Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 October 2023.

UK Statement on religious hatred constituting incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence. Delivered by UK’s Ambassador to the WTO & UN, Simon Manley.

High Commissioner – thank you for your update.

Religious intolerance divides societies. It rips communities apart. There is no place for hatred including the burning of the Quran we saw earlier this year. Indeed – we must address all manifestations of religious intolerance wherever they occur. Whether that be:

• Rohingya in Myanmar: (where) huge numbers were killed and driven from their country because of their religion.
• Uyghurs and Tibetans in China who see their religious sites destroyed; their cultural practices denied;
• Or the Baha’is in Iran: harassed, prosecuted and imprisoned for their faith.

All these situations, and more – must be part of this debate.

High Commissioner, as you have said – the right to freedom of expression can only be limited under clear and narrowly defined parameters. Sometimes this will cause offence. But causing offence does not necessarily equate to inciting violence or hatred. Blasphemy laws that carry the death penalty clearly do not fall under permissible restrictions.

Implementing HRC resolution 16/18 remains the most effective way to combat religious intolerance. This framework is consensual. It is action-orientated. And, most importantly it has led to positive change. We must reunite around this approach so that, working together, not divided,  we can overcome hatred together.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 October 2023.

Deputy Ambassador Deirdre Brown says the UK remains seriously concerned about the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and significant refugee flows into Armenia.

The UK continues to have serious concerns about the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the significant refugee flows from Nagorno-Karabakh into Armenia.

It is vital that international humanitarian organisations have independent access into Nagorno-Karabakh, so they can assess humanitarian need and respond appropriately. We therefore welcome Azerbaijan’s decision last week to allow UN agencies into Nagorno-Karabakh, to complement ongoing efforts by the ICRC.

On 29 September, the UK government announced that it is giving £1 million to the ICRC to support those efforts. Alongside contributions from others, this will help fund life-saving medication, healthcare, and other essential support to those affected by the recent conflict.

We are also mindful of the significant pressures the movement of over 100,000 refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh into Armenia will place on support services provided by the Armenian government and international aid organisations. We continue to liaise with the UN, ICRC and others to assess humanitarian need in both Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia to determine what further assistance may be required.

We continue to urge both Armenia and Azerbaijan to continue negotiations and to do all they can to reduce tensions and avoid further escalation, including through Azerbaijan making clear its respect for Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and for the rights and security of the remaining ethnic Armenian community in Nagorno-Karabakh. On 28 September the UK’s Minister for Europe, Leo Docherty, had calls with both Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Bayramov and made these points.

We will continue to monitor the situation, in close cooperation with our international partners, and hope to see positive steps soon to continue the substantive negotiations that are the only way to secure a lasting peace, and stability and security for the region.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 October 2023.

Justin Addison (UK Delegation to the OSCE) says, in the shadow of Russia’s brutal war, there is a window of opportunity for significant reform in Ukraine.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 October 2023.

Intelligence reveals Russia may use sea mines to target civilian shipping in the Black Sea to deter the export of Ukrainian grain.

• intelligence released today suggests Russia may use sea mines to target civilian shipping in the Black Sea
• Russian attacks have already destroyed enough grain to feed more than one million people for a year
• the UK assesses that Russia would lay blame on Ukraine for any attacks
• the UK has increased support for the world’s most vulnerable following Russia’s decision to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July

Information declassified today shows Russia may continue to target civilian shipping in the Black Sea, including by laying sea mines in the approach to Ukrainian ports. The UK previously warned that the Russian military had attempted a missile strike against a cargo ship in the Black Sea.

The UK assesses Russia is seeking to target civilian shipping travelling through Ukraine’s ‘humanitarian corridor’ in order to deter the export of Ukrainian grain. This would continue Russia’s attempts to pressure the Ukrainian economy. Russia almost certainly wants to avoid openly sinking civilian ships, instead falsely laying blame on Ukraine for any attacks against civilian vessels in the Black Sea.

By releasing our assessment of this intelligence, the UK seeks to expose Russia’s tactics to deter any such incident from occurring.

We are working with Ukraine and other partners to put in place arrangements to improve the safety of shipping. Our advice to British shipping has not changed – the UK’s maritime security level for Ukrainian ports and waters remains at the highest level due to the threat posed by Russia.

The UK has put in place intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to monitor Russian activity in the Black Sea. These capabilities will help us to attribute and call out any further Russian attacks on civilian shipping or infrastructure.

We are committed to ensuring Ukraine can continue to export its agricultural produce through all appropriate routes including its ‘humanitarian corridor’, overland and via the Danube. The UK will continue to work with Ukraine and a range of international partners to achieve this. At the G20 in September, the Prime Minister announced a further UK contribution of £3 million to the World Food Programme to help deliver Ukrainian grain to the world’s poorest, building upon our earlier contributions to President Zelenskyy’s ‘Grain from Ukraine’ initiative. The best way for Russia to address concerns around global food security would be for it withdraw its forces from Ukraine and end the war.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

Russia’s pernicious targeting of civilian shipping in the Black Sea demonstrates Putin’s total disregard for civilian lives and the needs of the world’s most vulnerable.

The world is watching – and we see right through Russia’s cynical attempts to lay blame on Ukraine for their attacks. We and our allies stand united against Putin and his attempts to harm Ukraine and thus harm the rest of the world.

Russia’s latest plans are part of a wider pattern of Russian aggression in the Black Sea. Since July, Russia has systematically targeted Ukrainian port and civilian infrastructure.

While the UK and our partners continue to do all we can to ensure Ukraine’s exports reach those who need it most, this pattern of deliberately targeted attacks in the Black Sea by Russia demonstrates President Putin’s willingness to weaponise food and innocent trade at the expense of the rest of the world as they block food from reaching world markets.

Since the withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia has:

• damaged 130 port infrastructure facilities in Odesa, Chornomorsk and Reni
• destroyed almost 300,000 tonnes of grain – more than the total amount Russia promised to donate to African states, and enough to feed over 1.3 million people for a year

Because of Russia’s decision to withdraw up to 24 million tonnes of foodstuffs from Ukraine may now not reach global markets over the coming year unless Ukraine can stand up alternative export routes.

Before Russia’s invasion, Ukraine was feeding 400 million people worldwide and accounted for 8% to 10% of global wheat exports and 10% to 12% of corn and barley exports.

Ukraine provided over 50% of the wheat for the World Food Programme (WFP) in 2022 without the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the WFP will have to replace this with more expensive or lower quality wheat.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 October 2023.

High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan, made his first visit to Bomet, Kericho, Kisumu, Uasin Gishu and Nandi counties on 3 and 4 October 2023 to advance the already strong UK partnership with the region.

The UK and the Rift Valley including Western Kenya are working together to deliver mutual benefits for the people of the UK and of the region, building upon strong cultural, economic and security ties.

The High Commissioner met the Governors of Bomet and Kericho, Prof. Hillary Barchok and Dr. Erick Mutai. He heard about the challenges facing these communities, including sexual and gender-based and discussed opportunities to further the partnership with these counties, particularly in relation to trade and investment.

He also discussed with Governor of Elgeyo Marakwet H.E Wisley Rotich, the impact of the UK’s Sustainable Urban Economic Development (SUED) programme. This five-year, almost 13 billion KES (£70 million) programme is helping identify vital investment opportunities in 12 Kenyan counties to increase economic growth and create jobs.

In Nandi County, the High Commissioner met Nandi County Governor and chair of North Rift Economic Block (NOREB) H.E. Stephen Sang. UK support to NOREB is ensuring economic growth in the region and the pair discussed further means of strengthening cultural ties between Brits and Kenyans. He also heard about the rapid progress being made to digitise service provision.

While in the region, the High Commissioner also met representatives of the Borowo, Kipsigis, Koitalel and Talai clans, as well as the Nandi Council of Elders. He heard first-hand the experiences of these communities under British rule and agreed to continue an open and honest dialogue.

Speaking at the end of the visit, High Commissioner Neil Wigan said:

From my visit to the Rift valley, it is clear that the UK-Kenya partnership stretches far beyond the capital city.

UK programming, engagement and private sector investment in Bomet, Kericho, Nandi and the region is improving lives and livelihoods, in partnership with county governors.

With further planned programmes and investments on the horizon, I’m already looking forward to my next visit to Rift Valley and to exploring other parts of this great country.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 October 2023.

At the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference 2023, the UK called for accountability on behalf of persecuted Ukrainian, Russian, and Belarussian journalists and human rights activists.

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

The UK delivered a statement during Mali’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the 54th Human Rights Council in Geneva.

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

The Governor to the Pitcairn Islands, Iona Thomas, has officially opened the new UK government-funded marine science base, providing a platform for scientists to visit the area and study its unique marine habitats.

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

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

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

The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Minister for the Americas & Caribbean visits UK Overseas Territory Turks and Caicos Islands.

UK Minister for the Americas & the Caribbean, David Rutley MP, has arrived in Turks and Caicos for a 3-day visit.

During his visit, Minister Rutley will meet the Governor, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam and Premier of Turks and Caicos, Honourable Charles Washington Misick, to share concerns about ongoing gang violence on the island and emphasise the UK’s continued commitment to providing security measures and resources to protect residents.

In light of the particularly high levels of irregular migration the Turks and Caicos Islands face from Haiti, the minister will also visit the Maritime Operations Centre. Here he will see first-hand how the radar station is being used to aid the detection of illegal sloop boats.

The minister will then visit the Marine Branch headquarters in Long Bay where he will be met by Assistant Superintendent Everet Warrican and Superintendent Mat Newton to hear about the headquarters’ vital work.

UK Minister for the Overseas Territories, David Rutley said:

The safety of residents in Turks and Caicos has always been of paramount importance to the UK government. During my visit, I will be meeting with the Premier and Governor to reiterate the UK’s support for reducing the ongoing gang violence.

I also look forward to meeting the local law enforcement officials who are at the frontline of keeping residents safe and protecting the Turks and Caicos Islands.

During his visit, the minister will meet staff at the Serious Crimes Investigation Unit, which is funded through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. The expert unit provides analytical support to the local police force to tackle serious crime. He will also visit the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force’s Tactical Response Unit and be given a tour of the Dock Yard and Five Cay area on board an armoured response vehicle.

Governor of Turks and Caicos Islands, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, welcomed the minister’s arrival and commented:

I’m delighted to welcome the Minister to Turks and Caicos Islands. During his visit, he will be visiting some of our core security facilities and meeting teams that are working hard to keep our residents safe from violence. Our goal continues to be to create a safe, secure and prosperous Turks and Caicos for all.