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Tag: Foreign Office

  • PRESS RELEASE : United Kingdom – Armenia Strategic Dialogue: Joint Statement [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : United Kingdom – Armenia Strategic Dialogue: Joint Statement [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2023.

    The inaugural Strategic Dialogue between the United Kingdom and Armenia was held in London on 13 November 2023.

    On the occasion of the official visit to London of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, HE Mr Ararat Mirzoyan, the inaugural Strategic Dialogue between the United Kingdom and Armenia was held on 13 November 2023.

    This first Strategic Dialogue was an opportunity to mark the strong cooperation and friendship between our two democracies. With the increase globally in threats to democratic values, human rights, rule of law and the freedoms we strive to protect for our citizens, working together on issues of mutual concern is more important than ever, not only to build trade and stability, but also to protect our shared core values. We reaffirmed the aspiration to build our partnership over the coming years.

    During the dialogue, the Minister for Europe of the United Kingdom, Leo Docherty MP, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, discussed a range of global and regional issues of mutual concern, and ways in which the UK and Armenia can work together going forward. These included:

    • Governance and rule of law, where through its programming in Armenia the UK is supporting the digitalisation and streamlining of public services, the improvement of gender equality in the police force, and will soon begin working to support Armenia’s border management capacities to tackle security and migration issues.
    • UK-Armenia defence cooperation, which continues to expand with increased numbers of personnel from the Armenian military and Ministry of Defence, and police (MOIA) personnel receiving English Language training instruction, as well as places on UK senior and junior command and leadership courses, and multi-national peace-keeping and mine-awareness packages. Both parties looked forward to the sixth round of UK-Armenia Staff Talks later this month.
    • Trade and economic ties, notably the recently held UK-Armenia Business Forum in London, where the Minister of State for Regulatory Reform, the Earl of Minto, and Armenian Minister for the Economy, Vahan Kerobyan, welcomed an audience of Armenian and British businesses to discuss the wide range of trade and investment opportunities between our countries.

    The Ministers agreed on the absolute necessity of the establishment of peace and stability in the South Caucasus based on the mutual recognition of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders on the basis of the Alma Ata 1991 Declaration, and the opening of regional connectivity links based on full respect of each country’s sovereignty and jurisdiction.

    The Minister for Europe emphasised the UK’s commitment to supporting those affected by the long-running conflict, including through £1 million of funding to the International Committee of the Red Cross announced in September.

    Finally, both parties looked forward to continuing to enhance the relationship between the UK and Armenia beyond this inaugural Strategic Dialogue, including through the upcoming visit by the Minister for Europe to Armenia, and through the agreement of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which we collectively hope to conclude in the coming months.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UN police play a critical role in mediation and protection – UK statement at the UN Security Council [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UN police play a critical role in mediation and protection – UK statement at the UN Security Council [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2023.

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on UN peacekeeping operations.

    Thank you President, and thank you to all of our briefers today. UN Police are uniquely placed to contribute to meeting the aims of the New Agenda for Peace, preventing the recurrence of conflict and sustaining peace. UN police play a critical role in mediation and protection, and can build trust and understanding with communities.

    UN police support host nation capacity-building for the longer term. They should carry out the full range of activities that they are mandated to fulfil, in line with the 2016 UNPOL external review,  to help establish the  Rule of Law, protect human rights and sustainable peace. Given the time that has passed since the last report of the Secretary-General on UNPOL, the UK would encourage the Secretariat to consider preparing a new report for the Council on UNPOL activities and governance.

    The UK welcomes the closer integration of police into UN peacekeeping, in line with the emphasis on strategic and operational integration as part of the A4P+ priorities. Missions are stronger and safer when police are treated as an integral part, able to contribute their community intelligence and apply their unique set of skills.

    Commander Fossen highlighted how important the Women, Peace and Security agenda is for successful policing. Ensuring that police forces reflect the communities they serve is not only the right thing to do, it leads to better mission performance and can have positive impacts for the role of women in host state security institutions. The UK continues to support initiatives to increase the participation of women in peacekeeping, including the Senior Women Talent Pipeline and the Elsie Initiative Fund, to which we have given more than $8.5 million since its inception.

    Finally, President, I want to reiterate my thanks to UNPOL for the brave and important work they carry out in such challenging environments. The UK looks forward to continuing to work with UNPOL on achieving its reform priorities.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : 44th Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK statement on Bangladesh [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : 44th Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK statement on Bangladesh [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2023.

    Simon Manley, the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, delivered a statement during Bangladesh’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council.

    Thank you, Mr President,

    The United Kingdom welcomes steps taken by the government of Bangladesh to promote and protect human rights, as well as its continued hosting of nearly 1 million Rohingya. We look forward to a free, fair, participatory, and peaceful national election next year.

    We recommend that Bangladesh:

    1. Take measures to guarantee a safe and transparent environment for civil society, human rights defenders and the media, ensuring that they can exercise their right to freedom of expression and assembly without fear of repercussions.
    2. Take steps to ensure the full independence of the judiciary from the Executive and Parliament.
    3. Continue working with partners at all levels to protect the rights of women and girls, empowering them to fulfil their potential and lead a healthy life, free from gender-based violence.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : 44th Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK statement on Russia [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : 44th Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK statement on Russia [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2023.

    Simon Manley, the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, delivered a statement during Russia’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council.

    Thank you, Mr President

    Where does one start? Since the last UPR, Russia’s repression at home has intensified, enabling its oppression overseas, not least the continuing atrocities in Ukraine, many of which the Commission of Inquiry and OHCHR consider amount to war crimes.

    The UK recommends that Russia:

    • Cease the forcible transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and within the temporarily Russian-controlled territories of Ukraine; and immediately returns all affected Ukrainian children.
    • Release all those detained on political grounds, such as Alexei Navalny, or for opposing the war, including Vladimir Kara-Murza.
    • Repeal legislation that enables its crackdown on anti-war protest, independent media and civil society.
  • PRESS RELEASE : 44th Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK statement on Azerbaijan [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : 44th Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK statement on Azerbaijan [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2023.

    The UK delivered a statement during Azerbaijan’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council.

    Thank you, Madam Vice President,

    The United Kingdom welcomes Azerbaijan’s engagement in the UPR process and their increased protection to those affected by landmine contamination. We encourage Azerbaijan to advance post-conflict reconciliation particularly the protection of displaced persons.

    We remain concerned at restrictions to freedoms of expression and assembly, as highlighted by the case of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu. We urge Azerbaijan to improve human rights protections for all.

    We recommend:

    1. Ensuring that all allegations of human rights violations against human rights defenders, civil society activists and journalists, and detained foreign nationals are investigated effectively and transparently, including pending unresolved cases requiring urgent attention.
    2. Removing articles 147 and 148 from the Criminal Code, which stipulates liability against journalists for slander and insult, as committed to by Azerbaijan in 2001.
    3. Adopting necessary legislation in the Criminal Code to criminalise all forms of domestic violence.

    Thank you.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK and US hit Hamas leadership with targeted sanctions [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK and US hit Hamas leadership with targeted sanctions [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2023.

    The UK and US have targeted Hamas with a new tranche of sanctions today, restricting the terror group’s ability to operate.

    • sanctions on Hamas leadership to include travel bans, asset freezes and arms embargoes
    • package is co-ordinated with US and set to disrupt Hamas operations both in Gaza and wherever their leaders base themselves
    • Foreign Secretary declares UK “stands in solidarity” with the Palestinian people caught up in the crisis and calls on all parties to agree to humanitarian pauses to allow lifesaving aid into Gaza

    The UK’s sanctions are against 4 Hamas senior leaders and 2 Hamas financiers. The stringent measures have been placed on Hamas’ leadership in an effort to disrupt the group’s acts of terror.

    Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ political leader in Gaza, is among individuals from the group’s political and military wings targeted by today’s UK sanctions. He is reported to have been involved in the brutal attacks on Israel last month.

    Also designated is Muhammed Deif, commander of the group’s military arm.

    The sanctions show that the terror group’s leaders cannot escape the consequences of their actions, even if they are pulling the strings from outside of Gaza. Those covered include a Lebanon-based financier and money launderer in Sudan.

    Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

    We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to disrupt the abhorrent activity of this terrorist organisation, working with the United States and our other allies, making it harder for them to operate and isolating them on the world stage.

    The Palestinian people are victims of Hamas too. We stand in solidarity with them and will continue to support humanitarian pauses to allow significantly more lifesaving aid to reach Gaza.

    All those sanctioned by the UK and US were targeted for their leadership or financing roles in the group, which was originally founded in the late 1980s with a commitment to destroy Israel. These designations add to existing UK sanctions against Hamas, including on the organisation itself.

    Those now subject to UK travel bans, asset freezes and arms embargoes, which prohibit the sale of weapons and military equipment by a UK person to the designated person, include:

    • Yahya Sinwar: Sinwar is a senior leader of Hamas and the group’s political leader in Gaza
    • Muhammed Deif: Deif is a senior leader of Hamas and is the commander of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (IQB), the military arm of Hamas, who announced the October 2023 terrorist attacks
    • Marwan Issa: Issa is a senior leader of Hamas and is the deputy commander of the IQB
    • Musa Dudin: Dudin is a West Bank-based Hamas official who has procured weaponry for the group, enabling them to commit acts of terrorism
    • Abdelbasit Hamza: Hamza is a Sudan-based Hamas financier who owned a network of companies that laundered money and traded in currency in order to finance Hamas
    • Nabil Chouman: Chouman has channelled funds to Hamas through his Lebanon-based currency exchange

    The UK and the US stand united in their solidarity with Israel in its fight against Hamas. We continue to use our diplomatic efforts to support a two-state solution to provide justice and security for both Israelis and Palestinians, including through the Prime Minister’s recent visits to the region to speak with their counterparts.

    The UK has sent 51 tonnes of lifesaving aid to the region and doubled our funding commitment to the Occupied Palestinian Territories this year.

    The Prime Minister has called on all parties to allow the humanitarian pauses necessary to allow more aid to enter Gaza and been clear that Israel’s forces must act within international law and stop extremist violence in the West Bank.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Kosovo – Jonathan Hargreaves [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Kosovo – Jonathan Hargreaves [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 November 2023.

    Mr Jonathan Hargreaves has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Kosovo in succession to Mr Nicholas Abbott who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.  Mr Hargreaves will take up his appointment in early 2024.

    Curriculum vitae

    Full name: Jonathan Mark Richard Hargreaves

    Married to: Kate Wilson Hargreaves

    Children: Two

    Date Role
    2020 to present FCDO, UK Special Representative for Syria
    2017 to 2020 Department for International Development (DFID), Deputy Director, Middle East and North Africa Division
    2014 to 2017 DFID, Head of Governance, Open Societies and Anti-Corruption Department
    2012 to 2014 DFID Jerusalem, Head of Office, and Head of DFID Palestinian Programme
    2008 to 2012 DFID Kenya/Somalia, Deputy Head, and Somalia Programme Manager
    2006 to 2008 UK Stabilisation Unit, Team Leader/Senior Adviser
    2005 to 2006 DFID, Top Management Group, Adviser, White Paper Team
    2002 to 2005 DFID, Governance Adviser, Great Lakes and Horn of Africa
    2000 to 2002 DFID, Governance Adviser, Central and South Eastern Europe
    1997 to 2000 KPMG, Consultant, Public Services Consulting
    1996 to 1997 Dansk Energi Management, Belgium, Consultant
    1994 to 1996 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lithuania, Adviser
    1993 to 1994 United Nations Development Programme Lithuania, Programme Officer
    1991 to 1993 European Commission, Brussels, Desk Officer

     

  • PRESS RELEASE : 44th Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK statement on Djibouti [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : 44th Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK statement on Djibouti [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 November 2023.

    Simon Manley, the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, delivered a statement during Djibouti’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council.

    Thank you, Mr President,

    Bienvenu à Genève M. Ali Hassan Bahdon, Ministre de la Justice. We welcome Djibouti’s collaboration with her partners to combat human trafficking and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and champion girls’ education.

    Further action is, however, needed and we recommend that Djibouti:

    1. Works collaboratively and transparently on combatting trafficking, with clear data and milestones in place to assess progress ahead of the next UPR.
    2. Takes all necessary steps to implement proposed FGM legislation, with a roadmap that outlines regional cooperation, consulting religious leaders as well as political leaders.
    3. Ensures that school-based counselling programmes are provided for pregnant girls and adolescent mothers, with peer review and evaluation mechanisms in place.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary’s meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Foreign Secretary’s meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 November 2023.

    Foreign Secretary David Cameron met Indian External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar, on 13 November 2023.

    A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said:

    For his first bilateral meeting as Foreign Secretary, David Cameron welcomed Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar in London today.

    They discussed shared global challenges, including the concerning situation in Israel and Gaza and Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. In the meeting they also covered the importance of the Indo-Pacific region to global growth and prosperity.

    They also reflected on the strength of the UK-India relationship – including meeting the ambition of the UK-India 2030 Roadmap.

    The Foreign Secretary and Dr Jaishankar also discussed progressing a free trade agreement and partnerships on defence, science and technology.

  • PRESS RELEASE : We must see humanitarian pauses that allow enough time for aid into Gaza – UK statement at the UN Security Council [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : We must see humanitarian pauses that allow enough time for aid into Gaza – UK statement at the UN Security Council [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 November 2023.

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

    I thank the UAE and China for organising this session and our moment of silence earlier. I’d also like to thank Dr Tedros and Dr Jilani, not just for your briefings, but for the life saving work that you and your teams are doing.

    Colleagues, we are in no doubt: there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. And as Dr Tedros set out, that humanitarian crisis is deteriorating day by day. Of course, we welcome the opening of the Rafah border, and we thank partners for their work in allowing foreign nationals to leave. But it is essential and urgent that more aid flows in the other direction into Gaza.

    Access both through Rafah and other crossing points needs to improve so that aid can reach the people who so desperately need it. For this to happen, we must see humanitarian pauses that allow enough time for aid to be delivered to those who need it and for hostages to be released. Fuel must be allowed to enter Gaza so that hospitals and water desalination plants can operate and for aid to be delivered. The pauses in northern Gaza are a first step but any pauses in hostilities should allow sufficient time and security both for civilians to move and for humanitarian aid to be delivered.

    Since the 7th of October, the UK has been firm in its support for Israel’s right to self-defence following Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel. In this context, international humanitarian law is not a nice to have. International humanitarian law is what keeps humanitarian workers and medical staff safe to assist those in need and protects civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, wherever possible. So we urge all parties to the conflict to take all possible steps to minimise harm to civilians, health and humanitarian workers and to protect its sites. And we express our condolences for each life lost.

    Finally, Mr President, we have been clear that Israel must do more to prevent escalation in the West Bank. We welcome statements, including that made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, condemning settler violence. But we must see tangible action to bring perpetrators to justice. We also condemn attacks against Israel emanating from armed groups in the region. The UK Foreign Secretary was in Riyadh yesterday where he discussed preventing regional escalation with the foreign ministers and representatives of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and the Palestinian Authority. The Foreign Secretary also reaffirmed the UK’s unwavering commitment to a two-state solution.

    Thank you, President.