Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 July 2023.

FCDO spokesperson statement issued on 21 July on Qur’an burning in Stockholm.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said:

The burning and desecration of the Qur’an in Stockholm is deeply insulting to Muslims around the world and completely inappropriate. We denounce hatred on the basis of religion or belief. We will defend freedom of religion or belief for all, and promote mutual respect. We recognise the deep suffering experienced by Muslims around the world caused by the burning of the Qur’an.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 July 2023.

UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Leo Docherty MP, reiterates the UK’s commitment to a stable, secure and prosperous Central Asia during visit to Turkmenistan.

UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Europe and Central Asia, Leo Docherty MP, visited Turkmenistan on 5 July 2023. Minister Docherty conducted several high-level meetings at the Cabinet of Ministers and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During a meeting with Vice Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Meredov, the two men signed a Protocol of Intentions to deepen bilateral relations between the UK and Turkmenistan.

Minister Docherty, said:

I have had a warm and productive meeting with Mr Meredov. We discussed how the UK and Turkmenistan can and are working together to address the global challenges that face us, in particular climate change.

Minister Docherty also met with the Vice Premier responsible for Agriculture and Minster of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan. This meeting identified opportunities for co-operation between the two countries on the reduction of methane emissions and other ways to work towards a more sustainable future.

This was the first UK Ministerial visit to Turkmenistan since 2015 and also Minister Docherty’s first visit to the country. The visit was a sign of the growing relationship between the United Kingdom and Turkmenistan, exemplified by the construction of the new British Embassy building in Ashgabat.

At the end of the visit, Minister Docherty thanked the government of Turkmenistan for its warm hospitality and said:

I visited the Memorial Complex to see the monuments to the 1948 earthquake and the heroes of the battle of Gokdepe. I also paid tribute to those from both our countries who died in the fight against Nazism. It reminded me that there is more that unites us than divides us.

Minister Docherty also visited the National Carpet Museum and the Akhal Teke horses at the state stud farm.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 July 2023.

Ambassador Neil Holland marks the 9th anniversary of the downing of flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine and the deaths of 298 people.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 July 2023.

The UK Government announced on 19 July 2023 that, with immediate effect, all Namibian nationals will need a visa before travelling to the UK, including to visit.

The decision to impose a visa regime has been made because of the sustained and significant increase since 2016, in the number of UK asylum applications from Namibian nationals at the UK border. This constitutes an abuse of the provision to visit the UK for a limited period as non-visa nationals.

The changes, which come into effect immediately, will apply to all Namibian nationals travelling to the UK. However, there will be a four-week transition period until 15:00 BST on 16 August 2023. During this period, Namibian nationals holding confirmed tickets booked before 19 July 2023 will still be permitted to travel to the UK as a non-visa national.

British High Commissioner to Namibia, Charles Moore, said:

I fully understand that the imposition of a visa regime will be of concern to the many Namibian nationals, who we warmly welcome to visit the United Kingdom as genuine visitors. Unfortunately, the significant increase in asylum claims from Namibian nationals on arrival at the UK border has made it necessary for us to implement these new measures.

We have regularly discussed the increase in asylum applications with the Government of the Republic of Namibia, and continue to work jointly on returning those Namibian nationals who are ultimately determined to be ineligible for asylum in the United Kingdom.

The announced changes bring Namibia into line with many other visa national countries, including many Commonwealth partners, with whom the UK has warm and friendly relations. Visas provide access to the UK while helping to secure the UK border by preventing abuse of the non-visa provision.

The UK Government has increased capacity at the Visa Application Centre in Windhoek to accommodate the processing of visitor visa applications in Namibia. Visa applications are submitted and paid for online at www.gov.uk/apply-to-come-to-the-uk, after which applicants book an appointment to provide their biometrics and hand over their passport.

The UK Government aims to process applications within 15 UK working days of receipt of the passport and biometrics. Applicants can apply up to 3 months in advance of travel.

The cost of a six-month multiple entry visa for the UK can be found at: Visa fees – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Longer validity visas are also available.

Namibian nationals who booked travel to the UK before 15:00 BST on 19 July 2023 will still be eligible to travel to the UK without a visa until 15:00 BST on 16 August 2023. Any passengers arriving after 15:00 BST on 16 August 2023 will require a visa to enter the UK, regardless of when their travel was booked. Anyone booking their flight after 15:00 BST on 19 July 2023 will also need a visa, regardless of when they will arrive in the UK.

Namibian visitors already in the UK will not be affected by these changes but, once they leave the UK, they will need a visitor visa in order to make any future visit. Namibian nationals are already required to obtain a visa for other (non-visit) purposes, such as to work or study. Applicants for student or other visas will continue to be able to apply for these visas in Namibia, as they have done previously.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 July 2023.

The Foreign Office has issued a statement on violence at the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said:

The UK strongly condemns the attacks on the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad. Violence against diplomatic missions is unacceptable in any circumstances.

Governments have a responsibility to protect diplomatic missions under the Vienna Convention and it is unacceptable that the Iraqi Security Forces did not act to prevent last night’s breach of an Embassy.

We welcome the Iraqi Government’s intention to prosecute those responsible.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 July 2023.

Written statement by British Ambassador to the USA Karen Pierce on the inaugural UK-US strategic sanctions dialogue, which took place on 19 July.

The United Kingdom and United States have reaffirmed that sanctions are a key tool of foreign policy, following the inaugural UK-U.S. Strategic Sanctions Dialogue hosted by the United States Department of State in Washington DC on 19 July.

Building on the unique economic and security partnership between our 2 nations, the Dialogue delivered on the 2023 Atlantic Declaration commitment to strengthen our cooperation on sanctions strategy, design, targeting, implementation, mitigations, and enforcement, bringing together UK and US departments and agencies to discuss priorities across geographic and thematic sanctions regimes. It also built on the OFSI-OFAC Enhanced Partnership, with renewed focus from both sides to explore opportunities to align the way we implement sanctions.

The delegations discussed the use of targeted sanctions to deter and disrupt malign activity and to demonstrate our readiness to take action to defend international norms.

In response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, together with our allies and partners we have imposed unprecedented costs on the Kremlin. The UK has sanctioned over 1,600 individuals and entities since the start of the invasion, including banks with global assets worth £1 trillion ($1.3 trillion) and over £20 billion ($25.9 billion) worth of UK-Russia trade. Sanctions and export controls are starving Russia’s military of key Western components and technology, restricting Putin’s ability to fight a 21st century war.

Beyond efforts against Russia, the UK and US continue to build on our significant cooperation both in the United Nations and bilaterally to coordinate our autonomous regimes. This includes action to tackle human rights violations and abuses, counter terrorism, target cyber-criminal networks, and to address concerning situations in countries such as Sudan, Myanmar and Iran. UK and US teams also focused on collaboration to protect humanitarian activity from unintended impacts of sanctions, building on our significant cooperation on the landmark UN Security Council Resolution 2664 and on follow up across autonomous sanctions regimes. The talks also looked beyond bilateral dimensions and focused on efforts with partners to show collective leadership on the targeted, legitimate, and effective use of sanctions to tackle threats to international peace and security.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 July 2023.

Ambassador Holland voices strong UK support for the Geneva International Discussions (GID) as well as for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 July 2023.

Thirteen new UK sanctions announced targeting individuals and businesses linked to the actions of Wagner Group in Africa.

• new UK sanctions target 13 individuals and businesses linked to the actions of the Russian Wagner Group, including executions and torture in Mali and the Central African Republic and threats to peace and security in Sudan
• this includes 3 designations for the mercenary group’s top officials in Mali and Central African Republic (CAR), including the ‘right hand man’ of Yevgeny Prigozhin, who have deliberately targeted civilians in their operations
• a further 5 businesses and individuals involved in threatening peace and stability in Sudan, including through disinformation campaigns and providing military equipment, have been targeted

The UK government has today (Thursday 20 July) announced a wave of sanctions against individuals and businesses involved with the Wagner Group in Mali, Central African Republic (CAR) and Sudan. These measures will limit their financial freedom by preventing UK citizens, companies and banks from dealing with them, alongside freezing any assets held in the UK and travel bans.

The Russian mercenary Wagner Group has operated in Mali, CAR and Sudan for several years, aggressively pursuing Russian foreign policy interests in the region and providing military support to counter-terrorism operations which have seen hundreds of civilians killed. The UK has already sanctioned the Wagner Group, its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, and several of his key commanders who have participated in Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

The head of the Wagner Group in Mali, Ivan Aleksandrovitch Maslov, is one of those targeted today. Wagner mercenaries, alongside Malian forces, massacred at least 500 people in Moura in March 2022, including summary executions as well as rape and torture.

The head of the Wagner Group in CAR, Vitalii Viktorovitch Perfilev, and the Wagner Group’s head of operations in the country, Konstantin Aleksandrovitch Pikalov, are sanctioned for deliberately targeting civilians.

Pikalov, known as the Wagner Group founder and CEO Yevgeny Prigozhin’s ‘right hand man’, is the operational head of Wagner in CAR. Pikalov is responsible for the Wagner Group’s torture and targeted killings of civilians.

Wagner Group has also provided weapons and military equipment to Sudan. Three businesses, which act as fronts for the Wagner Group and operate in the country, have been included in the new measures, due to the continued risk they pose to peace and stability. These include M-Invest, and its subsidiary Meroe Gold. These build on recent sanctions against companies funding the conflict.

Andrew Mitchell, Minister for Development and Africa, said:

The Wagner Group is committing atrocities in Ukraine, as well as acting with impunity in countries like Mali, Central African Republic and Sudan. Wherever Wagner operates, it has a catastrophic effect on communities, worsens existing conflicts and damages the reputations of countries that host them.

These sanctions expose despicable individuals who have commissioned violations of international humanitarian law, holding them to account for the severe harm they are inflicting on innocent civilians for financial gain.

The UK announced a package of sanctions linked to Sudan last week, targeting 6 companies providing funding and military equipment to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Through diplomatic engagement and aid programmes, the UK continues to support local, national and international efforts to promote long-term prosperity and stability in Mali, CAR and Sudan.

The UK remains deeply concerned by the destabilising role Wagner plays in this region. Wagner mercenaries operating in Africa have long been reported as being responsible for multiple breaches of international humanitarian law and abuses of human rights, including numerous reports of indiscriminate killings of unarmed civilians. The group’s presence in Africa is self-serving as demonstrated by their grip on the security and economic environments as well as their continued exploitation of natural resources.

The individuals and businesses sanctioned today are:

Mali

• Ivan Aleksandrovitch Maslov, the head of the Wagner Group’s operations in Mali, who oversaw the group’s involvement in the Moura Massacre and has been involved in the commission of violations of international humanitarian law, in particular, the deliberate targeting of civilians

Central African Republic

• Alexander Alexandrovich Ivanov, the Wagner Group’s unofficial spokesperson in CAR, for his association with the Group which has committed violations of international humanitarian law, deliberately targeting civilians
• Aleksandr Grigorievitch Maloletko, a military instructor for the Wagner Group and a close associate of Yevgeny Prigozhin, for his association with the Group which has committed violations of international humanitarian law
• Dimitri Sytii, an individual associated with the Wagner Group in CAR which has violated international humanitarian law, deliberately targeting civilians
• Konstantin Aleksandrovitch Pikalov, a close advisor of Yevgeny Prigozhin, for his involvement in the commission of violations of international humanitarian law in CAR, in particular the deliberate targeting of civilians
• mining company Lobaye Invest Sarlu for involvement in activities which threaten the peace, stability and security of the CAR, including through acts that undermine efforts to resolve armed conflicts, such as funding the training of CAR army recruits by Russian mercenaries
• Sewa Security Services, a CAR-based security company (and subsidiary of Lobaye Invest Sarlu) for its involvement in activities which undermine or threaten the peace, stability and security of the CAR, including by providing support for and/or promoting the actions of the Wagner Group in CAR
• Vitalii Viktorovitch Perfilev, the head of Wagner Group operations in CAR, for violating international humanitarian law by deliberately targeting civilians

Sudan

• Andrei Sergeevich Mandel, Director General of M-Invest which in itself is responsible for action which threatens the peace, stability and security of Sudan
• M-Invest, a company serving as a front for the Wagner Group, for threatening the peace and security of Sudan. M-invest has previously advised the Sudanese government on disinformation campaigns to discredit pro-civilian government protestors
• Meroe Gold, a mining subsidiary of M-Invest, for threatening the peace, stability and security of Sudan. Meroe Gold has imported equipment to Sudan including weapons, helicopters and military trucks
• Mikhail Potepkin, Regional Director of M-Invest and Director of Meroe Gold, for threatening the peace and stability in Sudan. Potepkin is associated with the Wagner Group. He worked to ensure planes hired by Meroe Gold could continue operate domestically and internationally whilst being undetected by commercial aviation radars
• Al-Solag Mining, for threatening the peace, stability and security of Sudan by its association with Meroe Gold (and for its attempts to avoid existing Western sanctions and Sudanese regulations)

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 July 2023.

Ambassador Neil Holland condemns Russia’s decision to collapse the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Thank you, Mr Chair. Last week, we urged Russia to renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) and stop holding the world’s food supply hostage. However, on 17 July, Russia took the unilateral decision to withdraw from the deal. By leaving the Initiative, Russia is harming global food security, restricting supplies, and making food less affordable. Because of Russia’s decision, up to 24 million tonnes of food will not now reach global markets over the next year. This will particularly impact the world’s poorest.

The UN Secretary General issued a statement on Monday which makes clear that it was a Russian decision alone to cause the collapse of the BSGI. Despite Russian claims to the contrary, the UN and the international community have made significant progress to support the export of Russian food and fertiliser. Since the summer of 2022 Russian exports of food have been above pre-war levels.

The United Kingdom regrets Russia’s withdrawal from the BSGI and urges Russia to return to implementation, to enable it to operate as intended. The omens are not good. It was depressingly predictable that Russia’s withdrawal from the BSGI should be followed immediately by three destructive nights of intensified missile strikes on the Ukrainian ports which are so central to the passage of grain through the Black Sea.

Reports indicate that these attacks caused civilian casualties, and that they struck grain infrastructure, including a wholesale market, storage capacity, loading facilities, and an oil terminal at the port. Not content with withdrawing from their own participation in the BSGI, Russia seems intent on denying any passage of grain at all through the Black Sea for delivery to those who need it most. This destruction of grain infrastructure exacerbates food security issues and puts civilians at risk. Estimates suggest that two thirds of Ukrainian grain goes to feed people in Africa and Asia. It is the food supply to these people that is being attacked, as well as Ukrainian national infrastructure and freedom to trade. We urge Russia to stop these attacks.

Mr Chair, today I would also like to speak about the temporarily controlled territories of Ukraine. These are of course Ukraine’s sovereign territories, despite Moscow’s claims to annex Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in September 2022 following falsified and illegal so-called referendums. The international community has not recognised these referendums. Ukraine maintains its control over two regional capitals within these territories: Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.

The so-called “elections” which Russian authorities plan to hold in these territories on the 10 September will therefore be a sham. They will not be recognised by the international community. They are part of Russia’s ongoing attempt to legitimise their control over these regions. According to Human Rights Watch, this attempted Russification also includes forced passportisation and imposition of Russian media, education, and currency. The elections and these other measures are all gross violations of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and a violation of the UN Charter. These actions convince no-one. These regions are not Russian. They are Ukrainian.

People living in the temporarily controlled territories are enduring horrors at the hands of the Russian authorities. Civilians in Odesa and other Black Sea ports are being terrorised by missile strikes. The world’s poor and hungry are paying the price as Russia holds global food supplies hostage. All of this suffering could end if Russia simply withdrew from Ukraine’s internationally recognised territory, let grain shipments resume, and allowed the Ukrainian people to live in peace. Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 July 2023.

UK Statement: 4th Trade Policy Review of Honduras at the WTO in Geneva, 12 & 14 July 2023. Delivered by the UK’s Ambassador to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

1. Quisiera dar una muy calurosa bienvenida a la delegación de Honduras bajo el liderazgo del Ministro Fredis Cerrato Valladares. Es un placer para mí y para el equipo británico el tener una relación tan fuerte con su delegación aquí en Ginebra.
2. Thanks to our distinguished discussant for her very eloquent and thoughtful comments and to the Secretariat for the preparation of this meeting.
3. Let me start by applauding the efforts of the new government of Honduras to reduce poverty since the 2016 Review under your new female President Ms Xiomara Castro. As the Minister and Ambassador Pagán commented, Honduras’ trade policy has undergone a significant shift towards progressive reform, the impact of which has been palpable for the people of Honduras, but which is felt here even in Geneva thanks to Ambassador Castillo’s Work.
4. We also recognise that your economy still faces some challenges as many economies do. These include how it can attract more foreign investment, boost employment and generate increased tax revenue. In preparing for this review, we have listened to private sector voices who have highlighted to us the challenges that for them remain in terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Honduras that stem from the handling of foreign investment in the special economic zones (ZEDEs) established by the previous government. And I think that engagement and dialogue with the private sector will be an important step in resolving those challenges and restoring the confidence in investing in Honduras. In that effort the UK stands ready as a friend and partner to support you in the effort to reassure companies looking to invest in Honduras of the benefits of that investment.
5. The bilateral relationship that the UK shares with Honduras is only growing stronger. Trade between our two countries has seen a significant increase of almost 40% in the last couple of years, and this has been catalysed by the implementation of the UK-Central America Association Agreement, which is a testament to the committed bilateral relationship that we share, but also as you indicated, an enabler of an ever closer economic and indeed political relationship between us. As you know, our Minister for Latin America, David Rutley, visited Honduras in April 2023 to meet with businesses and with the government to highlight opportunities for boosting our trade relations under the umbrella of this agreement. We hope that this dialogue and positive development is going to continue at the first UK-CAAA Ministerial Council later this year so we can deepen our trade ties and support Honduras with the diversification of its exports. In particular, sectors such as social infrastructure, agriculture, education and clean growth all stand out as areas where significant untapped potential remains if Honduras business environment improves. And the UK is very keen and ready to collaborate to improve this trading environment to enhance our mutually beneficial trading relationship and support to promote economic and social development in Honduras.
6. We also welcome further efforts by the government to combat corruption and increase the transparency of public procurement mechanisms, which would have a positive effect on trade and development. So we very much welcome, in particular, the establishment of a new International Commission against Corruption and Impunity (CICIH). This is a very positive step.
7. I would like to mention the cooperation that we are undertaking in areas such as sustainable infrastructure – which we think can help support development, agritech and sustainable infrastructure – in which we could support Honduras as it seeks to develop and also address issues around resilience in the face of climate change. Building on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the United Kingdom and Honduras to implement the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund, which supports our shared objective of tackling biodiversity loss and poverty reduction.
8. We really appreciate, as others have already done, your multilateral effort here in Geneva. In particular we really appreciate the work that Honduras has contributed on dispute settlement reform, which is important to all of us. And let me end by thanking Ambassador Dacio Castillo for his dedication as the chair of the General Council and also the work that he led in preparation for MC12, which was so fundamental to our success, but also his continued contribution here over many years to the work and success of this organisation. Good luck with this review, good luck with your efforts. It is great to have you as a partner.