Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 September 2023.

As the Rugby World Cup kicks off in France, proud Fijian businesses showcased their amazing products to the world and networked with global business leaders.

His Excellency The President of Fiji Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, with the support of the United Kingdom Trade Partnerships Programme, met 4 companies which travelled from Fiji to bring a taste of the Pacific to Europe. Businesses that were part of the showcase include:

• Essence Fiji – Beauty Care
• Naturally Fiji/Punjas – Beauty Care and Biscuits
• Down-to-Earth – Hot sauces
• Daily Good – Healthy Ginger Shots

The trade event took place on 9 September, with Flying Fijians dropping in, and Fijian cultural and ceremonial festivities organised in collaboration with the French Fijians Support Association and the Fijian Permanent Mission in Geneva. H.E The President of Fiji, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, honoured the event and encouraged the business representatives.

The British High Commissioner to Fiji, Dr Brian Jones, said:

We were excited to use the platform of the Flying Fijians at the Rugby World Cup to promote Fijian businesses to UK and European buyers. With the support of H.E The President, the business representatives have done Fiji proud, just like the Flying Fijians. We are working hard to ensure this showcase results in solid business deals being signed for Fijian producers.

The business community had a chance to meet national rugby players in Bordeaux and interacted with a range of leading UK companies working in health care, hospitality, and food distribution, through one of the largest international sports gatherings, aim to expand Fiji’s export reach.

The Rugby World Cup is a unique opportunity for Fiji businesses to attract international recognition and to expand their global reach. This showcased that Fiji’s participation is not limited to the rugby field, but extends to the promotion of the culture, cuisine, and commerce of Fiji. Trade promotion and rugby – a match made in heaven.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 September 2023.

This funding will help refugees in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char access healthcare, clean water, hygiene and sanitation services, and cooking fuel.

Sir Philip Barton, Permanent Under-Secretary at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), has announced that the UK will provide £3,000,000 (around 42 crore taka) of new funding through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to support Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.

Sir Philip Barton is visiting Bangladesh for the fifth UK-Bangladesh Strategic Dialogue. Building on the UK and Bangladesh’s historic links, the Strategic Dialogue reflects the two countries’ shared commitment to develop a modern economic, trade and security partnership.

Permanent Under-Secretary Sir Philip Barton said

“I am pleased to announce a further UK contribution of £3,000,000 to UNHCR, which will help to ensure refugees in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char are able to access healthcare, clean water, hygiene and sanitation services and cooking fuel.

“Six years since the atrocities of 2017, which forced Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh, the UK continues to stand with the Rohingya, Bangladesh, and all those affected by this crisis. We continue to push for a long-term solution that will enable the refugees to return to Myanmar on a safe, voluntary and dignified basis, when the conditions there allow. Until that time, the UK is committed to supporting the Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh.”

Background Information

• Since 2017, the UK has provided £365 million (over 5,000 crore taka) to support the Rohingya and Bangladeshi host communities. This has included food, shelter, water and sanitation, healthcare and protection services.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 September 2023.

Statement by UK Political Coordinator Fergus Eckersley at the UN General Assembly.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 September 2023.

During his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories this week, the Foreign Secretary met the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said:

The Foreign Secretary met Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu today during his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Foreign Secretary emphasised the strength of our bilateral relationship and welcomed the free trade negotiations underway.

The Foreign Secretary underlined the importance of the UK and Israel’s shared democratic values that underpin our strategic partnership and encouraged Prime Minister Netanyahu to seek any judicial reform through the achievement of the broadest possible consensus.

He and Prime Minister Netanyahu welcomed the UK and Israel’s continued cooperation on major geopolitical challenges, in the region and around the world.

The Foreign Secretary reaffirmed the UK’s support for Israel’s right to self-defence in line with international law. He expressed the UK’s solidarity with Israel following repeated terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians.

He also outlined his concern with ongoing tensions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and the importance of both Israelis and Palestinians taking meaningful action to de-escalate tensions, including by addressing settler violence.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 September 2023.

During his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories this week, the Foreign Secretary met the Foreign Minister of Israel, Eli Cohen.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said:

The Foreign Secretary met with Foreign Minister Cohen this afternoon during his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the UK and Israel’s thriving partnership, building on their meeting in London in March to sign the UK-Israel 2030 roadmap.

The Foreign Secretary welcomed the work underway to negotiate an enhanced and modernised Free Trade Agreement and encouraged Israel to demonstrate increased ambition in order to secure the best possible deal.

The Foreign Secretary emphasised continued UK concern about any departure from the democratic values that underpin our strategic partnership.

The Foreign Secretary acknowledged the heightened tensions in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. He expressed his condolences following repeated terror attacks against Israeli citizens and reaffirmed the UK’s support for Israel’s right to self-defence in line with international law.

The Foreign Secretary urged both Israelis and Palestinians to take meaningful action to de-escalate tensions and to preserve the two-state solution including, in the case of Israel, to stop settlement expansion and act to prevent settler violence and the culture of impunity.

He and Foreign Minister Cohen welcomed the UK and Israel’s continued cooperation on tackling the threat posed by Iran. The Foreign Secretary also reaffirmed the UK’s steadfast support for Ukraine and highlighted the importance of Israel’s support, including towards Ukrainian reconstruction.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 September 2023.

Statement for Item 2: Interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on human rights situation in Afghanistan. Delivered by Human Rights Ambassador Rita French.

Thank you, Mr President.

Let me start by thanking the Special Rapporteur for his longstanding and determined efforts to continue to shed light on the human rights situation in Afghanistan.

We have all watched in horror and sadness as the Taliban have continued their campaign of repression and violence against Afghan women and girls. The ongoing restrictions to the rights of women and girls across every sphere of their lives – in education, in health, in employment, and in freedom of movement – is deplorable. The impact on their wellbeing and livelihood is truly unimaginable. One recent outrage was the closure of beauty salons, severely impacting thousands of women, a number of whom were then punished for bravely protesting the decision.

This coincides with tens of millions of Afghans who are also now in need of humanitarian aid, including many women and children. The UK stands with the international community in helping the Afghan people.

Special Rapporteur,

The Taliban must respond to the needs of the Afghan people. Their call for “work, bread, justice” must be heard.

How can we best communicate our concerns to the Taliban in a way they will understand? How can we better support those who are standing up for human rights in Afghanistan?

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 September 2023.

New intelligence shows the intended target of a Russian missile attack in the Black Sea was a cargo ship.

• intended target of a Russian missile attack in the Black Sea was a civilian cargo ship
• attacks thwarted by Ukrainian forces who shot down multiple missiles heading towards Odesa port
• since Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russian attacks have destroyed enough grain to feed more than one million people for a year

Intelligence shows that the Russian military targeted a cargo ship in the Black Sea with multiple missiles on 24 August.

The missiles, which included 2 Kalibr missiles fired from a Black Sea Fleet missile carrier, were successfully shot down by Ukraine’s forces on 24 August.

Intelligence shows that an intended target was a Liberian-flagged cargo ship berthed in the port.

This attack followed US government warnings that the Russian military may launch attacks against civilian shipping in the Black Sea.

Thanks to Ukraine’s air defence, the attack on the civilian ship failed. Not one of the Kalibr missiles reached its intended target.

Despite its failure, this is a clear demonstration of Russia’s continuing attempts to choke Ukraine’s economy, and President Putin’s disregard for the lives of civilians and the interests of countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

Putin is trying to win a war he will not win, and these attacks show just how desperate he is.

In targeting cargo ships and Ukrainian infrastructure, Russia is hurting the rest of the world.

This is part of a pattern of Russian aggression in the Black Sea.  In July, the Foreign Secretary said the UK believed Russia may target civilian ships in the Black Sea.  The US has observed Russia laying more sea mines around Ukrainian ports, and footage showing the detonation of a sea mine in July.

Since July, Russia has systematically targeted Ukrainian port and civilian infrastructure.  The attacks have so far destroyed 280,000 tonnes of grain – enough to feed over 1 million people for a year, and more than the total Russia promised to donate to African countries.

Russia has stopped even attempting to justify that these attacks are against legitimate military targets and is cynically targeting civilian infrastructure. President Putin’s intentions are clear for all to see.  This is a brutal attempt to choke the Ukrainian economy.

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

• damaged 26 port infrastructure facilities in Odesa, Chornomorsk and Reni
• destroyed 280,000 tonnes of grain – more than the total amount Russia promised to donate to African states, and enough to feed over 1 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
• 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 in 2022 – without the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) the World Food Programme (WFP) will have to replace this with more expensive or lower quality wheat

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 September 2023.

Statement on report of OHCHR on promoting reconciliation, accountability & human rights in Sri Lanka. Delivered by UK Ambassador to the WTO & UN Simon Manley.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 September 2023.

Statement by Sri Lanka Core Group comprising Canada, N Macedonia, Malawi, Montenegro, United Kingdom and United States. Delivered by UK Ambassador, Rita French.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 September 2023.

Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on the Independent Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar. As delivered by the UK Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French.