Tag: Foreign Office

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

Today, the new British Ambassador to Ukraine Martin Harris CMG OBE presented his Letters of Credence to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and reiterated the UK’s unflinching support.

Speaking at a ceremony in historic St Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, Martin Harris said:

I’m honoured to lead the UK’s Embassy as we support Ukraine in its fight for freedom and democracy. Ukraine is defending the international principles underpinning the UK’s security, as well as its own.

The courage and resolve of the Ukrainian armed forces and people are a constant inspiration. It is a privilege to be here in Ukraine standing alongside them.

Our relationship has never been closer or more important. Together we are stronger.

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

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Middle Eastern Peace Process.

Mr President,

I have three areas I wish to highlight since our last meeting in August.

Firstly, September 15 marked the third anniversary of the signing of the Abraham Accords. The UK celebrates the success of the accords and we are unabashed in encouraging more countries to normalise their relations with Israel and seize the opportunities it presents. We are also committed to making sure that normalisation delivers concrete benefits for the Palestinian people.

Second, from 11 to 13 September, the British Foreign Secretary visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Foreign Secretary spoke with Israeli and Palestinian leaders where he called for a de-escalation of tensions, emphasised the importance of holding long-overdue elections in the OPTs, and made crystal clear the UK’s commitment to a two-state solution as the only way to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. The 30th anniversary of the Oslo Accords is a poignant reminder that we must work together to achieve lasting and sustainable peace in the region.

During his visit, the Foreign Secretary met the commissioner-general of UNRWA and he went to Jalazone refugee camp to see, first hand, the impact of the agency’s work to protect the most vulnerable. This brings me to my third point.

We have previously discussed the funding crisis that UNRWA faces. The UK was proud to announce an additional ten million pounds during the visit to help address the crisis. Other states also pledged more funds to UNRWA during high-level week, we must make sure those funds are available quickly and we must maintain efforts to put the agency on a more sustainable financial footing.

Separately, I want to highlight a UN OCHA report published last week showing that 1,105 Palestinians were displaced from their communities since 2022. A major and rising concern is the increasing settler violence in the OPTs, largely unchallenged, renders Palestinians at risk of forcible transfer. We call on the Israeli government to tackle this threat.

Tragically, 2023 has already seen at least 193 Palestinians killed by Israeli security forces in the West Bank and 31 Israelis have died at the hands of terrorists. We must end the cycle of violence.

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

UK military advisor, Nicholas Aucott, says that Russia continues to use the OSCE as a platform to push its disinformation campaign to cover over the strategic setbacks in its war of aggression.

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

Celebrating today’s outstanding African leaders, 20 years since the Mandela Rhodes Foundation was launched.

On 2 July 2003, after entering Westminster Hall to a tumultuous standing ovation and being welcomed to the podium by former US President and Rhodes Scholar Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Neslon Mandela set out in detail the reasons for the establishment of The Mandela Rhodes Foundation (MRF), as well as his hopes for its future contribution in Africa.

The Foundation was heralded as a symbol of a new era of equal relations between Britain and South Africa. Two decades later in Johannesburg, Mandela’s official legacy organisation for leadership development is proud to be celebrating 20 years of developing exceptional leaders from across sectors in South Africa and the wider region.

On the 28th of September, the foundation will celebrate this milestone by reigniting its relationships with leaders of British business and diplomacy. The British High Commission in South Africa and The British Chamber of Business in Southern Africa will host a reception at Henley Business School Africa.

British High Commissioner to South Africa, Antony Philipson said:

Nelson Mandela’s extraordinary and inspiring leadership has moved generations of people around the globe. South Africa and the UK share a commitment to strengthening our education systems so that young people can access equal opportunities. It is an honour and privilege to be celebrating this milestone alongside the Mandela Rhodes Foundation.

The event will be held at Henley Business School Africa in Sandton. Guests will include senior executives of British businesses operating in Africa, members of the diplomatic corps and Mandela Rhodes Scholars playing leading roles in sectors ranging from finance to public policy. Justice Edwin Cameron will give a keynote speech, exploring the future of African youth and the prospects of building a common humanity.

MRF CEO Judy Sikuza said:

Nelson Mandela envisioned an Africa that could take its rightful place on the global stage, represented by leaders of outstanding moral clarity. We are proud to be developing those leaders, and we look forward to strengthening our relationships with those in the British business community who can support our mission.

To date, The Mandela Rhodes Foundation has awarded 622 scholarships to students from 33 African countries, studying in 35 different disciplines. Professor Jon Foster-Pedley, dean and director of Henley Business School Africa, commented:

The Mandela Rhodes Foundation is a wonderful – and highly successful – melding of the power of business with the vision and compassion of statesmanship.

At Henley Africa, it is an article of faith that businesses build Africa, but building the leaders that will build those businesses requires more than a crude understanding of the bottom line. True leaders build sustainable businesses that endure, that create an immediate and lasting impact on the people that they employ and the communities in which they operate.

It is something we need now more than ever in a world increasingly beset by man-made crises and especially in a country such as South Africa with its appalling Gini co-efficient. This is something that the Mandela Rhodes scholarships have done so much to achieve over the last two decades.

The British Chamber of Business in Southern Africa added:

The role of education in building more democratic societies and informed citizens capable of reaching their full potential, while always important, has never been more critical in a time rife with inequality and discord.

Schools, universities and executive training programmes are stages where young people and leaders of the future find refuge, expression and purpose. Are we as business getting it right with regards to our role in society? Occasions and partnerships like this are opportunities to evaluate our contributions and align what we stand for with our actions.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 September 2023.

Statement by UK Political Coordinator Fergus Eckersley at the UN Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 September 2023.

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

Thank you President.

I join others in thanking SRSG Otunbayeva, Executive Director Sima Bahous and Karima Bennoune for your briefings.

Twenty-two years on since Kofi Annan’s Nobel speech, which the SRSG referenced, and over two years since the Taliban’s seizure of power, our dominant concern remains the Taliban’s systematic assault on the rights of women and girls continues.

There have been over 50 decrees curtailing women’s ability to participate in public, political, economic and social life and barring girls from secondary schools and higher education.

These decrees have also impacted the UN’s ability to get aid to those who need it most. This at a time of dire need – two thirds of the population of Afghanistan require humanitarian assistance.

Forty per cent are facing acute food insecurity – a number that would be far higher without families and communities in Afghanistan supporting each other in whatever ways they can.

Afghanistan remains one of the poorest and climate vulnerable countries in the world. Its prospects further dimmed by a significant ‘brain drain’ as a result of migration, persecution and uncertainty.

We note the progress the Taliban has taken in tackling ISKP and we underscore the importance of continued action against terrorist groups within Afghanistan and their affiliates.

The people of Afghanistan remain our priority – so what can we do?

First and foremost we need to take urgent action to avert a humanitarian catastrophe as winter approaches. The UK has contributed over half a billion dollars to address the humanitarian crisis since April 2021 and we call on fellow Member States to step up support where they can. But as we heard from SRSG Otunbayeva, the UN’s revised Humanitarian Appeal for Afghanistan for 2023 is only 28% funded.

The UK is unwavering in our commitment to provide aid to the people of Afghanistan and to support UN efforts. We are clear, however, that male only delivery chains do not and cannot achieve that and we support calls for closer monitoring of aid delivery.

Second, the international community should remain united in our message to the Taliban. We have set out our expectations in consecutive Council resolutions on humanitarian access, cutting ties with terrorists, respect for human rights and inclusive governance.

The Taliban should be clear on the costs of their policies: international recognition should not be on the table; sanctions relief should not come. And Afghanistan cannot be self-reliant when fifty per cent of its people are excluded from society. Without inclusive governance and society, peace and stability will remain elusive.

Finally, we look forward to Ambassador Feridun Sinirlioglu’s independent assessment, which will provide a valuable basis for a more coherent, strategic international approach as we look to build on the Secretary-General’s conference with special envoys in Doha and other regional initiatives, in which the UK will continue to play its part.

 

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 September 2023.

Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on the human rights situation in Myanmar. Statement delivered by the UK.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 September 2023.

The Foreign Secretary met representatives of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) member states and the GCC Secretary General in New York on 18 September.

The Foreign Ministers or their representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states and Minister James Cleverly, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs the United Kingdom, together with GCC Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi, met in New York on September 18, 2023, to discuss regional and global issues, review progress of the GCC-UK Strategic Partnership and strengthen their consultation, coordination and cooperation in all fields.

Iran

Ministers welcomed diplomatic engagement by Saudi Arabia and other GCC member states to pursue regional de-escalation and emphasised the importance of adherence to international law, including the UN Charter, by states of the region.  They reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation and maritime security in the region and their determination to deter illegal actions at sea or elsewhere that might threaten shipping lanes, international trade, and oil installations in the GCC states.  The Ministers underscored their support for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and renewed their call for Iran to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency.  They once again called on Iran to cease its proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles, missiles and other advanced conventional weapons that pose a grave security threat to the region and beyond. The GCC and the United Kingdom reiterated their commitment to work together to deter and address threats to sovereignty and territorial integrity and other destabilising activities that impact international security.

The Ministers reiterated their support for the United Arab Emirates’ call to reach a peaceful solution to the dispute over the three islands, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, through bilateral negotiations or the International Court of Justice, in accordance with the rules of international law including the UN Charter.

Kuwait and Iraq

The Ministers stressed the importance of Iraq’s commitment to Kuwait’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and respect for international conventions and UN resolutions, especially UNSC Resolution 833 regarding the demarcation of the Kuwait-Iraq boundary. They urged the complete demarcation of the Kuwait-Iraq maritime boundary beyond boundary point 162 and called on the Government of Iraq to resolve the domestic legal status of the 2012 Kuwait-Iraq Agreement to regulate maritime navigation in Khor Abdullah and ensure that the agreement remains in force. The Ministers renewed their support for UNSC Resolution 2107 (2013) regarding the transfer of the file related to repatriation of all Kuwaitis, including missing Kuwaitis, and return of Kuwaiti property, including the national archives, to the UN Mission to Iraq (UNAMI), and expressed their hope that Iraq will continue to cooperate to ensure progress in this file. They called on Iraq and the UN to exert maximum efforts to reach a resolution of all the issues involved.

Yemen

The Ministers underscored the importance of continued and unified support for UN-led peace efforts in Yemen following the April 2022 truce and ensuing period of de-escalation.  They expressed their high appreciation for the efforts of Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UN and U.S. envoys to this end.  The Ministers also emphasised their support for an inclusive, Yemeni-Yemeni political process under UN auspices that durably resolves the conflict.  They welcomed the efforts that the Presidential Leadership Council has taken to promote peace and ease the suffering of Yemenis, stressing the need for the Houthis to seize this opportunity and engage positively with international efforts and peace initiatives aimed at bringing durable peace to Yemen and putting the country on the path to recovery.  The Ministers affirmed the importance of continuing to address Yemen’s humanitarian, economic, and development needs. They called for the cessation of all restrictions and interference by the Houthis affecting the operations of humanitarian agencies on the ground. They expressed their commitment to help mobilise additional funds in support of the UN humanitarian response plan for Yemen. They also welcomed the UN’s completion in August of a complex operation to offload oil from the derelict Safer tanker off the coast of Yemen, averting an environmental, economic, and humanitarian threat to the region and the Red Sea. The Ministers commended Saudi Arabia’s sustained efforts to encourage Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue and provide economic and humanitarian assistance to Yemen, including its announcement in August to provide $1.2 billion for government budget support and food security.

Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

The Ministers underscored their commitment to reaching a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East in accordance with the two-state solution, as described in the Arab Peace Initiative, along the 1967 borders with mutually agreed land swaps, in accordance with internationally recognized parameters and international law.  They stressed the importance of avoiding unilateral actions that undermine the two-state solution and increase tensions, as well as preserving the historic Status Quo of Jerusalem and its holy sites, recognizing the special role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in this regard.  The Ministers reiterated their support for the Palestinian Authority and improving Palestinians’ daily lives, including through humanitarian assistance and efforts to accelerate Palestinian economic growth. The Ministers also reaffirmed their support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which provides protection and core services to Palestinian refugees across the Middle East.

Syria

On Syria, the Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to reaching an inclusive political solution to the Syrian crisis in a manner that preserves Syria’s unity and sovereignty, meets the aspirations of its people, is consistent with international humanitarian law, and is in line with UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2254 (2015). In that regard, the Ministers discussed Arab efforts to resolve the crisis in a step-for-step manner, consistent with UNSCR 2254, as decided during the meeting of the Arab Ministerial Contact Group on Syria on May 1, 2023 in Amman and affirmed on August 15, 2023 in Cairo. The Ministers reaffirmed support for Coalition forces, who are working to achieve the enduring defeat of Da’esh in Syria and Iraq.  The Ministers further condemned all actions that threaten the safety and security of these forces. They stressed the need to create secure conditions for the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons consistent with UN standards, and the importance of providing the necessary support to Syrian refugees and to the countries hosting them.  The Ministers reiterated their call for a nationwide ceasefire.  They emphasized that full, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access to all Syrians in need – through all modalities including cross-border and crossline– must be ensured.  They also reiterated the need to support humanitarian early recovery projects. Furthermore, they discussed enhancing cooperation to address the issue of missing persons – as outlined in the Amman Communique and UNSCR 2254 – in coordination with all concerned parties.

GCC-UK Strategic Partnership

The Ministers affirmed their shared determination to contribute to regional security, stability, and prosperity under the framework of the GCC-UK Strategic Partnership.  They underscored their mutual resolve to build closer relations in all fields, including political, security and economic cooperation. The Ministers emphasised the importance of the principles of tolerance and peaceful coexistence for relations between nations. The Ministers noted the recognition by the Security Council in Resolution 2686 that hate speech, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, related forms of intolerance, gender discrimination and acts of extremism can contribute to driving the outbreak, escalation and recurrence of conflict, and reaffirmed states must respect and ensure the human rights of all individuals within their territory and subject to their jurisdiction as provided for by relevant international law.

The Ministers reviewed the pace of negotiations on the GCC-UK Free Trade Agreement as well as the implementation and ongoing update of the GCC-UK Joint Action Plan and affirmed the importance of accelerating the pace of those negotiations and maintaining periodic meetings between senior officials, technical teams and other working groups to achieve common goals of the GCC-UK Strategic Partnership.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 September 2023.

We invite you to join us at the UK and Commonwealth Services of Remembrance across Poland.

In these Commonwealth Services we remember all those of the Commonwealth of Nations who gave their lives at sea, on land and in the air in two world wars. We also remember the brave people of the Polish Armed Forces who fought and died here on their soil and abroad alongside their comrades from the Commonwealth.

Dates of the services:

*Malbork – Commonwealth War Cemetery; Tuesday, 7 November 2023, 10:40am

*Lidzbark Warmiński – Commonwealth War Cemetery; Wednesday, 8 November 2023, 10:40am

*Kraków – Commonwealth War Cemetery (Rakowicki Cemetery); Friday, 10 November 2023, 10:40am

*Warsaw – RAF Liberator Memorial Stone in Skaryszewski Park; Sunday, 12 November 2023, 12:15am

*Poznań – Old Garrison Cemetery; Saturday, 23 March 2024, – details to be confirmed

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 25 September 2023.

The UK and the US state of Washington will today [25 September] sign a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost trade and investment.

• Washington State, home to major businesses like Boeing and Amazon, becomes latest US state to agree trade Memorandum of Understanding with the UK
• The UK now has deals with six US states with a combined GDP of more than £2 trillion
• Industry Minister Nusrat Ghani to travel to Seattle to sign the pact, which targets the aerospace sector, and lead 35 hand-picked UK companies at a joint Boeing and Department for Business and Trade showcase

The UK and the US state of Washington will today [25 September] sign a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost trade and investment.

Washington State is home to major US business including Amazon, Starbucks, Microsoft and Boeing, and has a GDP roughly equivalent to Poland. The MoU marks the sixth delivered as part of the UK’s state-level strategy to boost trade with the US and means that the combined GDP of states the UK has MoUs with now totals £2.2 trillion.

Minister for Industry and Economic Security Nusrat Ghani will sign the pact in Seattle alongside Washington State Governor Jay Inslee.

The UK has signed MoUs with Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Utah, and now Washington. Collectively these states imported £5.1 billion of UK goods in 2022.

The Government is actively engaging with further states including Florida, Texas, California, Colorado, and Illinois.

Minister Ghani will also lead a delegation of 35 UK businesses attending the 2023 Boeing Supplier Showcase, handpicked by Boeing to meet with their procurement and supply chain teams. The event will showcase the best of the UK’s world leading aerospace industry as it continues to drive innovation through new technology, research and design.

Aerospace will be a priority sector under the MoU, which seeks to facilitate more deals between UK and Washington State.

Boeing has spent over £12 billion in the UK supply chain since 2015. Its most recent investment, a £80 million composite research facility in Sheffield, will establish new long-term partnerships and supply chains.

Minister for Industry and Economic Security Nusrat Ghani said:

Our pact with the state of Washington is a win for the UK, opening a door for our businesses to trade more openly and unlock new opportunities in key sectors.

Each US state is a massive global market in its own right, and many have economies larger than the GDP of whole countries. By notching up our sixth such deal we’ve surpassed the £2 trillion mark for combined GDP of states who’ve done a deal with the UK, with many more in our sights.

This particular deal will be fantastic for our aerospace industry through investor intros, trade missions, and increasing access to procurement markets. I’m delighted to join Boeing and our handpicked group of innovative UK companies to discuss how Government and industry can work together to create jobs and grow the economy.

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee said:

Today’s MOU makes the UK Washington’s latest global partner in trade and innovation focused on clean technology and industry.

Washington is a leader in sustainable aerospace and aviation, attracting billions in new investments across the state’s urban and rural areas, boosting local economies while slashing our carbon emissions.

We can’t ebb the tide of climate change and usher in this new future all on our own, it takes partnerships all over the world like the one announced today to realize our full economic potential and help curb carbon emissions worldwide.

Maria Laine, President of Boeing in the UK, Ireland and Nordic region said:

We are immensely proud of our long-standing relationship with the UK. Working closely with the UK Government, ADS and other key partners, we remain committed to developing and expanding the UK supply chain and creating opportunities for collaboration across Boeing’s global programmes.

The MoU will strengthen the trade relationship between the UK and Washington. It will unlock new opportunities to develop new commercial partnerships, facilitate capital investment, foster innovation, and support global decarbonisation.

Other priority areas include clean energy, digital, life sciences, supply chain resilience, agriculture, and innovation. It further seeks to broaden market access in areas such as government procurement and recognition of professional qualifications – to help Brits deliver services in Washington and vice versa.

Matt Farnsworth, Commercial Director at the University of Sheffield AMRC, who are attending the trade show, said:

As a research organisation, the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) has always found trade missions organised by the Department for Business and Trade to be extremely valuable. They provide a fantastic opportunity to broaden and strengthen existing industrial relationships and ecosystems, while developing new opportunities for collaboration.

Despite having a close research relationship with Boeing for over 20 years, previous missions have successfully opened new, exciting opportunities for the AMRC with a number of Boeing business units and technology owners, we hadn’t previously engaged with.

The AMRC is playing a key role in driving innovation, research and development for UK manufacturing, especially for the aerospace sector. The upcoming Boeing trade mission will further fuel and accelerate our journey to make the UK a world-leader for sustainable manufacturing in aerospace.