Tag: Foreign Office

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

UK condemns the attack on a US base in North East Syria on 23 March.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said:

The UK condemns the callous attack committed against a US base in North East Syria, which killed a US national. Our thoughts are with their family and friends, and those who were wounded in the attack.

We recognise the US’s right to use force in self-defence.

The UK stands by its partners in the Global Coalition Against Daesh and will continue to play a leading role in the Coalition’s mission to defeat Daesh in Iraq and Syria.

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

UK Ambassador Simon Manley’s closing statement during 4th Universal Periodic Review of the UK’s human rights record – Adoption of the Working Group’s Report.

Thank you Madam Vice-President,

I would like to thank all those – whether member states or members of civil society – who have spoken in today’s session, and who have engaged constructively with the UK’s Universal Periodic Review, throughout this cycle.

Let me thank in particular the UK’s active civil society and National Human Rights Institutions, some of which are here today in this hall, for their contributions throughout this process. The UK Government appreciates the vital role that these organisations play in upholding and promoting human rights standards in the UK, and we look forward to further engagement with them on the UPR and human rights matters more broadly, in the future.

The UK Government remains fully committed to the UPR mechanism, and to the protection and promotion of human rights both domestically and internationally. We continue to encourage all States to participate openly, willingly, and honestly in their reviews – as the UK has done – which provides an invaluable process through which States can share their experience in implementing a variety of policies, tackling similar problems, and learning from each other.

During both our Review session in November, and at this meeting today, the UK has listened with interest to the views and recommendations expressed by fellow Member States on a range of human rights issues. So let me take this opportunity, Madam Vice-Chair, to respond to a number of these.

In November, the UK received a number of recommendations on the impacts of the Bill of Rights Bill, which was introduced to Parliament on 22 June last year and which will replace the Human Rights Act. As we have stated in our response, the Bill will continue to safeguard the rights contained in the Human Rights Act, and it won’t weaken human rights protections. The Bill of Rights will allow the UK to remain a State Party to the European Convention on Human Rights, while fully availing ourselves of the margin of appreciation doctrine.

The UK’s approach to international treaties was also raised. As we have advised in our response, the UK has ratified most of the major international human rights treaties. We will consider ratification of additional human rights treaties on a case-by-case basis.

The UK Government believes that effective domestic laws already exist, under which individuals may seek enforceable remedies in the courts if their rights have indeed been breached.

The UN human rights treaties do not require incorporation by State Parties into domestic law, and the UK has not done so. We are confident however that the UK is in full compliance with its UN treaty obligations.

Other issues raised in November and today include tackling racial disparities, immigration and the age of criminal responsibility.

At our Review Meeting, British Justice Minister Freer set out the various policies and legislation in place across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to address racism and racial disparities; and the UK has been consistent in its condemnation of any kind of discrimination. On immigration, the UK is committed to upholding its obligations under international law, including the Refugee Convention and applicable human rights conventions.

On the age of criminal responsibility, the UK Government’s position has not changed. Setting the age of criminal responsibility at 10 for England and Wales provides appropriate flexibility in dealing with children who offend, allowing for early intervention in a child’s life, with the aim of preventing subsequent offending.

It is also right that Scotland has the autonomy to decide upon the age of criminal responsibility, as part of its competence under the UK’s devolution settlement.

There were a number of comments made about the Illegal Migration Bill. There is an urgent humanitarian need to stop small boat crossings: over 45,000 people illegally crossed the English Channel in small boats last year. The UK Government has introduced ambitious legislation – the Illegal Migration Bill – to prevent further loss of life by disrupting the business model of people smuggling networks, which put lives at risk through dangerous and illegal crossings. This is, of course, an international problem with a record 100 million people displaced across the world. It is a problem with which many countries are trying to grapple and the UK is no different to that. We are committed to engaging with our international partners to address these challenges alongside our domestic legislation. The UK, as you will know, has a long and proud tradition of ensuring rights and liberties, to protecting them domestically, and to fulfilling our international human rights obligations. The UK is committed to its membership of the Council of Europe and to its obligations under international law, including the Refugee Convention, the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Convention against Trafficking. We are also doing more to help people at risk of war and persecution by setting up safe and legal routes, as we have done for Syria, Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Ukraine. Since 2015, the UK has offered places of safety to nearly 480,000 people.

Madam Vice-President,

In concluding my closing statement, let me underline how pleased we are that the UK has increased the number of recommendations it can support since its previous review. It is, nevertheless, important to remember that these numbers do not tell the whole story. We would encourage those genuinely interested to read our Annex to the Report of the Working Group for further information, and we look forward to expanding on our position later in this UPR cycle.

Finally Madam President,

Let me express our sincere gratitude to our UPR Troika – Cote D’Ivoire, to the Republic of Korea and to Lithuania – as well as to the UPR Secretariat, for their diligence in preparing the Report of the Working Group on the UK’s 4th Universal Periodic Review, and for making every effort to ensuring a smooth review process.

We look forward to meeting again for the UK’s next review in the 5th cycle.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President.

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

UK Ambassador Simon Manley’s opening statement during 4th Universal Periodic Review of the UK’s human rights record – Adoption of the Working Group’s Report.

Thank you Madam Vice-President,

Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, I am pleased to present the formal response of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to the 302 recommendations the UK Government received from 115 States during its Fourth Universal Periodic Review, which took place on 10 November last year.

Let me begin by reiterating the UK’s strong commitment to the UPR process. Then let me move on to explain in more detail how we have responded to the recommendations that we have received.

Madam Vice-President,

The United Kingdom is committed to the promotion and the protection of human rights, of democracy and of the rule of law, and to acting as a force for good in the world. We believe that these principles are the indispensable foundations on which open, stable and prosperous societies thrive and are essential to the functioning of our democracies and to upholding and enforcing the rights of our citizens.

Furthermore, the UK Government remains fully committed to upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant international human rights treaties.  We have ratified seven of the nine core UN human rights treaties and have put in place a combination of policies and legislation to give effect to the rights contained within them.

Moreover, we are, of course, honoured to serve once again as an elected member of the Human Rights Council for the 2021-2023 period. We remain a strong supporter of the Council, and the mechanisms at its disposal to strengthen human rights protections globally.

And indeed, the UPR is one of these mechanisms.  It is a constructive process through which States can learn from and help each other in protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms. It is as important to clearly acknowledge where progress has been made, as it is to highlight areas that can be improved upon. It is important therefore, that these recommendations are made in good faith, with a genuine view to improving human rights standards globally.

And that is how we approach the Review meetings of other States, and I note that the UK has received positive feedback in previous UPR cycles for our leadership on specific topics – including our commitment to making recommendations on tackling Modern Slavery during the Third Cycle of the UPR – and on our commitment to the UPR more broadly, and we urge all states to remain fully committed to the process.

The UPR is indeed a unique and crucial mechanism for sharing best practice and promoting continual improvement of human rights on the ground, and it is only through the cooperation of like-minded states that this can indeed be realised.

The UK therefore remains fully committed to the UPR mechanism, to the UN treaty monitoring system, and to the Human Rights Council itself, as well as to the promotion and realisation of the full enjoyment of all human rights by all people around the world.

Madam Vice-President, following this introduction, I would like to explain in more detail the way in which the UK has approached its own review.

So, during our 4th Cycle Review meeting on 10 November last year, you will recall that our delegation to the Universal Periodic Review was led by the UK’s Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice, Minister Mike Freer MP, who made every effort to respond both to the questions submitted in advance, and to the recommendations and comments made by delegations, here in this room, on the day.

Other members of our delegation included representatives from the UK’s devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales, as well as representatives of the UK’s Northern Ireland Office, in addition to myself, our Global Ambassador for Human Rights, Rita French, and other UK Government officials. We found the session to be extremely engaging and we listened with interest to the views expressed by other Member States during the session.

After the Review meeting, the UK Government reserved its position on the 302 recommendations we received in order to ensure we could give each and every one of them the full and proper consideration they deserve. As part of that consideration, we carried out substantial consultation with the Scottish and Welsh Governments.

Unfortunately, due to the current lack of an Executive in Northern Ireland, it was not possible to engage with, and therefore provide as comprehensive a response for, Northern Ireland as for other parts of the United Kingdom.

We also ensured National Human Rights Institutions and civil society organisations had the opportunity to provide their thoughts to the UK Government as part of this process.

This engagement led to the UK’s responses to the 302 recommendations received. Our response is comprised of two documents. The first is the standard addendum to the Report of the Working Group, which refers to the recommendations by number only, and outlines the UK’s position on each of those recommendations. You will note that we have provided a rationale for those the UK has chosen to support ‘in part’.

The second document is also a longer ‘Annex’ to the Working Group Report, which provides further explanation on the UK’s response to some of the recommendations that we received.

Madam Vice-President,

In total, of the 302 recommendations we received, the UK has “supported” 135 recommendations, and “noted” 112.  We have also indicated our “partial support” for the remaining 55 recommendations.  In these cases, the UK may be supportive of one or more of the actions being recommended, but cannot fully support the entire recommendation because either:

1.         It does not agree with part of the recommendation, or

2.         It does not agree with the specific wording or intention used by the State which made the recommendation, or

3.         Legal or constitutional obstacles prevent the UK Government fully implementing (or committing to fully implement) the recommendation, for example when the issue in question relates to a reserved competency of one or more of the UK’s Devolved Administrations, British Overseas Territories, or Crown Dependencies.

The rationale for our position on each of these 55 recommendations can be found in both the Addendum and Annex, which the Secretariat have published on the UK’s UPR webpage.  However, Mr President, we of course recognise that, as we have been advised by the Secretariat, you will be obliged to record these 55 recommendations as ‘noted’ in the final Report of the Working Group.

Madam Vice-President.

The UK is clear that the UPR is an ongoing process with which Member States should engage throughout the entire five-year cycle. In 2017 the UK Government made a voluntary commitment to providing the Working Group with a Mid-Term Report, so as to update them on our position with respect to all the 227 recommendations received during our third Review meeting. We submitted this Report in 2020. For this cycle, we once again commit to submitting a Mid Term Report in 2025, to follow up on our response to all the 302 recommendations received in this fourth Review meeting.

Mr President,

We welcome this opportunity to speak to our continued commitment to the UN, to the Universal Periodic Review mechanism, to our position in relation to the 302 recommendations received in November, and to our plans for future reporting.

And, as ever, we look forward to hearing the views of fellow Member States, civil society organisations and National Human Rights Institutions during this adoption meeting.

Let me conclude my opening remarks at this point.

Thank you, Madam Vice-President.

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

A new round of UK sanctions will target suppliers to the Myanmar regime of military equipment and other material, which are still being used to attack its civilians.

• UK announces further sanctions against prominent arms dealer and aviation fuel suppliers in Myanmar.
• Sanctions to target enablers of air force bombing campaign against civilian population.
• Announcement comes as Myanmar marks its annual Armed Forces Day.

A new round of UK sanctions will target suppliers to the Myanmar regime of military equipment and other material, which are still being used to attack its civilians.

Those sanctioned today include a company and its director who supply the Myanmar Air Forces with aviation fuel and a second individual who is the director of a company which supplies restricted goods and technology through its business.

On 1 February 2021, the Myanmar military overthrew the democratically-elected government, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, and installed a military regime. Since then, they have used violence and atrocities to maintain power and suppress any opposition voices.

Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said:

On Myanmar Armed Forces Day, the UK condemns the military’s increasingly brutal campaign against the Myanmar people.

The sanctions announced today are designed to reduce the military’s access to fuel and military equipment.

The UK will continue to work closely with partners to hold the military regime to account and support the people of Myanmar, as they strive for a return to democracy and freedom.

These targeted sanctions will raise the cost for those profiting from, or supporting, the regime and restrict the military’s access to fuel and military equipment.

The UK has led the international community’s work to support a peaceful resolution in Myanmar and a return to democracy, as well as pushing for progress towards accountability and justice. It has also played a key role in calling on countries around the world to end the sale and transfer of arms and equipment which facilitate the military’s atrocities.

At the United Nations the UK successfully coordinated a Security Council Resolution on the crisis, the first of its kind, to apply further pressure on the military to end its violence and engage in dialogue.

This will be the 15th round of targeted sanctions by the UK against the military regime in Myanmar. The UK will continue to work with international partners to maintain pressure on the military regime and welcomes the sanctions announced by the US to coincide with Myanmar Armed Forces Day.

Background:

Those sanctioned today are:

• Shoon Energy Pte Ltd – a company profiting from the supply of aviation fuel to the Myanmar Air Force.
• Khin Phyu Win: current Director and shareholder of Shoon Energy Pte Ltd.
• Tun Min Latt: Director of Star Sapphire Trading Company Limited, a company previously sanctioned by the UK which supplies restricted goods or technology through its business.

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

Farewell address from HE the Governor, Nigel Dakin CMG, to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

With thanks to the Premier and the previous Premier for those extremely kind and generous remarks; they mean a great deal – more than you might imagine.

I could make myself extremely popular by making this farewell speech extraordinarily short – four words short – and also raise a cheer: “UK Good, TCI Great”. But perhaps that would be cheating.

If you are here tonight, at this reception, I would want to say a personal thank you to each and everyone of you. Time doesn’t allow for that, but I will end by saying something to all of you.

The one thank you I will say is to the person stood next to me, who has been stood next to me for 38 years: Mandy. The UK Government – many years ago- essentially bought one, and got one free. We are a team.

You know what Mandy’s done and been doing in these Islands and she’s very much become her own person here, quite separate from my role. Indeed I was recently introduced as: “This is Nigel, he’s married to Mandy, oh yes, and she’s married to the Governor.

Of her many talents my wife is creative and she becomes super creative when she’s happy. I know how much she has enjoyed Turks and Caicos just by looking at her art but of course her contribution has gone much further than that. But you all know that.

While I admire brevity, this is the last address I shall give in TCI and that calls for some refection. What I don’t intend to do is try to make sense of things in retrospect but draw on what I said at the time. That’s because your memory can play tricks when trying to justify or explain. So what I do intend to do, instead, is say something about me, and something about you, using the words I used at the time.

The first is taken from some of the words spoken at my Inauguration in 2019, when of course none of you knew me, and the second from the moment 254 days later, on the 25th March 2020, which was the start of the pandemic and the use of Governor’s Emergency Powers.

But before quoting what I said back ten, on this point about transparency, my contemporaneous journal is already published. Through the Instagram account @governortci you can go back – and I can go back – and see what I was doing or thinking at any given moment. As far as anything you write can be, its an honest account – over 500 posts – that capture my time here.

Anyhow, let’s look back to my address at my Inauguration (edited down to save time) just after I’d literally got off the plane:

“To reply today”, I said on the 15th July 2019, “to the important points you – the Premier and Leader of the Opposition make – would suggest I have arrived with an agenda prepared in London; you will all be relieved to hear that I don’t. My views can wait until I am better informed, through detailed conversations with you.

To substance. The greatest courtesy I can now pay you is to be both brief and to be clear. Four words that you may choose to hold me to account to and I’ll end talking about my priorities.

The first word is ‘Care’. I may be a true Brit, but I’m a Brit who cares deeply about the UK’s relationship with the Caribbean, and the Caribbean’s relationship with the UK. With a Bajan wife, whose family has lived on that island for centuries, and children who enjoy joint Bajan / British nationality how could I be anything, but.

I’ve been in the Caribbean every year for the last 35 years and visited many of the islands in this region. Nearly 33 years ago I married Mandy in St Georges Church, Barbados. One of our children was christened in St Ambrose Church, St Michael, Barbados.

I therefore promise to ‘care’ about the people and the future of these islands, an easy promise to make, and an easy promise to keep, because both myself and my family have cared about the future of this region for a very long time.

You will find I will take my responsibility to represent the interests of the Turks and Caicos Islands seriously and diligently.

The second word is ‘Listen’. Long standing connections to this region ensure that I at least know how much I don’t know. I have some insight to island life. I know how hard I will have to work to understand a rich and complex society that few – who have not lived in the Caribbean – can properly understand.

As a result you will find me inquisitive, I aspire to be one of the most informed people on these islands. Whoever you are, you will find that I will ask a lot of questions. You all, I think, have a right to be heard – and I have a duty to listen.

So I promise to seek to understand the collective wisdom of these islands by listening to as many people as I can – from as many different walks of life as I can; I promise to ‘listen’.

The third word is ‘Service’. I was introduced to public service in 1982 when I joined the British Army. Six months later, at the age of 19, I was leading thirty soldiers on operations. That was 37 years ago and this word ‘service’ has been tested every day since then.

The truth is that the quality of a person’s leadership is based only on the quality of their service, and the quality of their service boils down to putting others first. So I promise, as your Governor, that I will not only be Her Majesty’s servant in these islands, but I will also be your servant.

Being clear and straight: This final word, and we need not dwell on this because you will – in the end – judge me as you see it – is that you will find me ‘clear’ and by being clear you fill find me ‘straight’.

I am acutely aware that as Head of State I am appointed rather than elected. I have the greatest respect for those politicians amongst you, who face an electorate. As a result you – as well as Her Majesty who appointed me as her representative – have every right to demand, in your Head of State, Statesman like qualities. Today is my first step on a journey to earn the right to be judged in that way.

In the 18th century the political philosopher Burke offered advice. His definition of a statesman was: “A disposition to preserve and an ability to improve”. That seems to me to remain a good aiming mark in the 21st century Turks and Caicos Islands. To preserve and improve. You will find that I’m interested in making a practical, positive, difference.

In starting a new role though it’s critical to have early focus – my early focus will be on properly understanding issues relating to crime, illegal immigration and hurricane preparedness. My programme has been prepared with that in mind.

That’s enough talk. I start my agenda – such as it is – to work with you all to ‘preserve and to improve’. In the end this is going to be a Governorship based on values. Whether I ‘care’, ‘listen’, ‘serve’ and whether I’m ‘straight’ will best be judged by my actions rather than my words. I’m now keen to get to work”.

And now to the pandemic..

Words taken from the 25th March 2020 speech included:

“Whoever you are on the Island: old or young; citizen, resident or visitor; whichever Island you live on; whatever your ethnicity; however, you make your living; whether you are rich or poor you are now one. We are now using emergency powers that came into effect last night, on your behalf, for the good of the community. This is going to impact you in very significant ways.

We can’t deliver you perfection, or anything close to perfection, we can though take some big decisions now that buy us some time.

Much of what we announce today is driven by the determination that we do not lose the advantage we presently enjoy compared to most. There is a window here where if we are bold we might just come through this far less impacted than others; we don’t intend to shy away from that opportunity or responsibility. If we fail it won’t be because of indecision.”

And having explained how Emergency Powers would be used, I ended by saying …

“With due humility I say that Government – anywhere in the world – at the best of times – is not perfect. There was no plan here – there was no plan anywhere – as to how any country let alone this small Island chain would manage with a pandemic that has shut down the globe. … I said at my inauguration that I would care, serve be clear and listen. This is the best moment to hold me to that.

All my instincts and experiences of dealing with comparatively minor crisis and emergencies, up until this point, tell me that good decisions made early are far better than perfect decisions made late. Cabinet is in complete agreement on this. I hope the public agrees.

It just may be that these Islands – because of the inherent advantages I described at the start – are going to show the world that it is possible to deal with this crisis, calmly, intelligently and purposefully.

Whether we collectively succeed, or not, the one thing I know above all others is that our behaviours here – to one another – putting our future and our society before the immediacy of the moment – is going to be remembered.

Those living through this will tell a future generation how you, your friends, your neighbours, and those you never knew, but who you came to respect, behaved and how through that behaviour the Islands rapidly returned to their previous prosperity. Because that will come.

In the end it will come not because of rules and regulations and because people were told what to do, but because this population knew what it had to do – and it did it”

So now back to this evening and to this final reception. This is what I really want to say, today.

“When Mandy and myself say we will miss the people here, it’s not just because we will miss you for your warmth and a set of qualities that are actually quite hard to tease out, but ones which when put together makes TCI and its people a bewitching place.

It is all of that of course, but more importantly we will miss the people here because of a very distinct national quality that shone through so very well during our time here – your resilience. It is resilience, along with courage, that are the qualities I admire the most.

Together – each and every one of us on these Islands – all went through a great test together, and together we more than passed that test. As predicted, this population knew what it had to do – and did it.

Mandy and myself are not Turk and Caicos Islanders, and never can be, but I can tell you quite clearly – being entirely straight with you – that there are no people in the world, just now, that we feel closer to, think the most of, or wish the best for, than you. So “UK Good, TCI even Better”. Thank you for tonight, and thank you for allowing us to be part of you, for this short while. Goodnight.

 

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

Statement delivered by Thomas Phipps at UN Security Council Arria Meeting on the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

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

British Ambassador to the Holy See gave opening remarks at the panel discussion ‘Conflict-Related Sexual Violence – Raising Awareness’ on 24 March 2023.

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

The UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič gave a joint UK-EU statement on the 2 meetings on 24 March 2023.

Joint statement by European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič and the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Affairs, the Rt Hon James Cleverly MP, 24 March 2023:

The European Union and the United Kingdom today held the tenth meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee and second meeting of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement Partnership Council in London. The meetings took place in a constructive atmosphere building on the excellent cooperation between the Foreign Secretary and the Vice-President over recent months.

The Joint Committee welcomed the positive approach of both sides and adopted the new arrangements set out in the Windsor Framework. These arrangements address, in a definitive manner, the challenges in the operation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland over the last 2 years and the everyday issues faced by people and businesses in Northern Ireland, while supporting and protecting the Good Friday or Belfast Agreement in all its parts, and protecting the integrity of the European Union’s Single Market, and Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom’s internal market. Both sides agreed to work together intensively and faithfully to implement all elements of the Windsor Framework. The United Kingdom and European Union also reaffirmed their intent to use all available mechanisms in the Framework to address and jointly resolve any relevant future issues that may emerge.

The Joint Committee also covered other important issues under the Withdrawal Agreement, in particular their joint work to protect the rights of EU citizens and UK nationals, addressing all relevant issues. Both sides agreed on the importance of continuing to support these citizens, and welcomed the efforts made over the past year to do so, including additional funding provided by both sides to external organisations.

The co-chairs also adopted the Withdrawal Agreement Annual Report for the year 2021 pursuant to Article 164(6) of the Withdrawal Agreement.

At the Partnership Council, the parties discussed implementation of the TCA and cooperation in a range of crucial areas including energy, trade and security and agreed on next steps.

Energy: They underlined the importance of collaboration over the past year as Europe decouples from Russian fossil fuels and highlighted the importance of dialogue on security of supply. They confirmed their commitment to progress work on the electricity trading arrangements envisaged in the TCA. They also discussed the EU Green Deal Industrial Plan.

Trade: They looked forward to the signing of Memoranda of Understanding on financial services and on intellectual property soon. They agreed to finalise preparation for the Working Groups in the areas of Technical Barriers to Trade as a matter of priority. They also discussed the UK Retained EU Law Bill and Bill of Rights Bill.

Security: They noted the close collaboration in support of Ukraine, and looked forward to dialogue provided for under the TCA in the areas of cybersecurity and counterterrorism. They also discussed the implementation of data protection safeguards for Passenger Name Records.

Union Programmes: They noted the openness of both sides to take forward discussions on association in the coming weeks.

The European Commission and the Government of the United Kingdom reaffirmed their desire to exploit fully the potential of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and maximise the potential of the relationship between the EU and the UK in ways that benefit both parties.

They agreed to remain in regular contact and looked forward to meeting again to take stock of the work of the Committees under the TCA.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 24 March 2023.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Downing Street today for talks on strengthening the close partnership between the United Kingdom and Israel.

The two leaders welcomed the signing of the UK-Israel 2030 Roadmap this week, which will drive our bilateral relationship forward and commit £20m in funding for joint science and technology projects over the next decade.

They expressed their backing for a modern free-trade agreement with cutting-edge service provisions and said their teams would work to progress this at pace.

The leaders discussed shared security and defence challenges, including Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and the threat posed by Iran to regional stability. The Prime Minister set out the UK’s analysis of the situation in Ukraine and the importance of continued international support to defend their sovereignty.

On Iran, they discussed the UK and Israel’s significant concern about Iran’s destabilising activity, and agreed that our governments would continue to work closely together to push back against aggression and manage the risk of nuclear proliferation.

The Prime Minister also expressed his solidarity with Israel in the face of terrorist attacks in recent months. The UK would always stand with Israel and its ability to defend itself. At the same time, the PM outlined international concern at growing tensions in the West Bank and the risk of undermining efforts towards the two state solution. He encouraged all efforts to de-escalate, particularly ahead of the upcoming religious holidays.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms in Israel.

The leaders welcomed the chance to meet in person to progress our important partnership, and the Prime Minister looked forward to visiting Israel at the earliest opportunity.

 

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

The UK and international partners have issued a statement following a meeting of Syria Envoys in Amman on March 21 2023.

The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United Kingdom, Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, the European Union, and the League of Arab States following their meeting in Amman, Jordan on March 21, 2023, to discuss the current situation in Syria in the aftermath of the earthquakes.

We expressed our heartfelt condolences for the immense devastation and loss of life caused by the February 6 earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, as well as our steadfast commitment to alleviate the suffering of those affected.  We encouraged the international community to provide humanitarian assistance – including both emergency response and early recovery projects – to all Syrians in need, especially those in the most affected areas.  In this regard, we welcomed the outcomes of the March 20, 2023, international donors’ conference in Brussels to support the people in Türkiye and Syria, and we also looked forward to the seventh annual Brussels Conference on the Future of Syria and the Region on June 15, 2023.

We reiterated our call for a nationwide ceasefire and for continuous and unhindered humanitarian access to all Syrians through all modalities, including both cross-border and cross-line.  We called for the maintenance and expansion of United Nations cross-border aid, for which there is no alternative in scope or scale.  In this regard, we welcomed the recent facilitation by the Syrian authorities of UN cross-border humanitarian access through the Bab al-Salam and al-Rai crossings and called for this to continue.

We also welcomed UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen’s briefing and reaffirmed our support for UN Security Council Resolution 2254.