Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 April 2023.

1888 airlifted to safety by UK evacuation, as focus turns to supporting those remaining in Sudan.

The final UK evacuation flight from Wadi Saeedna airfield will depart this evening, ending the longest and largest evacuation from Sudan of any Western country.

The successful operation has evacuated more than 1888 people on 21 flights, the vast majority of them British nationals and their dependents.

Focus will now turn to providing consular support to British nationals in Port Sudan and in neighbouring countries in the region.

The government decided to end flights today because of a decline in demand by British Nationals, and because the situation on ground continues to remain volatile.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

The UK has brought more than 1888 people to safety from Sudan thanks to the efforts of staff and military working around the clock to deliver this evacuation – the largest of any Western country.

We continue to press all diplomatic levers to secure a long term ceasefire and end the bloodshed in Sudan. Ultimately a stable transition to civilian rule is the best way to protect the security and prosperity of the Sudanese people.

Those still in Sudan who wish to leave should continue to follow our travel advice. The UK is pursuing all diplomatic avenues to end the violence in Sudan and return to civilian rule, with the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Defence Secretary and Minister for Africa all speaking with international partners. Ultimately a stable transition to civilian rule is the best way to protect the security and prosperity of the Sudanese people.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 April 2023.

Statement by Ambassador Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 April 2023.

The final UK evacuation flight from Wadi Saeedna airfield near Khartoum in Sudan is due to leave on Saturday (29 April) due to declining demand for seats.

Following the longest and largest evacuation effort of any Western country, the final UK evacuation flight from Wadi Saeedna airfield near Khartoum is due to leave on Saturday (29 April) due to declining demand for seats.

Those still in Sudan who wish to leave, meet the eligibility criteria and judge it safe to travel to the airfield, should be there by 1200 (midday) Sudan time tomorrow to be processed for the last flight.

It marks the end of a successful evacuation operation with 1,573 people evacuated so far since flights started on Tuesday 25 April, the vast majority of them British nationals and their eligible dependents.

The government has decided to end the flights tomorrow because of a decline in demand, as well as the risk of renewed conflict in Sudan.

The UK has set up a limited consular presence at Port Sudan to signpost British nationals to available options for departure.

We will also continue to press all diplomatic levers to secure a long term ceasefire and end to the bloodshed in Sudan. Ultimately a stable transition to civilian rule is the best way to protect the security and prosperity of the Sudanese people.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 April 2023.

Message from His Majesty The King Charles III to His Excellency President Ramaphosa on the occasion of South Africa’s day of Freedom and Democracy.

Dear Mr. President,

I have the honour of conveying a message of congratulations to Your Excellency from His Majesty King Charles.

Dear Mr President,

I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Your Excellency, and the people of the Republic of South Africa, as you celebrate your National Day.

I look forward to our continuing warm friendship and to the strong and close partnership between our two countries, including as members of the Commonwealth, where 2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the Commonwealth Charter.

As we face these challenging times, our working together for prosperity, democracy and peace and critically, tackling climate change and biodiversity loss, is all the more important.

I have always cherished my visits to South Africa and remember fondly the warm receptions repeatedly given to me by the people of South Africa.  It was the greatest pleasure to be able to welcome you to the United Kingdom last November for the first State Visit of my Reign.

As you and South Africans everywhere celebrate today, my wife joins me in sending you our warmest good wishes for the year ahead.

Charles R.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 April 2023.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly hosts Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman in London to sign joint declaration on bilateral cooperation.

• UK and Croatia foreign ministers sign joint declaration to enhance cooperation on defence and security, migration, trade and climate change
• Foreign Secretary emphasises support to Ukraine and promoting prosperity and stability in Western Balkans as top international priorities

The UK is reinforcing its partnership with Croatia with a renewed vision for cooperation across defence and security, trade, migration and climate change.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly signed a joint declaration on bilateral cooperation with his Croatian counterpart Gordan Grlić Radman in London today (28 April).

The declaration will also step up cooperation in the fight against climate change and deliver on the Prime Minister’s priorities of tackling illegal migration and growing the UK’s economy.

The foreign ministers emphasised the need to accelerate support for Ukraine to defend against Russian aggression and strengthen stability, democracy and the rule of law in the Western Balkans.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

The UK and Croatia are important allies. From our ongoing support to Ukraine, to protecting peace and stability in the Western Balkans, we work closely to secure our shared security and prosperity.

Today we’ve signed a joint declaration which cements our commitment to intensify that cooperation on defence, trade and cultural ties.

The declaration will also step up cooperation in the fight against climate change and tackle illegal migration.

Following last year’s 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, both foreign ministers agreed to build on the strong commercial relationship and close ties between our countries.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 April 2023.

Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, hosted an event at the FCDO on 27 April with the Syrian Emergency Task Force.

Distinguished guests, colleagues, friends.

Thank you for joining us today for this important discussion on the need for accountability in Syria. In particular, a very special thank you to our panellists, all of whom have been resolute in their demands for justice.

While I will let them tell their own stories, what will become clear is that the Syrian regime has, for more than 12 years, shown a complete disregard for the sanctity of human life.

It is impossible not to be moved by the powerful images on display. While these images make for harrowing viewing, bearing witness is a first, critical step in the pursuit of justice.

The Syrian people have endured unimaginable suffering. And while the propaganda merchants of Damascus, Moscow and Tehran seek to rewrite history, the evidence we can see and hear today underlines where responsibility for these abuses principally lies: with the Asad regime, and its allies – Russia and Iran.

The UK has stood with the Syrian people from the outset of this conflict. We continue to work with our partners, and the UN, to advance an inclusive political process and an end to the conflict. We have delivered more than £3.8 billion in humanitarian assistance since 2012, our largest ever commitment to a single humanitarian crisis.

Most recently, the UK acted swiftly to respond to the devastating earthquakes of 6 February, increasing support to our partners on the ground; we were able to provide a package of support worth more than £43 million.

But, UK support goes further than humanitarian funding. I am proud of the relationships the UK Government has built with Syrian civil society. The Syrian people are at the heart of justice and accountability efforts, and your voices will always have a place in guiding UK policy.

The UK also uses our position in the Human Rights Council and at the Security Council to highlight the scale of human rights abuses in Syria – we will not let up.

We support information sharing and evidence collection mechanisms, which have helped with judicial convictions, including the landmark trial of Anwar Raslan.

We support the creation of a new UN mechanism to focus on the missing. And we maintain a robust sanctions regime – our second largest – on those responsible for atrocities against the Syrian people.

We also work to expose the malign way in which the Syrian regime is destabilising the region. The regime enriches itself and its war machine, for example through the narcotics trade, whilst the Syrian people starve. To our friends in the region: you have our full support in addressing the harmful influence that Syrian narcotics and this conflict have on your societies.

Right now, some of our closest partners might be reconsidering their relations with Syria. Dialogue has hastened and we are all aware of ongoing discussions about Syria’s role in the region; we understand our partners’ desire for peace, but I want to emphasise that the UK’s stance on non-engagement with Damascus has not changed.

We will not work with a regime which shows no remorse and which has not shown any willingness to change its behaviour.

Our stance is guided by our values, but also by the evidence from other contexts of how conflicts can be sustainably ended. We believe the best way to achieve a lasting peace in Syria is through collective pressure, with clear demands of the regime including: a nationwide ceasefire; releasing those arbitrarily detained; conditions for safe refugee returns; and opening a safe political space, leading to free and fair elections. We will continue to work with our partners in the region and elsewhere to achieve these goals.

A Syria for all Syrians is possible. A Syria where people are free to live without fear of forced disappearance; without fear of systematic torture and sexual violence; and without fear that chemical weapons will again be used against them.

Let me end by saying that there can be no peace without accountability; that is as true in Syria as it is in Ukraine. The UK remains as committed to the Syrian people as we were when you first took to the streets demanding the most basic of freedoms.

The cause of accountability is not straightforward. But as Martin Luther King put it, though the arc of history is long, it bends towards justice.

Thank you all, once again, for joining us today and I will now hand over to Charles King, our Acting Special Envoy to Syria.

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

The Trilateral Mechanism and the Quad gave a joint statement, welcoming the announcement to extend the ceasefire in Sudan.

Statement by the Trilateral Mechanism (the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the United Nations) and the Quad (the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States):

Members of the Trilateral Mechanism (the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the United Nations) and the Quad (the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States) welcome the announcement by the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces to extend the current ceasefire for an additional 72 hours and call for its full implementation.

We also welcome their readiness to engage in dialogue towards establishing a more durable cessation of hostilities and ensuring unimpeded humanitarian access.  This initial phase of diplomacy to establish a process to achieve a permanent cessation of hostilities and humanitarian arrangements will contribute to action on development of a de-escalation plan as outlined in the April 20 African Union communique, which was endorsed by the League of Arab States, the European Union, the Troika, and other bilateral partners.

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

Statement by Fergus Eckersley, UK Political Coordinator at the United Nations at the Security Council meeting on Kosovo.

Thank you. Let me begin by thanking Special Representative Ziadeh for her briefing and for the work her team are doing to promote stability and respect for human rights in Kosovo.

Over the last year Kosovo’s democracy and institutions have continued to show their maturity. This is reflected in its climb up international rankings on political and civil liberties. Kosovo demonstrated the third highest increase of any country in 2022. We congratulate Kosovo on this improvement.

We welcome the government’s efforts to tackle corruption and strengthen the rule of law, and its commitment to tackling domestic and gender-based violence. We recognise the important role UNMIK has played in supporting Kosovo’s remarkable progress over the past 24 years, and the work it continues to do today and let me be clear, we remain fully supportive of Resolution 1244.

Conditions on the ground are, however, unrecognisable from 1999 and in line with our normal council practice on other mandates we believe it is time for a review of UNMIK’s role and responsibilities. This would allow the Council to take a fresh look at how UNMIK can adapt to serve the current conditions in Kosovo.

Colleagues, for many years the absence of a normal relationship between Kosovo and Serbia has had implications for regional stability and communities in both countries. We therefore welcome the considerable progress that has been made in the Normalisation Dialogue under EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak, including the 27 February Brussels Agreement and its Implementation Annex negotiated on 18 March in Ohrid. Now is the moment for both parties to engage in the Dialogue in good faith, honour their commitments, and avoid actions or rhetoric that could reduce prospects for a comprehensive and sustainable normalisation agreement.

Kosovo and Serbia have committed to the establishment of an Association of Serb Majority Municipalities. We urge both parties to engage swiftly and constructively so the Association can be established as soon as possible. We strongly encourage both sides to demonstrate the political will and courage to deliver on what has been agreed. This is in the long-term interests of citizens on both sides.

There are more immediate challenges too. Instead of a secure and safe environment in the north of Kosovo, there is a continuing security vacuum that leaves communities isolated and without vital every day services. We welcome the role played by KFOR and EULEX but this cannot be the long term solution. We need to support functioning institutions in the north, working to serve the interests of those they were elected to represent.

Let me finish by reiterating that the UK remains committed to supporting an inclusive, diverse and multi-ethnic democracy in Kosovo and its full participation in the international system.

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

Giles Lever will support the UK’s diplomatic regional response to Sudan from British Embassy in Ethiopia.

Following the temporary closure of the British Embassy in Khartoum, His Majesty’s Ambassador, Giles Lever, has been relocated from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) crisis centre in London to Ethiopia.

From Addis Ababa, he will lead the UK’s diplomatic efforts in the region to bring fighting to an end in Sudan. Mr Lever has been Ambassador to Sudan since 2021 and is a specialist in Africa, the Middle East and conflict zones with postings to Nigeria, Iraq and Afghanistan among others.

While in London, Lever was working from the FCDO crisis centre engaging key diplomatic contacts, helping to facilitate evacuation permissions and supporting diplomatic efforts to end the fighting.

The UK is pursuing all diplomatic avenues to end the violence in Sudan and return to civilian rule. The UK has been involved at all levels to de-escalate tensions with the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Defence Secretary and Minister for Africa all speaking with international partners and convening a UN Security Council meeting earlier this week on the crisis. Basing our ambassador in Addis Ababa will also allow him to support engagement with the African Union, which is based in the Ethiopian capital and is playing a key role in resolving the crisis in Sudan.

The safety of all British nationals in Sudan continues to be our utmost priority and we urge everyone to continue to follow our travel advice. Evacuation flights continue from the Wadi Saidna airfield, and we urge any British nationals who wish to leave to come forward. At midnight Sudan time tonight, when the 72-hour ceasefire is due to end, we cannot guarantee how many further flights will depart.

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

Ms Fiona Blyth has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to Mongolia.

Ms Fiona Blyth has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to Mongolia in succession to Mr Philip Malone LVO who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.

Ms Blyth will take up her appointment during July 2023.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Full name: Ms Fiona Blyth

Year	Role
2021 to 2022	Cabinet Office, Russia / Ukraine Team Leader, National Security Secretariat
2020 to 2021	Cabinet Office, Principal Analyst (Middle East)
2017 to 2020	Mogadishu, Senior Political Affairs Officer, United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia
2013 to 2017	FCO, United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations in New York, Senior Policy Adviser
2013	New York, Policy Analyst, International Peace Institute
2012	New York, Researcher to the Director of Policy, the Clinton Foundation
2011 to 2012	FCO, Desk Officer, European Counter Terrorism
2006 to 2010	British Army, Officer