Tag: Foreign Office

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

Statement delivered by Philip Reed at the UN General Assembly debate on Use of the Veto.

Mr President

The founding members of the United Nations vowed to save the generations that followed them from the scourge of war.

They conferred the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security on the Security Council.

And, as part of that, permanent members of the Council were given veto power.

The United Kingdom is clear: the veto is a heavy responsibility, to be used to avoid and resolve conflict. The veto should be used responsibly – and with accountability.

Sadly, not all permanent members think alike. In February last year, Russia used the veto to prevent the Council from taking action in response to their illegal and unprovoked war in Ukraine. This came just two months after they vetoed a resolution that would have enabled the Council to take action on climate security – a resolution that counted the highest ever number of cosponsors.

In response, the General Assembly adopted the resolution we are talking about today – to enable the GA to scrutinise the use of the veto, and to hold Council Members using the veto to account. We were proud to co-sponsor that resolution.

Since then, of course, this Assembly has twice met in response to vetoes: in May 2022, when China and Russia vetoed a resolution that would have responded to DPRK’s launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles. And in July 2022, when Russia vetoed a resolution that sought to extend humanitarian assistance to over 4 million people in North West Syria – only to accept a resolution days later with one change: allowing humanitarians to provide help for 6 months, instead of 12.

Is that what the veto was created for? Halving the window for providing humanitarian assistance to people who desperately need it?

For our part, the United Kingdom has not exercised our veto since 1989. We listen carefully and negotiate with Security Council partners to try and find agreement.

The UK also remains committed to never voting against a credible draft resolution on preventing or ending a mass atrocity, as a proud signatory of the Accountability, Coherence, and Transparency (ACT) Group’s Code of Conduct. We encourage all Member States, including the other permanent members of the Council, to support this initiative.

Thank you.

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

Deputy Ambassador Brown expresses concern regarding ongoing disruptions to the Lachin Corridor and urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume substantive negotiations.

Thank you, Chair. The UK Government remains concerned by the ongoing disruption to the Lachin Corridor. The unilateral establishment of a checkpoint further impedes access and runs counter to efforts to secure peace and stability in the South Caucasus.

The UK Government calls for both sides to refrain from escalation. There is no military solution to this conflict, and Armenia and Azerbaijan must resume substantive negotiations to secure a sustainable settlement to the conflict.

Thank you.

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

Ambassador Bush thanks Ambassador Keiderling for her work, reiterates the United Kingdom’s unwavering support for the Mission and calls for early agreement on its extended mandate.

Thank you Mr Chair, and thank you Ambassador Keiderling for your report to the Permanent Council. I join other speakers in thanking you and your team in Moldova for your efforts during a period of immense challenge.

Ambassador, let me start by reiterating the United Kingdom’s unwavering support for the Mission and its mandate. The importance of the Mission’s work, including monitoring of the Security Zone, cannot be overstated. We commend the Mission’s efforts against your three goals: to prevent escalation, reverse the deterioration of relations between Chisinau and Tiraspol and find practical solutions to the challenges of everyday life for all citizens. We look forward to continuing our support under an extended mandate and call for early agreement on this.

Russia’s unjustifiable invasion of Ukraine continues to impose serious, direct consequences on Moldova and the wider region. Moldova has displayed extraordinary courage in responding to the challenges posed by this illegal war and extraordinary compassion in welcoming almost one million Ukrainian refugees over the course of the conflict, of which more than 100,000 currently reside in the country.

Meanwhile, it is crucial that we do not lose sight of the needs of the Moldovan people and the government’s reform agenda. As our Foreign Secretary stated during his visit to Chisinau in March, ‘Moldova, you are not alone’.

Ambassador, the readiness of Chisinau and Tiraspol to continue to meet and negotiate continues to present grounds for cautious optimism. We commend you for facilitating this process, and encourage the Sides to continue discussions, with the shared understanding that all negotiations are designed to lead to the outcome foreseen and agreed by all OSCE participating States at successive Ministerial Councils: an outcome which respects Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, with a special status for Transnistria.

Starting from this position of shared understanding, the day to day needs of the populations on both sides of the Nistru can be effectively addressed. It is to this end that the UK encourages the parties to continue their efforts to deliver tangible outcomes for their populations. Furthermore, we welcome the progress made by the Mission’s confidence building projects, which provide a valuable contribution to maintaining peace and stability for Moldova. We support your ongoing work to empower women’s voices across Moldova through the Women, Peace and Security agenda and in combatting Gender Based Violence in all its forms. It is firmly our belief that progress against these goals forms the foundation of a sustainable settlement to the conflict.

We note with regret, the lack of progress in either removing potentially hazardous ammunition from Cobasna, nor the withdrawal of illegally deployed Russian forces stationed in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova. In accordance with UN General Assembly Resolutions, Russian troops situated on Moldovan sovereign territory without host nation consent, must leave. We reiterate our call on Russia to remove its forces without delay and urgently formulate a proposal for resumption of the process of removal and destruction of ammunition from the Cobasna site.

Ambassador Keiderling, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your leadership, and to reaffirm the UK’s continued support to you and the Mission in fulfilling your mandate and to secure peace and stability for the Moldovan people.

Thank you.

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

The UK government and EU gave a statement following their Specialised Committee on the Implementation of the Windsor Framework meeting in London.

Joint statement by the UK government and European Commission:

The Specialised Committee on the implementation of the Windsor Framework met today, 27 April 2023, in London. The meeting was co-chaired by officials from the UK Government and the European Commission.

This was the first meeting of the Specialised Committee following the meeting of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee held in London on 24 March 2023, where the European Union and the United Kingdom adopted the new arrangements relating to the Windsor Framework and agreed to work together intensively and faithfully for the implementation of all the elements of the Windsor Framework.

The Specialised Committee co-chairs took stock of the work already undertaken and considered the next steps required for the implementation of the Framework, including as regards movement of goods, agri-food, medicines and VAT & excise.

The Commission and the UK Government also took stock of the work of the Joint Consultative Working Group and noted the adoption of its amended rules of procedure, allowing for the establishment of structured sub-groups to assist the Working Group in carrying out its functions.

In addition, the UK Government and the Commission reiterated the importance of engagement with business groups, civil society and other stakeholders in Northern Ireland as work on the Windsor Framework is taken forward.

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

Ambassador Bush stresses that the UK will do everything we can to support Ukraine to defend its homeland, and protect the future of its younger generation.

Thank you, Mr Chair. I would like to start by expressing my concern regarding this morning’s reports of missile attacks in Mykolaiv, as well as attacks on Kupiansk and Kharkiv over the last week.

Mr Chair, Russia’s senseless war has upended the lives of Ukrainian children. The physical impact of this invasion is unforgiveable, with an average of four children killed or injured each day. The mental health implications of Russia’s human rights abuses must also not be forgotten. My statement today will focus on the long-lasting psychological impact of Russia’s war on Ukrainian children, exacerbated by displacement, disruption to education and child development, and horrific human rights abuses and violations. Beneath these children’s resilience and courage are the deep and long-lasting scars of trauma.

Russia’s war has displaced around 3.5 million Ukrainian children. Families have been torn apart, as parents have faced the devastating decision to send their children to safety, whilst they remain in a warzone. Others have had their children taken from them. Separation from one’s parents is a form of trauma, which puts these children at a greater risk of developing psychological issues. Children subjected to long-term separation from parents and families often experience intense fear, panic, grief, depression, helplessness and hopelessness – feelings no child should be expected to endure.

Russia’s war has interrupted the education of all Ukrainian children and young people in some form. Save the Children have reported that on average, children have spent more than 900 hours in bunkers. 900 hours, which children should have spent learning, playing and socialising. When children emerge from these bunkers, many are confronted with the destruction of their schools, nurseries and playgrounds. And the facilities that still stand are no longer regarded by parents as places of safety, but as places potentially at risk of Russian missile attacks. Children in the temporarily Russian-controlled territories study under a new curriculum, where they learn false historical so-called “facts” about Ukraine in a futile attempt to justify Russia’s aggressive actions against Ukraine.

Many parents have tried to shield their children from danger by opting for virtual learning – but this has its own challenges, with frequent blackouts and power shortages caused by Russia’s targeting of critical national infrastructure. These children are deprived of the routine of the school day and interactions with their peers. The absence of structure and socialisation can deeply impact the mental wellbeing and development of children. The UN has reported that Ukrainian children are suffering with impaired memory, shorter attention spans, and the decreased ability to learn.

We continue to hear credible accounts of conflict-related sexual violence against children by Russian forces, including the rape of a 16-year-old girl in front of her sister, and the horrific report from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of a child as young as four being sexually abused. It is hard to comprehend how a child so young could process this type of trauma; we must do all we can to support survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in Ukraine, and beyond.

Ukrainian children are absorbing the horrors of Russia’s war, with it taking root in their core development. Two boys were seen role-playing armed guards at a checkpoint – mimicking the sound of gunfire. Six-year-old Kira now draws pictures of soil, shrapnel and metal. Parents have reported that their children are having nightmares, reliving the horrors they have endured and wondering if normality will ever return.

Despite condemnation from the international community, the Kremlin shows no remorse and no compassion for the suffering they have inflicted. We will continue to call on Russia to respect humanitarian principles, including allowing humanitarian access to the territories it temporarily controls, and the special protected status of children, notably: access to education, protection against sexual violence, and family reunification.

Mr Chair, in conclusion, Ukrainian children deserve a future that does not involve shrapnel, bunkers and armed checkpoints. The UK will do everything we can to support Ukraine to defend its homeland, and protect the future of its younger generation. Thank you.

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

International Development Minister Andrew Mitchell will give a speech today (27 April 2023) on the future of the UK’s international development work.

• International Development Minister Andrew Mitchell will set out his vision to reduce poverty, tackle climate change and reinvigorate progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• the Minister will launch a new UK development brand that badges the FCDO’s work to use partnerships to advance development progress and deliver prosperity
• Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will also announce plans for a new international volunteering service, and a programme to get six million more girls into schools around the world

The UK will today set out a new vision to improve global prosperity and reduce poverty through building partnerships with other countries.

In his first major speech, International Development Minister Andrew Mitchell will say the future of development relies on us working alongside countries as partners, rather than them being dependent on aid budgets.

Using the entire Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office global footprint, the UK will work with other countries to advance shared aims that benefit us all, like security and economic growth, recognising the need to tackle poverty and climate change together. The Minister will also say the international financial system needs to be fundamentally reformed, so countries can access the finance at the scale they need to drive their own development and tackle climate change in the face of global challenges.

He will announce a new brand, UK International Development, to demonstrate UK development is broader than aid, and is ultimately about working with countries by building mutually beneficial partnerships.

He is expected to say:

Placing partnership at the heart of the UK’s offer shows that at its core, international development is not about charity, handouts and dependency. It is about listening to our partners and working together to advance our shared objectives.

From today, the new brand will be on all new UK development programmes.

The Minister will set out how, using the UK’s strengths, he will champion and take forward the 7 priorities the Prime Minister set out in the Integrated Review Refresh last month: reforming the global financial system, making global tax systems fairer, delivering clean, green infrastructure and investment, improving global food security, making the case for ‘open science’, preventing the next global health crisis and putting women and girls at the heart of all development.

Building on the Prime Minister’s Integrated Review Refresh last month, the Minister will say he is making sure women and girls are at the forefront of all policy decisions.

He will announce a new programme designed to get 6 million more girls into school by improving education spending in low and lower middle-income countries and scaling up teacher training and in-class support so there is better access for vulnerable children.

In a bid to link the British public to the UK’s development work, the Minister will also announce that later this year the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will go out to tender on a new international youth volunteering programme, similar to the former International Citizen Service.

The Minister will also make clear Britain is firmly behind the ambition set out by the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, last year to enable countries around the world to tackle climate change and the reversal of development progress over recent years.

The UK is pushing for concrete progress on multilateral development bank (MDB) reform, drawing on a UK initiated review, to unlock hundreds of billions in financing for developing countries and help bridge the global climate and nature finance gaps. Britain is providing technical expertise so countries can unlock funding from global climate funds. The UK government, together with the City of London, is driving innovations in insurance, paying out the first drought insurance support for Somalia.  We are ensuring part of our humanitarian relief is used in ways that builds future resilience to climate impacts.

Since taking up the International Development Minister role 6 months ago Minister Mitchell has driven work to tackle hunger and malnutrition in some of the poorest countries. During a visit to Somalia last year, he saw first-hand how children were suffering with severe malnutrition and the impact drought had on the country.

In his speech he is expected to say: “It is frankly obscene, that in the 21st century and in our world of plenty, children are today slowly starving to death.”

To bring this to the top of the development agenda the Minister will announce a food security event in London later this year to demonstrate the breadth of the UK’s work to tackle hunger and malnutrition, bringing together the expertise and skills of the academic, medical, research, philanthropic and the NGO community.

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

Renewed commitment brings gender and equalities at the heart of UK’s work in the LATAC region, as part of the UK government’s commitment to tackle inequalities around the world.

Our Latin America and Caribbean Gender and Equality Network sets out FCDO’s commitments to build a safer, more equitable and prosperous world where everyone can fulfil their potential, realise their rights and be free from discrimination. To this end we have developed an internal Gender and Equalities Charter, in collaboration with the Education, Gender and Equalities Directorate (EdGE).

UK efforts will support, protect and empower:

• women and girls
• people with disabilities
• LGBT+ people
• indigenous peoples and communities
• children
• poor and vulnerable people
• and excluded communities, among others.

This work aligns with the UK’s prioritisation of gender and equalities issues, as outlined in the Integrated Review, International Development Strategy, International Women and Girls Strategy and FCDO’s Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy.

Through our network in Latin America and the Caribbean we commit to:

1. Take a transformative and intersectional approach – aiming to contribute to long-term change rather than focusing on short-term and superficial activity, whilst also tackling the multiple overlapping barriers faced by women, girls, men, boys, people with disabilities, LGBT+ people, poor and vulnerable people, people from specific racial and ethnic backgrounds, and excluded communities.
2. Proactively seek regional opportunities linked to bilateral activity in order to maximise our impact.
3. Support countries across LATAC as regional leaders and actively speak out to promote the rights agenda in the multilateral system.
4. Use evidence and data, through regional research and engagement with local stakeholders.
5. Prioritise the upskilling of all staff and provide specific specialised training.
6. Ensure inclusive language and visuals in our internal and external communications.

Alicia Herbert, Director, Education, Gender and Equality and Special Envoy for Gender Equality, said:

The safest, most prosperous societies are those in which all citizens can live without fear of violence or discrimination whilst playing a full and active role in their communities. However, so many people – including persons with disabilities and those in the LGBT+ community and indigenous groups – have been excluded for too long.

Rob Tinline, Director Americas, mentioned:

Women’s movements are a force at the forefront of the fight for equal rights. People with disabilities and indigenous groups are also increasingly organized in demanding their rights. Legal unions, marriage equality and safe abortions are becoming a reality in more and more countries in the region.

Finally, Kirsty Hayes, HMA to Buenos Aires and Gender and Equalities Champion, said:

LATAC is a vast and diverse region. Women and girls, LGBT+ and people with disabilities are exposed to discrimination and inequality is still one of the key regional challenges. In spite of recent positive progress in legislation and inclusive policies in some countries, increasing resistance from some sectors and ongoing structural and legal barriers are preventing some communities to advance on equality region wide.

As LATAC Gender and Equalities Champion I am very excited to drive this agenda and seek out ways for us to work together to advance equality for all.

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

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

Fergus Eckersley, UK Political Coordinator at the United Nations, gave a statement at the Security Council meeting on the situation in Haiti.

I’d like to welcome the Special Representative and thank her for briefing. We wish you every success in your new role. We’d also like to put on record our gratitude to all UN staff in Haiti who work in very challenging circumstances. I’d like to thank the Executive Director of UNODC for her briefing and I welcome the Foreign Ministers of Haiti and the Dominican Republic to the chamber.

Colleagues, as we’ve heard today, the situation in Haiti remains bleak and it is getting worse.

Like all of us in this room, the UK is deeply concerned by the deteriorating security situation: the dramatic increase in homicides and kidnappings. The widespread instances of gang rape and other forms of sexual violence perpetrated by gangs as a means to strike fear into communities. The recruitment of children into gangs, indiscriminate sniper fire in civilian areas and high food insecurity. All of this has contributed to what the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called “a living nightmare”. It is tragedy that the Haitian people – and women and children in particular – continue to experience this horror on a daily basis. It should be a wake up to the international community

We strongly support the High Commissioner’s appointment of an expert on human rights in Haiti earlier this month following the request of the Human Rights Council.

As set out in the Secretary-General’s report, it is clear that the Haitian National Police remains over-stretched and under-resourced to tackle the immense security challenges it faces. There needs to be a coordinated international effort to assist in Haitian-led efforts to tackle the underlying causes of gang violence. We recognise the need for a response to Haiti’s request for further international assistance and we support further Council discussions on this.

Colleagues, we note the installation of the High Transitional Council as a positive step towards implementing the 21 December political accord. We welcome recent moves towards a broader political dialogue and call once again on all actors to redouble their efforts to reach a consensus. This Council should be ready to consider further sanctions designations of those who seek to undermine the peace and stability of Haiti.

Above all we must support every effort for Haitians to come together to overcome the political impasse and to agree a roadmap that creates conditions for successful democratic elections and for a better long-term future for Haiti.

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

Today marks Israel’s 75th birthday, also known as Yom Ha’atzmaut.

The UK and Israel share extremely close ties as seen through the developing economic and technological relationship between the two nations.

The UK is proud to be linked to Israel’s thriving technology industry – from cybersecurity, fintech, and healthcare, to energy and climate tech. UK companies have established partnerships and collaborations with Israeli companies in the tech sector. Over 400 Israeli technology firms have set up offices and operations in the UK – more than in any other European country. The British Embassy’s very own ‘Tech Hub’ – the first of its kind in any British Embassy anywhere, supports many.

The UK is one of Israel’s most important trading partners, with trade between the two countries reaching over £7 billion annually in 2022. The current UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement was one of the UK’s first trade continuity agreements signed after Britain left the European Union, and ensures tariff-free trade on 99% of the value of goods traded between the two countries. The UK is currently negotiating an upgraded, ambitious Free Trade Agreement, which will focus on services and innovation where both Israel and the UK can excel.

For the past 75 years, the UK has been clear about Israel’s right to exist and is unequivocal in supporting Israeli security and right to self-defence, in the face of threats from its neighbours, particularly Iran. The UK has often stood at the UN defending Israel against unwarranted and disproportionate criticism.

The UK has consistently supported the establishment of a two-state solution, with Israel and a future Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security. This policy is a fulfilment of the Balfour Declaration but also results from a sincere belief that lasting security for Israel – preserving its Jewish and democratic character – requires a solution that offers equal rights and dignity for both Israelis and Palestinians.

As we reflect on the past 75 years of friendship between the UK and Israel, we are also looking ahead to the future. Last month the UK and Israel signed the 2030 roadmap for UK-Israel bilateral relations. The roadmap sets out our ambitions for cooperation over the next decade, as part of an innovative and forward-looking strategic partnership. It includes a new £20 million Scientific and Innovation programme, funded by both governments.

UK’s Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, said:

The strong ties between the UK and Israel over the past 75 years is a testament to the strength of our close and historic relationship.

The UK and Israel stand together, defiant in the face of the malign influence of Iran in the region, and against the wider scourge of antisemitism.

I am happy to celebrate the significant milestone of Israel’s 75th birthday. Yom Ha’atzmaut Sameach!

Neil Wigan, British Ambassador to Israel, said:

I am proud of the strength of the UK-Israel relationship. Whether it’s our trade, tourism, technological collaboration, culture or security, both countries will continue to work together.

I know that the past 75 year relationship is just the beginning of what is an ever-evolving, ever-closer relationship.