and stability for Ukrainians, with visa holders now eligible to stay for an additional 18 months.

Ukrainians who sought sanctuary in the UK in the aftermath of Russia’s illegal invasion have been provided with certainty, as the government announces a new visa extension scheme.

From early 2025, all those in the UK under one of the Ukraine visa schemes will be able to apply to stay here for an additional 18 months and continue to have the same rights to access work, benefits, healthcare, and education throughout their stay. This will mean that those who came on the first visas under one of the Ukraine visa schemes could now stay in the UK until September 2026.

When the conflict began, the government very quickly established 3 generous Ukraine schemes – the first of their kind to be made operational anywhere in the world. Under Homes for Ukraine, the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Ukraine Extension Scheme, visa holders were granted 3 years leave in the UK, which would have meant the first visas were set to expire in March 2025.

The 18-month extension delivers on the government’s long-term commitment to Ukraine and comes as the world approaches 2 years since Russia’s reprehensible full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since the launch of our Ukraine schemes, the UK has offered or extended sanctuary to more than 283,000 Ukrainians, in part thanks to the immense generosity of the British public.

That generosity is in addition to the major package of military, humanitarian and economic support given to Ukraine by the UK, which now totals £11.8 billion.

Minister for Legal Migration and the Border, Tom Pursglove MP, said:

The UK Government, together with our partners and allies, stands in solidarity with Ukraine and unequivocally condemns Putin’s unprovoked, premeditated and illegal war against Ukraine.

Almost 2 years on from the start of this brutal war, over 200,000 Ukrainians and their family members have arrived in Britain. Families across the country have opened their homes and their hearts to the people of Ukraine, showing extraordinary generosity, including offering shelter to those fleeing from the horrors of war.

This new visa extension scheme provides certainty and reassurance for Ukrainians in the UK on their future as this war continues, and we will continue to provide a safe haven for those fleeing the conflict.

Minister for Housing and Communities, Felicity Buchan, said:

This is brilliant news for Ukrainians who have found refuge in the UK and are contributing so positively in our communities.

I want to pay tribute to the extraordinary generosity shown by sponsors across the country. The government continues to provide them with ‘thank-you’ payments in recognition of their support.

As more families arrive, we will need more sponsors to come forward. I encourage anyone interested in hosting to check their eligibility and apply as soon as they can.

Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of Ukraine to the UK, Eduard Fesko, said:

We welcome the announcement by the UK Government of the decision on the future functioning of the Homes for Ukraine scheme. It is a clear signal of the continuous support by the HM Government of Ukrainians, fleeing the war, through the provision of a temporary protection status in the UK until they can return home.

We appreciate all the help and assistance that our UK friends so generously provide for the temporarily displaced Ukrainians.

The 18-month visa extension will help Ukrainians plan ahead, if they choose to remain in the UK, when committing to work, study or to rent a property, for example.

It is also underlines the government’s strong belief that Ukraine will be safe again, and the hope of the Government of Ukraine that their citizens will eventually return to the country, when it is safe to do so.

Applications will be open online from early 2025, with those who have come to the UK holding, or having held, permission to remain under the Homes for Ukraine, the Ukraine Family Scheme or the Ukraine Extension Scheme eligible.

Those who were granted leave outside the rules because they required sanctuary in the UK from Ukraine will also be eligible. Individuals will be able to make their applications within the last 3 months of an existing visa.

The press release issued by 18 February 2024.

The Prime Minister spoke to European Commission President, Ursula Von der Leyen, this afternoon.

Ahead of the second anniversary of Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, they underscored the importance of providing continuing support to the Ukrainian people. The Prime Minister welcomed the recent announcement that the EU will provide €50 billion support to Ukraine, and outlined the work the UK is doing through our security cooperation agreement.

The Prime Minister and President Von der Leyen expressed their outrage at the death of Alexei Navalny, and underscored the utmost importance of holding those responsible within the Russian system to account.

The Prime Minister updated President Von der Leyen on his recent conversations with the Israeli Prime Minister and the King of Jordan about the situation in Israel and Gaza. The Prime Minister and President Von der Leyen agreed on the paramount importance of significantly more aid reaching people who desperately need it in Gaza, and expressed their deep concern about the loss of civilian life occurring there.

The leaders also agreed on the importance of freedom of navigation and condemned the Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. They welcomed efforts such as Prosperity Guardian and Operation Aspides to restore stability and keep people safe.

The leaders welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations on a new working arrangement between UK agencies and Frontex, which should be formalised in the coming days, as part of wider cooperation between the UK and EU on tackling illegal migration.

The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon.

The press release issued by Foreign Office on 18 February 2024.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron is in the Falklands Islands during the first part of his first visit to the South Atlantic, South America and New York.

• the Foreign Secretary will meet Falkland Islanders and see their work to build a thriving community and protect their natural environment
• he will reiterate the UK’s commitment to uphold the Islanders’ right of self-determination
• he will then travel onwards to Paraguay, Brazil for the G20 and New York for the UN

Foreign Secretary David Cameron will visit the Falkland Islands during the first leg of his first visit to the South Atlantic, South America and New York.

David Cameron will meet leaders of the Falkland Islands Government and see the range of communities that form part of the British family when he visits Stanley and other sites around this Overseas Territory.

In the 2013 referendum, Falkland Islanders overwhelmingly voted to retain their status as a self-governing UK Overseas Territory.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

The Falkland Islands are a valued part of the British family, and we are clear that as long as they want to remain part of the family, the issue of sovereignty will not be up for discussion.

The Falkland Islanders should be proud of the modern, prosperous community they have built. The Islands are a thriving economy, where as well as farming and fishing, there is a priority given to conservation and sustainability.

The Foreign Secretary will pay his respects to all those British personnel who served and those who lost their lives during the conflict in 1982 and thank the UK military personnel serving on the Islands today.

He will see the Islanders’ work to protect their natural environment and see some of the million penguins that live across the Islands.

He will then travel on to Paraguay, where he will be the first UK Foreign Secretary to ever visit the country. After that, he is due to go on to the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Brazil where he will discuss G20 agendas on tackling hunger and climate change and work with partners to advance efforts towards peace in the Middle East and support for Ukraine.

And lastly, he will head to New York for the UN ahead of the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Background

• details of the environmental protection projects: Darwin Plus funding is used to enhance training for wildfire prevention and response. FCDO funding is used to restore the native tussac grass habitats
• the Falkland Islands is thought to be home to around 20% of the world’s tussac grass and it is the most important wildlife habitat on the Islands – home to seals, birds, and invertebrates

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 February 2024.

The Minister for Development is in Qatar to launch a $50 million co-funding initiative to help tackle the most pressing humanitarian and development crises.

• UK and Qatar partnership launch $50 million co-funding initiative to help tackle the most pressing humanitarian and development crises around the world, including in Gaza
• funding announced in Doha by UK Development Minister Andrew Mitchell and Qatar Minister for International Co-operation Lolwah Al Khater
• Minister Mitchell spoke with partners about the UK and Qatar’s commitment to supporting the humanitarian response in Gaza, and secured a date for the inaugural UK-Qatar Development Dialogue

The UK and Qatar have announced a joint $50 million global humanitarian and development co-funding initiative today (18 February) as a part of their partnership to help crises around the world, including Gaza.

UK Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell’s has spoken with key figures in Qatar about working hand in hand to respond to humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He was also able to secure a date for the inaugural UK-Qatar Development Dialogue which the UK will host in May. The minister discussed this with Qatar’s Minister for International Co-operation HE Lolwah Al Khater and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Al Khulaifi.

Minister Mitchell announced the joint funding alongside HE Lolwah Al Khater. Under this initiative, the UK and Qatar aim to build on our existing co-funding programmes in the Middle East and Africa by increasing bilateral projects and work through multi-lateral partners globally.

The 2 countries are working closely together to get humanitarian aid into Gaza. Earlier this month, through Qatar Fund For Development, a joint consignment of 29 tonnes of tents was delivered to Gaza, and the initiative announced today aims to deliver significantly more aid to civilians.

Speaking in Doha, UK Development Minister, Andrew Mitchell, said:

I’m delighted to be back in Doha to reinforce the UK’s commitment to our development partnership with Qatar. Together, we have supported countries in need right across the world, including recently providing 29 tonnes of lifesaving aid to support the humanitarian response in Gaza.

Today we have agreed to commit an initial $50 million in joint funding to continue to support the world’s poorest people, and together we intend to go further and faster to alleviate the most pressing global development challenges.

This initial funding is an outcome of the Strategic Development memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Minister Mitchell at last year’s United Nations Least Developed Countries Conference in Qatar.

The UK and Qatar have also agreed to hold an inaugural Development Dialogue, to drive forward further funding commitments. Both countries have co-funded development projects in the Middle East and Africa through our partnership the Qatar Fund For Development.

In Somalia, as part of famine prevention efforts in response to the country’s longest ever drought, the UK and Qatar provided $6.5 million support to humanitarian consortium ‘Building Resilient Communities in Somalia’ in April 2023. This delivered emergency cash assistance to 7,700 families to buy food and water, primary healthcare services to over 200,000 Somalis, including lifesaving vaccinations, and provided lifesaving treatment for over 17,000 severely malnourished children.

In Syria, the 2 countries supported the ‘Syria Education Programme’ which helps over 625,000 children across Northwest Syria to access safe, inclusive and quality education. The programme targets have been exceeded; providing over 16,000 teachers with pay, getting classrooms and toilet blocks refurbished, and ensuring that over 400 schools have sufficient heating to keep children and teachers warm over winter.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 February 2024.

The UK and Qatar have issued a joint statement launching a new co-funding initiative for international development cooperation and humanitarian response.

Statement by the governments of the UK and Qatar:

As part of a joint collaborative humanitarian effort between the State of Qatar and the United Kingdom, the 2 states are launching a formally led Qatar-UK co-funding initiative.

Under the initiative, the UK and Qatar will work towards an initial $50 million target to address the most pressing humanitarian and development challenges globally. This marks a significant milestone in the partnership between the 2 countries that underscores our shared commitment.

Through this cooperation, Qatar and the UK will combine their expertise, resources, and networks to implement impactful projects that address both the immediate and long-term challenges faced by communities in these critical areas. This collaborative effort reflects our unwavering dedication to promoting sustainable progress and resilience, with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of millions of people.

Recently, the State of Qatar and the United Kingdom have worked together to deliver 29 tonnes of urgent humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip within the framework of joint humanitarian and development cooperation. In addition, the 2 countries are actively working together to implement several co-funding opportunities, with 2 focused on Syria to bolster crucial humanitarian and educational initiatives, and one aimed at addressing food insecurity in Somalia.

The 2 countries reaffirm their commitment to accelerating progress on these vital initiatives through the inaugural Development Dialogue in London in May 2024. This event will solidify further co-funding opportunities, promote collaboration on development issues and enhance aid delivery capabilities.

Together, the State of Qatar and the United Kingdom are dedicated to addressing the most urgent development challenges with greater urgency and effectiveness.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 February 2024.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Munich Security Conference on 16th February 2024.

The Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Munich Security Conference.

In line with the Government’s ‘protect, align, and engage’ approach to China, as set out in the Integrated Review Refresh, the Foreign Secretary raised a number of issues important to the UK national interest.

To support constructive engagement between the UK and China, the Foreign Ministers agreed that the UK and China should continue engagement across a range of areas.

This includes trade links; building on our existing cultural ties and links between our peoples; and working together to tackle climate change.

The Foreign Secretary urged China to use its influence on Iran to pressure the Houthis over their actions in the Red Sea.

He further stressed that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine threatens the rules based international system, which is designed to keep us all safe.

The Foreign Secretary also took this opportunity to unambiguously set out the UK’s position across a number of areas of disagreement, including on human rights in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. He raised the case of British Parliamentarians sanctioned by China and reiterated his call for the release of British national Jimmy Lai.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 February 2024.

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

A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said:

The United Kingdom continues to follow events in Senegal closely. Given Senegal’s longstanding democratic traditions, we join with The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in urging all parties to respect the decision of the Constitutional Council on 15 February, and call for transparent, inclusive, and credible elections to be organised as quickly as possible.

We urge all parties to show restraint, to maintain calm and the rule of law, and to respect the fundamental freedoms of the Senegalese people. We express our sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in recent protests.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 February 2024.

The UK government has summoned the Russian Embassy to make clear that we hold the Russian authorities fully responsible.

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

Alexei Navalny dedicated his life to exposing the corruption of the Russian system, calling for free and open politics, and holding the Kremlin to account.

We stand today with his family, friends, colleagues and supporters. Our thoughts go out to them.

The Russian authorities saw Mr Navalny as a threat. Many Russian citizens felt he gave them a voice.

In recent years, the authorities imprisoned him on fabricated charges, poisoned him with a banned nerve agent, and sent him to an Arctic penal colony.

No-one should doubt the brutal nature of the Russian system.

His death must be investigated fully and transparently.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office today summoned the Russian Embassy to make clear that we hold the Russian authorities fully responsible.

Mr Navalny was a man of great courage and iron will. Even from his prison cell, he continued to speak up for the rights of the Russian people.  His dedication to human rights and exposing corruption was an inspiration to millions. The ideals for which he stood and died will live forever.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 February 2024.

The US, UK and Canada have issued a joint statement on coordinated efforts to counter foreign state information manipulation.

The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Canada on coordinated efforts to counter foreign state information manipulation:

The United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada remain deeply concerned about foreign information manipulation and other actions designed to undermine our democracies and human rights globally.

Foreign information manipulation is a national security threat that undermines democratic values, human rights, governmental processes, and political stability. Given the borderless nature of information manipulation, we call on all like-minded countries committed to the rules-based order to work together to identify and counter this threat. Securing the integrity of the global information ecosystem is central to popular confidence in governance institutions and processes, trust in elected leaders, and the preservation of democracy.

The present international system, based on international law and respect for territorial boundaries, is competing with an alternate vision defined by autocratic impunity. This alternate vision deploys foreign malign influence aimed at undermining our safety and security, with disregard for universal human rights and the rule of law.

The time is now for a collective approach to the foreign information manipulation threat that builds a coalition of like-minded countries committed to strengthening resilience and response to information manipulation. We can do this through coordinated, whole of society solutions that work with experts, independent media and multilateral organizations, to address these transnational security threats.

That is why today, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada jointly endorse the Framework to Counter Foreign State Information Manipulation, which affirms our shared understanding of the threat and offers a holistic view of how to address the foreign information manipulation challenge. It aims to standardize our approach to this problem and build interoperable and complementary systems to resist this threat as technologies continue to emerge and adapt. The Framework complements the high-level international commitments from the Global Declaration on Information Integrity Online and reinforces our joint efforts and commitment to protect and promote information integrity.

The United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada intend to collaborate on building partner countries’ resilience to foreign information manipulation by advancing the Framework’s Key Action Areas: national strategies and policies; governance structures and institutions; capacity; civil society, independent media, and academia; and multilateral engagement.

The United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada intend to jointly work on operationalizing relevant Key Action Areas through new and existing multilateral mechanisms, such as the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism, and in coordination with other likeminded partners and multilateral organizations.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 February 2024.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security.

Thank you, President, let me thank Under Secretary Voronkov, Executive Director Gherman, and Secretary-General Stock for their briefings today. I also thank the Monitoring Team for their work on the report.

The United Kingdom remains deeply concerned at the prospect of Daesh resurgence in the Middle East. As the report notes, though the threat in Iraq and Syria has been effectively suppressed, it remains a serious threat.

Iranian-aligned militias continue to attack the Coalition Forces that are directly working to remove Daesh’s malignant influence in the region, in partnership with the Government of Iraq.

The United Kingdom calls on Iran to use influence to stop these attacks and de-escalate regional tensions. It is in all our interests to prevent Daesh from projecting its poisonous ideology and inflicting death and destruction across the region.

Turning to Africa, the UK is deeply concerned at Daesh’s growing presence across the continent. We stand ready to support our African partners and intensify efforts to improve coordination and strengthen regional cooperation. UN entities play an important role and we welcome their cooperation with the African Union to build capacity and squeeze the spaces in violent extremist networks can flourish. We also encourage cooperation between UN Global Counter Terrorism Coordination Compact members, and we welcome INTERPOL’s role in this.

Finally, we must not ignore the disproportionate impact that terrorism has on women and girls. This year, we mark the 10th anniversary of atrocities committed against the Yezidi people.

We commend the important work done by UNITAD with the support of the Iraqi authorities to investigate sexual crimes by terrorists against women and girls.

President, we know that Daesh thrive in divided, fragile and unstable environments. We all have a responsibility to counter their ideology and provide an alternative future.