Tag: Foreign Office

Thank you, Madam President I’d like to thank the Special Representative for her very clear briefing and Ms Latif for her words about protecting the rights of women and girls. At the outset, Madam President, I would like to commend the continued work of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq. Over the past twenty years the Mission has played a vital role in supporting Iraq and the Iraqi people. We strongly support the renewal of the mandate of the Mission and welcome the opportunity for an independent strategic review to ensure the Mission is aligned to the current peace and security threats facing Iraq.

The UK remains committed to supporting the Iraqi Government and the implementation of its ambitious reform agenda. In particular, passing a budget will be a crucial step in delivering the Government’s priorities including on economic reform and energy diversification. We welcome the steps already taken to tackle corruption, to strengthen economic infrastructure and to begin the green energy transition.

We also commend the steps taken by the Iraqi Government to find durable solutions to address the displacement crisis in Iraq; to provide essential services and to support survivors of conflict, including those from minority communities. We continue to encourage further implementation of the Yazidi Survivors Law including through the timely distribution of reparations to survivors. And the UK will continue to work with the Iraqi Government to support accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) including so that the horrific crimes perpetrated by Da’esh are addressed and prosecuted effectively.

We thank the Special Representative for her update on the Kurdistan region and we urge the Kurdistan Regional Parliament and the Kurdistan Regional Government to take all necessary steps to ensure that the planned elections are able to take place in November without further postponement. It is incumbent on all parties to ensure an electoral process which adheres to international standards and upholds the rights of all citizens, including women and minorities, to participate in the democratic process.

We welcome the Special Representative’s update on missing Kuwaiti and third-country nationals and missing Kuwaiti property.

We commend Iraq’s focus on its regional relations and welcome the SRSG’s role in supporting regional dialogue. As we continue to see the adverse impacts of climate change, the Special Representative’s engagement on transboundary environmental issues is particularly valuable.

Once again, I’d like to renew the UK’s commitment to the stability and security of Iraq and to the essential role the Mission plays in support. We look forward to participating in further discussions on the renewal of the mandate in the coming days.

Thank you.

The Prime Minister met Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida this evening in Hiroshima, ahead of the G7 Summit.

The leaders welcomed the agreement of The Hiroshima Accord: An Enhanced UK-Japan Global Strategic Partnership as a landmark moment in our thriving diplomatic, defence and economic relationship.

They agreed that the UK and Japan would continue to work together closely to protect a free and open international order, building on the Global Combat Air Programme and recent Reciprocal Access Agreement.

The Prime Minister confirmed that the UK Carrier Strike Group will deploy to the region again in 2025, working alongside the Japanese Maritime Defence Forces. They also discussed further potential cooperation on training and exercising.

The Prime Minister described the UK and Japan as ‘islands of innovation’, as the leaders discussed the huge opportunities to grow bilateral trade and investment, as well as UK-Japan cooperation on semiconductors and clean energy technology like floating offshore wind.

The Prime Minister and Prime Minister Kishida agreed on the importance of the G7 having a unified approach on China, recognising the systemic challenge China poses to our collective economic security and regional stability.

They also discussed the situation in Ukraine, including continued military support to counter Russia’s unprovoked invasion and longer-term assistance to help Ukraine recover and defend against future threats.

They agreed that the G7 should continue to lead international work on holding Russia to account for its actions and supporting Ukraine to achieve a just and lasting peace.

The Prime Minister said he was honoured to be the first British leader to visit Prime Minister Kishida’s hometown of Hiroshima and looked forward to a very successful and historic G7 Summit there.

Mr. Chair, I am delivering this statement on behalf of Canada, Norway, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States and my own country, Iceland.

May 17th marked the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia and Transphobia.

The theme for this year’s international day is “Together Always: United in Diversity.” It is a day to affirm our commitment to the human rights and dignity of all people and a recognition that diversity in our societies should be recognized as a strength and not a weakness.

While we have made progress in securing legal rights and advancing social acceptance and protection against discrimination for LGBTI+ persons, the fight for equality, inclusivity and safety is far from over. Still today, individuals are criminalized, tortured, and even killed, with impunity, for who they are and who they love.

There are, moreover, several actors, including states, that are mobilising narratives which appeal to “traditional values” to justify new anti-LGBTI+ legislation.

One of the most egregious examples in the OSCE region is the situation in Russia, where LGBTI+ persons live in fear of harassment, arrest, and violence.

The Moscow Mechanism of September 2022 affirmed that Russia’s legislative restrictions “on the promotion of . . . non̻ traditional sexual relationships” impairs the realisation of human rights of LGBTI+ individuals and contributes to intolerance and discrimination in the society.

Since December 2022, new restrictions have effectively outlawed any public expression of LGBTI+ behaviour in Russia in a further attempt by the authorities to create a climate of fear and intimidation and restrict the freedom of expression of all people in Russia. This is appalling and contrary to the universal values of equality, dignity, and respect that we share as human beings.

It is all the more abhorrent because President Putin has also sought to use this discrimination in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and his assault on democracy and human rights, seeking to justify the unjustifiable by painting himself as the global defender of so-called “traditional values”.

Regrettably in some parts of the OSCE region, we are witnessing a backlash against both gender equality and the rights of LGBTI+ persons, and a frightening wave of violence against LGBTI+ persons.

In many of our societies, transgender, non-binary and intersex persons still face significant challenges. Not everyone accepts these persons’ gender identity, and they face discrimination, harassment, and violence as a result.

Governments, decision-makers, and the general public must do all they can to build more inclusive and just societies.

We urge all OSCE participating States to uphold their OSCE commitments and international obligations and protect and respect the human rights, and address the needs, of all, including LGBTI+ individuals.

This means actively ensuring non-discrimination and equal access to education, employment, and health services.

This means ensuring that civil society organisations, human rights defenders, and community leaders are able to work and advocate on LGBTI+ issues without undue restrictions or fear of reprisals.

This means taking into account intersecting forms of discrimination based on ethnic origin, gender, disability, and other factors.

Within this organization, this means supporting the efforts of ODIHR to assist in combatting discrimination and hate crimes against all people, including LGBTI+ persons.

On this IDAHOBIT, we stand in solidarity with LGBTI+ persons everywhere who are fighting for recognition of their human rights and fundamental freedoms. We also celebrate the diversity and resilience of LGBTI+ communities around the world.

Sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics should never be bases for discrimination or abuse.

We must work together to create a world where everyone can live freely, without fear or discrimination. Because how can a society be considered to be free if people do not have the freedom to love who they want to or be who they are?

I thank you.

• PM set to agree historic ‘Hiroshima Accord’ on UK-Japan economic, security and tech collaboration
• UK to step up defence cooperation with Japan to uphold stability in the Indo-Pacific
• PM will visit a naval base and host a business reception in Tokyo before travelling to Hiroshima to meet Prime Minister Kishida ahead of G7

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will agree a landmark new global strategic partnership, ‘The Hiroshima Accord’ when they meet in the city later today [Thursday 18th May].

The UK’s relationship with Japan has grown further and faster than with any other international partner, reflecting Japan’s pivotal role in the Indo-Pacific and their centrality to the UK’s security and prosperity. In the last six months, we have completed negotiations to join the CPTPP trade bloc, launched the UK-Japan-Italy Global Combat Air Programme and signed a ground-breaking defence Reciprocal Access Agreement.

The Hiroshima Accord will cement this relationship, with new agreements on defence, trade and investment, science and technology collaboration, and joint work on tackling global issues like climate change.

Arriving in Tokyo on Thursday, the Prime Minister will visit a naval base and confirm new UK-Japan defence cooperation. This includes doubling UK troop numbers in upcoming joint exercises, committing to deploy the Carrier Strike Group to the Indo-Pacific in 2025 and agreeing a formal Consult Clause, whereby the UK and Japan commit to consult each other on important regional and global security issues and consider measures in response.

We are also launching a set of science and technology programmes to support UK-Japan collaboration at every stage of the pipeline, from early career researchers through to bringing new innovations to market. It includes a new strategic relationship between Imperial College London and the University of Tokyo, built on collaboration with Hitachi Ltd, to develop a UK-Japan Cleantech Innovation Hub and scale up the rapid development of green technologies.

As part of the new Accord, the UK and Japan will launch a Semiconductors Partnership, with new commitments to pursue ambitious R&D cooperation and skills exchange, strengthening our domestic sectors and bolstering supply chain resilience in an increasingly competitive market.

Later on Thursday, the Prime Minister will host a reception of key Japanese business leaders in Tokyo to reiterate the importance of our trade and investment relationship. He is expected to confirm billions of pounds of new job creating investments in the UK.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

It is a privilege to be visiting Tokyo and Hiroshima at this historic moment in the United Kingdom’s relationship with Japan.

Prime Minister Kishida and I are closely aligned on the importance of protecting peace and security in the Indo-Pacific and defending our values, including free and fair trade.

The Hiroshima Accord will see us step up cooperation between our armed forces, grow our economies together and develop our world-leading science and technology expertise.  It marks an exciting next phase in the UK and Japan’s flourishing partnership.

The fourth UK-Japan joint ‘Vigilant Isles’ military exercises, taking place in Japan later this year, will be the biggest yet with around 170 UK personnel taking part, including from the 1 Royal Gurkha Rifles and 16 Air Assault Brigade.

The UK will confirm today that its Carrier Strike Group will return to the Indo-Pacific in 2025, following its maiden voyage to the region in 2021. The fleet, comprised of an aircraft carrier, her escorts and her aircraft, will work alongside the Japanese Self Defence Forces and other regional partners to help defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

As part of the defence agreements under the Hiroshima Accord, the Prime Minister is expected to agree a new Cyber Partnership with Japan. This will deepen UK-Japan cooperation on cyber and set a high level of ambition for the future relationship, with Fujitsu UK joining the National Cyber Security Centre’s Industry 100, and the UK and Japan piloting a new Japan Cyber Security Fellowship to develop future cyber leaders.

We will also unveil a new Renewable Energy Partnership, aimed at accelerating the deployment of clean energy in the UK, Japan and third countries.

Thank you, Mr Chair. The United Kingdom strongly condemns the latest wave of attacks on Kyiv, Odesa, and across Ukraine overnight. We commend the bravery and skill of those defending the cities of Ukraine, and our thoughts are with the civilians who yet again suffer due to Russia’s brutal attacks.

The United Kingdom welcomes the news that the Black Sea Grain initiative will be renewed. It is vital that this continues. We applaud Türkiye and the UN Secretary General for their continued efforts to keep the initiative going. But let us not forget that the illegal and unprovoked war on Ukraine has held the world’s food hostage. So once again, we call on Russia to end its use of food as a weapon.

Mr Chair, last weekend, while Europe came together at the Eurovision Song Contest, Russia launched cruise missiles at Ternopil, the home city of Ukraine’s Eurovision contestants. Two people were injured, and several warehouses destroyed. Russia then shelled residential buildings in Kostyantynivka killing two people, including a 15-year-old girl, and injuring ten others. Despite Russia’s attempts to silence Ukraine, the voices of those fighting for freedom are still being heard. Today, we mark the anniversary of Stalin’s mass deportation of Crimean Tatars from their homeland. So today, I will amplify the voices of Crimean Tatars, drawing on the testimonies from a recent event held at the British Embassy in Kyiv.

Since Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014, the Crimean Tatars have endured a ruthless campaign of persecution for simply existing in their homeland. Russia has imposed a repressive regime of arbitrary arrests, torture and enforced disappearances. One victim of this brutal, discriminatory oppression is Leniye Umerova, a 25-year-old Crimean Tatar. She was arrested in December 2022 whilst returning to Crimea to take care of her seriously ill father. Russian guards interrogated Leniye for having a Ukrainian passport, looked through her phone and discovered her support for Ukraine. This was enough to see her transferred to a detention centre in Moscow. When Leniye was eventually released, four men were waiting for her, they grabbed her, put a bag over her head, and left her in an unfamiliar district of Vladikavkaz. Almost immediately, she was detained by police and to this day has not been released. Leniye now faces the additional charge of espionage; if found guilty, she could face up to 20 years in prison.

As part of its repression, Russia is intent on preventing human rights activists from carrying out their crucial work. These include Abdureshit Dzhepparov who is also a Crimean Tatar. On 25 April 2023, armed and masked members of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) broke into Abdureshit’s home, seized his phone, laptop, and Ukrainian passport, and arrested him. Abdureshit was held in solitary confinement – his whereabouts unknown to his family – for 12 days of horrific psychological distress.

Moreover, Russia brands Crimean Tatars who are legitimately politically active as ‘extremists’ and ‘terrorists’. People like Nariman Dzhelyal, who in 2021 was arrested by the FSB for allegedly bombing a pipeline in Crimea, despite being in Kyiv on the day of the alleged events. Nariman was imprisoned for 24 hours in a basement, without access to food, water, or a lawyer, and was tortured by electrocution. He faces 17 years in a high security prison, based on the supposed testimony of three so-called “anonymous” witnesses. Nariman has no access to medical care, inadequate food, and his health is deteriorating. Several other Crimean Tatars have died from such prison conditions.

Mr Chair, we cannot, and we will not let terror prevail. We call on Russia to release its political prisoners and cease its torture and persecution of Crimean Tatars. Once more, we emphasise that Crimea is Ukraine. The UK remains absolutely committed to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. Peace can only be achieved after Russia ceases hostilities against Ukraine. And after Russia withdraws all of its forces from all of Ukraine – fully, immediately and unconditionally. As my Prime Minister said during President Zelenksyy’s visit earlier this week: “it is in all our interests to ensure Ukraine succeeds and Putin’s barbarism is not rewarded”. We must not let Ukraine down.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

Thank you, President.

Let me start by thanking Special Envoy Grundberg for your briefing, but also for your team’s very hard work. And Ms Wosornu and Ms Al-Eryani for your briefings too.

I would like to start by welcoming the strong progress towards resolving the major threat posed by the FSO oil tanker and the risk of over a million barrels of oil leaking into the Red Sea.

In recent days, both the replacement and service vessels have arrived near the site. And crucially, following the joint UK-Dutch fundraising event earlier this month, the UN has announced it has sufficient funding to start the emergency operation to transfer oil off the vessel.

But as Ms Wosornu said, there is more work to do. I am certain that none of us want to be fundraising for the $20 billion required to clean up if we are unable to avert a catastrophic spill.

The UN requires $43 million to fully complete the operation and we all have a stake in permanently solving this ticking time bomb for the environment, for global trade, for millions of local livelihoods and the delivery of lifesaving aid in Yemen.

President, the UK welcomes the positive work by all parties to build on the truce-like conditions in Yemen over the past year. We call on all parties to continue engaging constructively and creatively and to negotiate in good faith, towards a lasting and inclusive peace for the Yemeni people.

The recent Saudi and Omani delegations to Sana’a represented valuable steps towards reaching a comprehensive ceasefire.

I urge the parties to engage constructively and in a spirit of compromise. Our focus should be on accepting that all Yemenis should have access to all sources of revenue.

An inclusive peace process under UN auspices is the only pathway to ending this dreadful war.

I am also reassured by the unity that this Council continues to demonstrate. I hope that we can continue to work together towards our common goal of finding peace in Yemen.

Finally, I echo the concerns of Ms Wosornu.

In spite of the relative peace in Yemen over the past year, 21.6 million people, or two-thirds of the population, remain in dire humanitarian need.

Although I welcome OCHA’s efforts in securing unrestricted humanitarian access; we continue to see, as we’ve heard,  impediments to the free movement of women; to independent monitoring and assessment; and to the fair selection of service providers.

The humanitarian response is already facing severe funding challenges. These impediments pose additional, and entirely avoidable, burdens on the humanitarian effort and ultimately on the people of Yemen.

Thank you, President.