Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 November 2023.

Foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US and the EU High Representative gave a statement on the situation in Israel and Gaza.

Statement by G7 foreign ministers and the High Representative of the European Union:

We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union welcome the release of some of the hostages seized on 7 October by Hamas and other terrorist organizations and the recent pause in hostilities that has allowed a surge in humanitarian assistance to reach Palestinian civilians in Gaza. We, as the G7, urge the release of all hostages immediately and unconditionally.

We call for the facilitated departure of all foreign nationals. We emphasize Israel’s right to defend itself and its people, in accordance with international law, as it seeks to prevent a recurrence of the 7 October attacks.

We appreciate the leadership of the United States and countries in the region, especially Qatar and Egypt, and their tireless efforts to secure this and future pauses. We support the significant efforts of the United Nations to coordinate the delivery of humanitarian assistance during this pause.

This arrangement is a crucial step towards bringing all remaining hostages home and addressing the full scope of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We call on all parties to build on the provisions of the deal and to ensure greater humanitarian aid continues to reach civilians in Gaza on a sustained basis. Every effort must be made to ensure humanitarian support for civilians, including food, water, fuel, and medical supplies. We support the further extension of this pause and future pauses as needed to enable assistance to be scaled up, and to facilitate the release of all hostages.

We underscore the importance of protecting civilians and compliance with international law, in particular international humanitarian law. We remain steadfast in our commitment to work with all partners in the region to prevent the conflict from escalating further. Emphasizing the importance of maritime security, we call on all parties not to threaten or interfere with lawful exercise of navigational rights and freedoms by all vessels. We especially call on the Houthis to immediately cease attacks on civilians and threats to international shipping lanes and commercial vessels and release the M/V Galaxy Leader and its crew, illegally seized from international waters on 19 November.

We remain committed to a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution that enables both Israelis and Palestinians to live in a just, lasting, and secure peace.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 November 2023.

During a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels today (28 November), Foreign Secretary David Cameron will galvanise support for Ukraine among NATO Allies.

• Foreign Secretary David Cameron will underline the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine in his first meeting with NATO foreign ministers
• he will attend the NATO-Ukraine Council in Brussels tomorrow (Wednesday 29 November)

During a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels today (28 November), Foreign Secretary David Cameron will galvanise support for Ukraine among NATO Allies.

At a gathering of the NATO-Ukraine Council tomorrow (29 November), due to be attended by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba, the Foreign Secretary will update his counterparts on his recent visit to Kyiv, his first trip in his new role, and underline that the UK remains firmly behind Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, urging Allies not to waver in their support.

The Foreign Secretary will also set out the need for Sweden’s urgent accession to the Alliance, stating that the agreement would mark a critical step forward in strengthening peace and stability in Europe.

The Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, said:

NATO keeps over one billion people safe and secure. And nearly 75 years on, the Alliance is stronger than ever.

Putin first believed that NATO would be divided and that Ukraine would crumble. Now he believes he can wait out his war in Ukraine. He was wrong then and he is wrong now.

Together, the UK and our NATO allies will never turn a blind eye to Russian aggression. The UK will continue to be a steadfast supporter of Ukraine and a champion for European peace and stability.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 November 2023.

The UK and South Korea issue a joint statement to launch negotiations on an ungraded free trade agreement.

The RT. Hon. Kemi Badenoch MP, Secretary of State for the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (United Kingdom), and Bang, Moon Kyu, Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) for the Republic of Korea, met in London on 22 November 2023 as part of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s State Visit to the United Kingdom. Following the meeting, they issued the below joint statement:

As our nations celebrate 140 years of diplomatic relations, and as His Majesty King Charles III welcomes President Yoon Suk Yeol to the United Kingdom for the first Korean State Visit in a decade, we are very pleased to announce the launch of negotiations to upgrade the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom.

Upgrading and future-proofing our FTA will further deepen our economic ties and support our innovative economies over the years to come. Negotiations will build on and improve the existing agreement, further promoting trade and investment between two like-minded nations and ensuring our growing trade and investment relationship continues to thrive.

Following productive discussions to extend temporary arrangements regarding cumulation and direct transport for two years and reflecting the changing global economic and trade landscape, we will work to agree a new Rules of Origin chapter which reduces the costs businesses face when exporting and recognises our existing and future supply chains, enabling United Kingdom and Korean industries to take full advantage of the FTA.

We will work towards a modern and comprehensive Digital chapter, which will future proof our trade relationship by including elements that facilitate more efficient and secure trade through the use of digital technologies, ensure free and trusted cross border data flows, avoid unjustified data localisation requirements and prohibit customs duties on electronic transmissions, including content transmitted electronically. Recognising the growing importance of services and investment as part of our bilateral trading relationship, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea will also work to agree modernisations to existing commitments in these areas.

The United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea are also committed to deepening and broadening our cooperation across a range of emerging trade agendas. We will work towards content related to supply chains which will facilitate further integration between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea’s economies and ensure customs procedures are as predictable and streamlined as possible. Cooperation on Energy will seek to help deliver against our respective climate change ambitions. Support for small and medium-sized businesses will aim to maximise the utility of our new agreement. We also believe that strengthening cooperation and collaboration between the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom in the bioeconomy sector will benefit both parties’ economies. The value of our bilateral trade has more than doubled in the past 15 years and mutual investment relations have deepened in a variety of fields, including finance, insurance, and energy. We believe a strong, modernised trade agreement can further reinforce our relationship.

We have instructed our teams to hold the first round of negotiations in Seoul, commencing 22 January 2024, and further rounds of negotiations are to occur regularly thereafter. This will build on the series of positive and constructive conversations that have already been held between negotiation teams. It will also take place in the context of strong and collaborative relationship, including a shared understanding of the value of further trade integration in the region, and a commitment to share mutually beneficial experience – such as the United Kingdom’s experience of applying to join CPTPP. We look forward to significant and rapid progress, with a shared ambition to conclude this upgraded agreement in a timely fashion, building upon the strong baseline already agreed in the existing FTA.

Signed in London on 22 November 2023

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 November 2023.

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

I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his briefing and I welcome the participation of the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at this meeting.

As we’ve heard, we meet because on the 21st November the DPRK made a third attempt at launching a military reconnaissance satellite. It triggered Japan’s local alert system in Okinawa forcing civilians to take shelter. That was followed by a ballistic missile launch on the 22nd November.

These are clear threats to global peace and security which is the core responsibility of this Council and they violate multiple Security Council resolutions. Moreover, these launches follow increased engagement between Russia and the DPRK, including Kim Jong Un’s visit to Vostochny Cosmodrome in September, where he met President Putin.

When asked by a reporter whether Russia would help North Korea launch its own satellites and rockets, President Putin responded “that’s exactly why we came here. The leader of North Korea shows great interest in space.”

We have in addition, credible reports of Russia sourcing weapons from the DPRK.

All this, as ASG Khiari said, has humanitarian consequences. The North Korean people suffer the most as resources are diverted. So what should this Council do?  Some argue that this Council should remain silent and avoid escalating the situation, but the DPRK shows no sign of restraint in response. In fact, the DPRK has stated its intention to launch more satellites. This follows 29 launches of ballistic missiles so far this year, including four intercontinental ballistic missiles. The DPRK has written its nuclear aspirations into its constitution.

So what should we do? First, I welcome the participation of the DPRK in today’s debate. Above all, I hope you will report to Pyongyang our concern for the people of DPRK, and in this respect, I encourage the DPRK to reopen its borders and re-engage with UN agencies.

Second, this Council should reiterate the depth of our resolve to combating proliferation. We urge the DPRK to cease its arms supply and abide by its public commitment not to sell arms to Russia.

Third, we urge the DPRK to cease these launches, return to dialogue, and take credible steps towards denuclearisation and peace on the Korean Peninsula. President, I urge this Council to demonstrate our commitment to ensure that our resolutions are enforced and to send a united message to the DPRK.

I thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 November 2023.

Following North Korea’s ballistic missile launch on 22 November, a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson gave a statement.

An FCDO spokesperson said:

North Korea’s ballistic missile launch on 22 November is, again, a breach of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). Unlawful ballistic missile launches continue to destabilise the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula.

The UK strongly urges North Korea to refrain from further provocations, return to dialogue and take credible steps towards denuclearisation.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 November 2023.

Ankur Narayan, UK Delegation to the OSCE, marks the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor, paying tribute to all those who lost their lives, and condemning Russia’s current weaponisation of food against Ukraine.

On this 90th anniversary, we remember the Holodomor as one of the darkest chapters in Ukrainian and European history. A vast and horrific man-made disaster that killed millions of innocent people. I regret to say that the period we are in now is also one of darkness, a chapter of premeditated and unprovoked Russian aggression.

The UK pays tribute to all those who lost their lives. We also pay tribute to our Ukrainian friends, who continue to work to ensure that the truth of the Holodomor is recognised, after decades of suppression by the Soviet Union. We also commend the bravery of other organisations and individuals who have sought to expose these Soviet-era atrocities, particularly in Russia. We condemn their persecution by Russian authorities for trying to expose the truth.

We must never stop learning from the horrors inflicted on the Ukrainian people during the Holodomor, nor allow the millions who perished to be forgotten.

While marking the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor, Ukraine continues to face Russian aggression. Since its illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has used food as one of its many weapons of war. Alongside Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia has conducted hundreds of strikes against Ukraine’s ports, clearly intended to prevent Ukraine from exporting its grain. Ukrainian grain exports are crucial to ensuring global food security and resilient global markets.

The UK Foreign Secretary’s visit last week to Odesa on the Black Sea coast underlined the UK’s support to Ukrainian efforts to defend itself from Russian attacks against its grain exports and infrastructure, including Ukraine’s new export corridor. The Foreign Secretary marked the launch of the new ‘Unity Facility’ between Marsh McLennan and the Ukrainian government which will provide affordable shipping insurance for companies’ grain and other critical food supplies from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.  We would also like to welcome Ukraine’s Summit on 25 November, which will drive support for the ‘Grain from Ukraine’ initiative and consider concrete steps to counter the damage of Russia’s illegal invasion on global food security.

Madam Chair, it is vitally important that we work collectively to promote global food security, to ensure that suffering such as that experienced during the Holodomor is not repeated. Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 November 2023.

The Foreign Secretary announces further UK funding to tackle the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

• on day 2 of a visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), the Foreign Secretary announces further UK funding to tackle the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza
• in meetings in Israel, Foreign Secretary pressed to open up greater access for lifesaving support including medical supplies and fuel
• as the fourth UK aircraft of humanitarian aid arrives in Egypt, the UK pledges £30 million additional aid funding for Gaza

Following a series of meetings with senior Israeli politicians on Thursday, the Foreign Secretary’s talks today will focus on how UK efforts can help alleviate the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

He will also discuss supporting the Palestinian Authority, including through training and capacity building, and look towards a long-term political solution to the crisis.

The Foreign Secretary will also meet aid agencies delivering UK-funded humanitarian support in Gaza.

The Foreign Secretary has announced that the UK will provide a further £30 million in humanitarian aid which will support trusted partners, including UN agencies on the ground, to deliver lifesaving aid to people in Gaza. It brings to £60 million the additional aid announced by the UK for Palestinian civilians since the crisis started in October.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron said:

We are hopeful that today will see the release of hostages, and I am urging all parties to continue to work towards the release of every hostage. A pause will also allow access for life-saving aid to the people of Gaza.

I am proud that a fourth UK flight carrying critical supplies landed in Egypt today, and I can announce new £30 million of funding which will be spent on vital aid such as shelter and medical provisions.

It is vital to protect civilians from harm, and we are urgently looking at all avenues to get aid into Gaza, including land, maritime and air routes.

Today’s additional funding comes as the fourth UK aircraft carrying humanitarian aid landed in Al Arish, Egypt, for onward transfer to Gaza. The RAF flight carried 23 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including 4,500 blankets and 4,500 sleeping mats for distribution by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

The RAF continues to deliver on the UK’s commitment to helping those in need by operating flights into the region to provide urgent humanitarian support which will save civilian lives.

The UK is driving international efforts to support the humanitarian response in Gaza, working closely alongside partners and allies to de-escalate the situation.

During his visit, the Foreign Secretary continued to urge all parties to make progress on the agreement between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Qatar and Egypt, to allow the release of a number of hostages and a pause in the fighting and ensure the agreement is adhered to in full.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 November 2023.

Russia has blocked discussions on conflict diamonds and Ukraine at the Kimberley Process Plenary in Zimbabwe.

At the most recent Kimberley Process Plenary meeting, held in Zimbabwe from 6 to 10 November 2023, Russia consistently used the rules around consensus to block attempts from Ukraine, the UK and others to discuss the implications of their full scale invasion of Ukraine on the Kimberley Process and its objective to delink conflict from diamonds.

Russia exports around 30% of the world’s rough diamonds and accrues a significant amount from the proceeds which are contributing to its illegal war effort in Ukraine.

Since the full-scale invasion, the UK and other Kimberley Process members have been pressing the Kimberley Process to discuss the issue and to work on expanding the definition of ‘conflict diamonds’.

In addition to having a substantive discussion on the issue blocked, Russia and other Kimberley Process participants then blocked the inclusion of a factual reference to the attempt to add the discussion to the agenda of the Plenary.  This resulted in the failure to issue a final communique.

A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said:

Despite many productive conversations at the Plenary, we are disappointed it was not possible to discuss the link between Russia’s proceeds of rough diamonds and the financing of Russia’s illegal, premeditated, and unprovoked war in Ukraine.

It is also regrettable that a final communique reflecting attempts to discuss this were blocked by Russia and a small number of participants. The Kimberley Process has achieved much since its creation and we remain committed to ensuring it continues to work towards eradicating the link between diamonds and conflict.

The United Kingdom remains committed to supporting the Kimberley Process in important initiatives such as establishing a Permanent Secretariat in Botswana; the Review and Reform cycle, and broadening the definition of ‘conflict diamonds’.  We will continue to actively contribute to the Kimberley Process while pressing for reform.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 November 2023.

The Royal Navy warship, HMS Spey, has made her inaugural visit to India following in the footsteps of sister vessel HMS Tamar. The Batch 2 Offshore Patrol Vessel arrived in Port Blair, the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Berthed alongside Naval Component Command (NAVCC) Head Quarters on the outskirts of Port Blair, Royal Navy officials onboard Spey welcomed their Indian military counterparts for planning discussions.

Defence Advisor to India, Brigadier Nick Sawyer, hosted a discussion on maritime security challenges and priorities within the Bay of Bengal with Indian Navy Senior Officers, Chief of Staff Andaman and Nicobar Command, Rear Admiral Sandeep Sandhu and Cdre Sugreev.

Lt Cdr Bridget Macnae RN, HMS Spey’s Executive Officer (temporarily in Command) said:

“Frequent port visits and multilateral exercises between the Indian Navy and Royal Navy continue to support our ever-expanding relationship and operational interaction and cooperation. The UK and India firmly believe in, and promote the Rules Based International System; we share an interest in upholding international maritime law and supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

UK’s Defence Advisor to India, Brigadier Nick Sawyer said:

“We deeply value our relationship with India in a shared endeavour to confront those who challenge the rules-based system and ensure peace and prosperity on and from the sea. The sixth visit of Royal Navy ship to India within a year is the clearest demonstration of that as well as the UK’s Indo-Pacific tilt in action.”

At sea, HMS Spey hosted a number of Indian Navy service personnel onboard whilst the ship conducted a maritime manoeuvre exercise with an Indian Naval patrol vessel further developing operational interoperability between the two nations.

HMS Spey’s crew took the opportunity to explore the Islands rich culture and diversity, whilst also discovering incredible flora and fauna in the national park and swimming alongside rich marine life at many of the idyllic beaches and coves.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 November 2023.

The UK statement at the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors meeting, under agenda item 6: nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine.

Chair, given the late hour I start with an apology for speaking for more than 3 minutes but I must begin by responding to comments from the Russian Federation related to the use of depleted uranium in Ukraine.

Chair, the United Kingdom has used depleted uranium in its armour-piercing shells for decades. This is a standard component and has nothing to do with nuclear weapons or nuclear capabilities. Russia knows this perfectly well because Russia also uses depleted uranium based ammunition. I hope, Chair, that the Russian Ambassador is not deliberately trying to mislead the Board and I emphasise that the UK is in full compliance with its safeguards obligations in this regard.

Chair, the United Kingdom thanks the Director General for his comprehensive report on Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards in Ukraine and for the regular updates, the most recent of which was released earlier this week. These reports continue to provide the only independent source of information on the state of nuclear safety, security and safeguards at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which remains under illegal Russian control.

Chair, we heard a long intervention from the Russian Ambassador, challenging multiple paragraphs of the DG’s report before the Board today. However, we prefer to rely on the IAEA’s assessment, which in our view, paints a worrying picture of the deterioration of nuclear safety at the ZNPP.

There is currently no comprehensive, systematic maintenance programme. Overall levels of maintenance are significantly lower than before the conflict. As the report states, “reduced maintenance of safety systems might result in a higher failure rate of other systems and components irrespective of the plant’s shut down state, and might affect the safe operation of the plant.”

Although the report refers to a small increase in daily staffing levels during the reporting period, the total number of staff has reduced significantly since the start of the conflict and this impacts safety across the site, including in the main control rooms.

Russia continues to replace experienced Ukrainian staff with new Russian personnel, unfamiliar with the site and its procedures.

The report states that the staffing situation is “not sustainable and may have implications for nuclear safety and security.”

The Russian Ambassador disagreed with that assessment – that is his prerogative – but we prefer to believe the independent, expert assessment by the DG and his team.

Chair, in addition the report tells us that there is still no alternative steam source on site despite the regulatory order issued by the Ukrainian Regulator, SNRIU, on 8 June and repeated urging from the IAEA.

The IAEA team continues to struggle to secure adequate access, having to make advance requests and being “prevented from accessing critical areas for very long periods of time”.

This means the IAEA cannot make a clear assessment that the DG’s Five Concrete Principles are being observed at all times. For these reasons – and there are many more examples in the report – the situation at ZNPP should remain the Board’s most serious nuclear safety concern.

For these reasons, Russia’s seizure and continued control of ZNPP has been the focus of 3 Board of Governors resolutions and, most recently, a General Conference resolution, passed with cross regional support.

The Russian Ambassador talked about the number of votes in favour so I think it is important to remind colleagues that the resolution was adopted with only 6 votes against – an overwhelming majority in support. That resolution calls for the plant to be returned to the full control of the competent Ukrainian authorities and deals directly with matters of nuclear safety, security and safeguards, which have everything to do with this organisation’s mandate.

In stark contrast to the situation at the ZNPP, the DG’s report sets out the situation at Ukraine’s other nuclear plants – those that are under Ukrainian control: All nuclear safety and security systems at South Ukraine, Khmelnytskyy and Rivne NPPs continue to operate as designed and to be fully functional. The plants’ operating staff conduct regular operational testing and preventive maintenance of the systems.

No failures or challenges to their operation were reported. All 3 plants have sufficient qualified operating staff to ensure the safe and secure plant operation.

All of this has been achieved against a backdrop of frequent air-raid alarms; a powerful explosion close to the Khmelnytskyy NPP, which damaged the windows of several buildings at the site; and, with the onset of winter, the looming threat of renewed Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, including power lines connected to the plants.

We recognise the heavy toll this takes on the Ukrainian operating staff and welcome the IAEA’s work, with Ukraine, to support the physical and mental welfare of staff.

Given the Russian Ambassador’s comments to this Board I will close with a reminder of the UN General Assembly Resolution adopted on 12 October 2022, which declared that, inter alia, the attempted illegal annexation of 4 regions of Ukraine on 4 October has no validity under international law.

With these remarks, the UK takes note of the report GOV/2023/59 and asks that it be made public.

Thank you, Chair.