Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 July 2023.

The FCDO has issued a statement following elections in Cambodia.

An FCDO spokesperson said:

The UK is a long-term partner in Cambodia’s prosperity and stability, and believes progress in these areas is best sustained through a democratic political culture that supports open discussion of diverse perspectives.

Democratic elections depend on credible, open, and fair competition. We regret that these elections were preceded by a narrowing of the political space, including the disqualification of the main opposition Candlelight Party earlier this year, resulting in an election that was neither free nor fair. The UK views this as a missed opportunity to strengthen Cambodia’s democracy.

The UK remains committed to supporting efforts to enhance democratic processes and civic space in Cambodia, and to supporting the people of Cambodia.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 July 2023.

UK government backing enables completion of a 286km electric railway in southern Turkey, connecting major cities with a high-speed, lower-carbon route.

• €781m support unlocked by UK Export Finance – equivalent to £680m – will enable Rönesans Holding to finish construction of a high-speed electrified railway connecting Mersin with the cities of Adana, Osmaniye and Gaziantep
• Offering a lower-emission transport link between Turkey’s second-largest container port and inland cities over 150 miles away, the railway is expected to reduce CO2e emissions by over 150,000 tonnes a year
• UKEF’s backing creates multimillion-pound export contract opportunities for UK suppliers to the rail sector

UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK government’s export credit agency, has underwritten €781m of financing – equivalent to £680m – to support construction of a 286km high-speed electric railway in southern Turkey.

With financing provided through UKEF’s Buyer Credit Facility, Rönesans Holding will finish construction of the Mersin-Adana-Gaziantep High Speed Railway on behalf of the Turkish Ministry of Transport.

The deal is expected to create new, multimillion-pound export contract opportunities for the UK’s infrastructure, engineering and project management sectors, supporting the Prime Minister’s priority of growing the UK economy.

This signals key future opportunities for UK exporters, with Rönesans Holding – one of Europe’s ten largest construction companies – intending to use the high-speed rail project to build its wider relationships with the UK supply chain.

Lord Offord, Minister for Exports, said:

The UK-Turkey trading relationship is going from strength to strength. Last year, UK exports to Turkey reached £8.5 billion, and this week we announced plans for an updated trade deal that will further boost exports and imports between our countries.

UK Export Finance’s backing for this transformative high-speed railway adds to this success story. This deal shows that the UK, home to the world’s first railway system, still moves full steam ahead with its export of railroad innovation and expertise.

UKEF’s backing – which has been given on the condition that UK exporters supply to the project – will support continued economic growth in the UK, in line with the government’s priorities; Rönesans Holding has already engaged with UK suppliers to negotiate contracts for electronic infrastructure, ESG consultancy services, catenary and mechanical components.

UKEF worked in partnership with J.P. Morgan, ING Bank and BNP Paribas, who provided the loan, as well as SACE and OeKB – the Italian and Austrian export credit agencies providing reinsurance – to secure this landmark deal for Turkish rail infrastructure.

Dr. Erman Ilıcak, President of Rönesans Holding, said:

We’re thrilled to be working with UKEF, JP Morgan, ING and BNP to secure a deal that will enable a landmark shift in the Turkish construction of rail links and the high-speed railway project.

By upgrading the existing railway line to a high standard railway line, we will be actively reducing negative environmental impact while offering a lower-carbon travel alternative and significantly enhancing the region’s industrial connectivity and trade. Rönesans Holding takes immense pride in contributing to Turkey’s national environmental goals and infrastructure advancement.

Our fruitful collaboration with British Exporters has secured €781m in financing for the transformative high-speed electrified railway in southern Turkey, adding tremendous value to the cooperation between Türkiye and UK exports and services while paving the way for exciting global partnerships.

John Meakin, Global Head of Export and Agency Finance at J.P. Morgan, said:

This project is expected to reduce traffic congestion on the motorways and promote more sustainable transportation in the region. We are honoured to have the responsibility to deliver the financing for this impactful project while supporting UK exporters providing goods, services and notable technical expertise.

In replacing the current railway, which relies on diesel locomotives, the electrified line will provide a lower-carbon alternative to existing routes between Mersin and Gaziantep. Project forecasts suggest that the completed route will save 157,000 tonnes in CO2e emissions in its first year alone.

The UKEF-backed project will also contribute directly to Turkey’s objective of increasing high-speed railway coverage to 10,000km, by creating a rail link greater than the distance between Cardiff and London.

Able to carry trains travelling up to 200 km/h, this transport link is a major step forwards for regional infrastructure and growth. The high-speed railway will reduce the travel time from Gaziantep – via regional cities Adana and Osmaniye – to Mersin by four hours; Mersin is the second largest container port in the country and a thriving city of over one million people.

Treasury and Finance Minister for Türkiye, Mehmet Şimşek, said:

Mersin, Adana and Gaziantep are among the highly industrialised and important cities of the region with their deep-rooted cultural heritage. This project will ensure a reduction of transportation costs, decrease travel time between Mersin and Gaziantep and strengthen our railway connectivity.

In this regard, this project is crucial for economic, social and environmental integration. We are very grateful to our trading partner UKEF for their contribution to this important project, which will expand the national railway network.

The most important aim of the project is to improve the rail connectivity and create a sustainable alternative transportation scheme in Türkiye. We look forward to continuing our fruitful collaboration with new projects on the way of development of Türkiye.

Gaziantep, the railway’s eastern terminus, was near the epicentre of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake which struck Turkey in February 2023. The UKEF-backed project for completing this railway will also contribute to reconstruction in Gaziantep, Osmaniye and other areas of southern Turkey severely damaged in this disaster.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 July 2023.

A group of leading Pacific female football players and officials arrive in Sydney this week for a special sports diplomacy programme linked to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™.

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

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

I’d like to start by thanking USG DiCarlo and USG Griffiths for their briefings.

Colleagues, my Foreign Secretary said on Monday that Russia’s termination of the BSGI [Black Sea Grain Initiative] was taking food out of the mouths of the poorest people across the world.

64% of the 34 million tonnes of grain exported under the deal went to low- and middle-income countries. Unsurprisingly then, Kenya called Russia’s withdrawal a “stab in the back” of countries in the Horn of Africa already impacted by drought.

Russian missile attacks on Odessa, Chornomorsk and Mykolaiv destroyed over 60,000 tons of grain. That is enough to feed 270,000 people for a year or to double WFP [World Food Programme] shipments under the BSGI to both Sudan and Somalia. Russia has destroyed dock equipment, making it harder to load grain on ships.

Now, Russia has gone further, burning food at the dockside, and making threats to murder civilian sailors.

There is no possible justification for these punitive acts.

Moreover, Russia has benefitted from the Deal. Russian food exports are significantly above pre-war levels. Russian food and fertiliser exports have never been sanctioned. The UK has worked with its banking and insurance sectors to facilitate transactions. And the UN has worked tirelessly to address Russian concerns.

We know that Russia’s so-called reasons for ending the Deal are nonsense.

Ukraine has made no demands. As Foreign Minister Kuleba said in this room, Ukraine wants nothing more than to make its food available to the world. Up to 24 million tons of Ukrainian food may not now reach world markets because of Russia.

Russia’s actions have already raised prices, with immediate impact on the world’s poorest and hungriest people.

And Russia’s latest demands are tantamount to holding the world’s starving hostage.

We thank Türkiye, the UN and Ukraine for their efforts to protect the deal. We call on Russia to rejoin it and to end the war.

Food is not a weapon.

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.