Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 June 2023.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on the League of Arab States.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 June 2023.

New sanctions legislation allows the UK to target exports from Belarus funding the Lukashenko regime and crack down on Russia’s efforts to circumvent sanctions.

New sanctions legislation allowing the UK government to target exports from Belarus funding the Lukashenko regime and crack down on Russia’s efforts to circumvent sanctions, have been announced today (8 June 2023).

The measures also give the government grounds to prevent designated Belarusian media organisations from spreading propaganda in the UK, including over the internet, as the regime continues to actively facilitate Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and spread false narratives.

The Belarusian regime has permitted the use of its territory and airspace by Russia to conduct missile and drone strikes against Ukraine in addition to the provision of significant training and logistical support to Russian forces.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly says:

This new package ratchets up the economic pressure on Lukashenko and his regime which actively facilitates the Russian war effort and ignores Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

Our support for Ukraine will remain resolute for as long as it takes and the UK will not hesitate to introduce further measures against those who prop up Putin’s war.

The UK is banning the import of gold, cement, wood and rubber to the UK from Belarus, which are sources of revenue for the Lukashenko regime, building on measures introduced last July to ban the import and export of goods worth around £60 million from Belarus.

We are also blocking exports to Belarus from the UK of banknotes and machinery, alongside goods, technologies and materials that could be used to produce chemical and biological weapons.

Our online measures provide the government with the ability to prevent designated Belarusian media companies from spreading propaganda in the UK. That means social media companies and internet service providers will restrict access to the websites of sanctioned Belarusian media organisations, as is already the case for sanctioned Russian organisations.

We have also expanded the designation criteria for Belarus allowing the government to sanction a broader range of people who prop up the regime. This means we have the basis, where appropriate, to target close family members of those already sanctioned.

In addition, our measures in this package crack down on those circumventing sanctions given the close links between the Belarusian and Russian economies, applying measures to Belarus which we have already applied to Russia to close loopholes and address sanctions circumvention.

This includes through limiting the funds that Belarus is able to raise by further restricting Belarusian access to UK financial markets and preventing the import of goods such as gold which may have originated in Russia.

This also reflects the UK’s wider work bearing down on those who prop up Putin’s war in Ukraine, coming down hard on sanctions evaders; closing loopholes; and working with our international partners to undermine attempts to build global resilience to Western sanctions.

This latest package builds upon the significant sanctions against Belarus already in place, including last year banning the import and export of goods worth around £60 million for the regime’s active support of Putin’s war. That covers bans from Belarus to the UK on the export of oil refining goods, advanced technology components, luxury goods and imports to the UK of Belarusian iron and steel.

The UK has also targeted people and companies who have engaged in, supported or promoted the repression of fundamental human rights and freedoms in Belarus. That includes sanctioning more than 100 people and organisations, such as freezing the assets of major Belarusian state-owned enterprises which are significant sources of revenue and foreign currency for the Lukashenko regime.

The UK is resolute in condemning the brutal campaign by the regime against the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Belarusian people – such as routinely subjecting citizens to inhumane and degrading treatment and hindering any form of opposition. With over 1,400 political prisoners in Belarus, the UK calls for their immediate and unconditional release.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 June 2023.

Ambassador Holland says that despite countless Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, Ukraine stands strong.

Thank you, Mr Chair. Once again I would like to express our deep concern regarding the destruction of the Kakhovka dam. This is a despicable act, which has reportedly put over 42,000 people at risk from flooding. As my Prime Minister said, “Attacks on civilian infrastructure are appalling and wrong”. As I speak, the reservoir continues to empty, and will continue to do so for days. But even within the last two days we have seen lives, homes, and livelihoods destroyed. Civilians have been left stranded. The environment has sustained terrible, lasting damage. Food production will be severely impacted. And all this destruction is the consequence of Russia’s unwarranted, unprovoked invasion. The UK stands ready to support Ukraine and all those affected by this latest humanitarian catastrophe.

Mr Chair, throughout its war of aggression, Russia has wrought enormous damage on many areas of Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure – including on healthcare provision and facilities. Last week, the World Health Organisation reported that since February last year, Russia has made more than a thousand attacks on healthcare in Ukraine. This is the highest number that the WHO has ever recorded in any humanitarian emergency. Over a hundred Ukrainians have lost their lives, including health workers, patients, and the injured. This is inexcusable.

However, despite these challenges, the Ukrainian health system shows remarkable resilience. Ukrainian health workers demonstrate heroic levels of commitment as they continue to provide treatment for their communities and save lives, sometimes under fire.

As my Foreign Secretary noted during his visit to Kyiv this week, “the Ukrainian people are not going to allow themselves to be broken”. And Ukraine’s indomitable spirit is reflected in its economic outlook too. The International Monetary Fund has commended the “remarkable resilience” of the Ukrainian economy. It has upgraded its growth predictions for Ukraine and revised down inflation.

In two weeks the UK will co-host, with Ukraine, the 2023 Ukraine Recovery Conference in London. The conference will bring together the international community in support of Ukraine’s recovery and economic future. It will build on the work done by the 2022 recovery conference and the G7 Summit by mobilising public and private sector tools and financing to support Ukraine’s immediate recovery and long-term investment needs.

This will involve cooperation with a broad range of governments, including many represented here today, as well as the Secretary General. It will also include collaboration with international organisations such as the OSCE, as well as civil society and of course the private sector. Together, this broad coalition will facilitate investment and recovery, enabling Ukraine to pursue its transformation and reform goals and build an economy that is more modern, open and resilient.

Mr Chair, the people of Ukraine remain united, unbowed, and defiant. It is this Ukrainian spirit that means Russia cannot and will not win its war of aggression. The UK’s support for Ukraine will not waver – neither now as it is under attack, nor on its journey to a more prosperous and peaceful future.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 June 2023.

Ms Dawn McKen has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to Montenegro in succession to Ms Karen Maddocks, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ms McKen will take up her appointment during August 2023.

Full name: Dawn McKen

Spouse: Matthew Sparrowhawk

Children: 2

Curriculum vitae

Dates	Role
2022	Global Strategy Programme in International Security and Strategic Leadership, Royal College of Defence Studies
2022	MA in International Security and Strategy, King’s College, University of London
2021	Athens, Deputy Head of Mission, later Chargé d’Affaires
2019 to 2021	FCDO, Head, EU External and Security Unit, Europe Directorate/Additional Deputy Director, UK Future Relationship with Turkey and Cyprus
2016 to 2019	FCO, Head, Europe Programmes Unit, Europe Directorate
2013 to 2016	FCO, Deputy Head, Somalia Unit, Africa Directorate
2011 to 2013	FCO, Project Manager, UK Estate Reform Project
2007 to 2011	Budapest, First Secretary (Political), later Deputy Head of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires
2006 to 2007	Full Time Language Training (Hungarian)
2004 to 2005	FCO, Team Leader, EU External and Economic, Europe Directorate
2002 to 2003	FCO, Team Leader, Conventional Arms and Security Sector Reform, Security Policy Department
2000 to 2002	FCO, Team Leader, Cyprus and Malta, Europe Directorate
1996 to 2000	Moscow, Second Secretary (Political)
1996	Full Time Language Training (Russian)
1995 to 1996	FCO, Desk Officer, Hungary and Bulgaria, Know How Fund

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 June 2023.

The UK Minister for Development and Minister for International Trade commit to strengthen trade and increase investment in Ghana at the UK-Ghana Business Council.

• 8th UK-Ghana Business Council convenes in London to boost £2.2bn trade relationship
• UK-Ghana Investor Group launched to identify new investment opportunities and support Ghana’s economic recovery plan
• Council announces £1m to back new business and energy programmes in Ghana

The UK and Ghana have today (Thursday 8 June) launched a new investor group to help identify mutually beneficial investment opportunities for both countries in a boost to the existing economic partnership.

The announcement at the 8th UK-Ghana Business Council meeting in London, co-chaired by the Minister for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell, the Minister for International Trade, Nigel Huddleston, and the Vice-President of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, comes as the two countries committed to strengthen trade and increase investment.

The business-led UK-Ghana Investor Group will include UK investors and key investment facilitation agencies in Ghana and the UK, and will help generate leads on viable projects in areas such as pharmaceuticals, textiles, and agro-processing, as well as providing support to package the projects and find UK investment.

Support for Ghana’s economic recovery from Covid was also announced, with £1 million of funding for developing infrastructure projects and increasing carbon markets.

Andrew Mitchell, Minister for Development and Africa said:

The economic partnership between the UK and Ghana is thriving, with ever increasing bilateral trade and our new investor group set to find fresh opportunities for businesses both here in the UK and Africa. By working together we are creating jobs and strengthening our historic trade links, to the benefit of both our economies.

The UK-Ghana Business Council session follows the first meeting of the Trade Partnership Agreement (TPA) Committee in April this year. The UK-Ghana TPA provides duty-free, quota-free access to the UK market for Ghanaian exports. Today, bilateral trade between the UK and Ghana is worth around £2.2 billion, with the trade in goods and services increasing by £778 million between 2021 and 2022.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Minister Huddleston said:

This Council has played a huge role in boosting trade with Ghana, supporting hundreds of millions of pounds worth of deals in various sectors, from textiles to agriculture.

I look forward to discussing how we can take our trading relationship to the next level and support Ghana’s economic recovery by strengthening supply chains and removing barriers to trade.

Since its formation in 2018 the Council has supported more than £223m of investment in infrastructure across the country and created opportunities for both UK and Ghanaian businesses.

Next April, London will host the 2024 UK-African Investment Summit, bringing together political and business leaders, as well as representatives of international and regional organisations from the UK and African countries, including Ghana, as a further boost to trade and investment.

Background

• The preferential tariff terms provided by the UK-Ghana TPA are instrumental in sustaining sectors like banana and tuna exports, for which the UK is a major market. 21% of Ghana’s bananas are exported to the UK. More here.
• Ghana is the UK’s fourth-biggest export market in sub-Saharan Africa, total UK imports from Ghana amounted to £1.3 billion in 2022.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 June 2023.

Minister of State for the Middle East Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon will set out the UK’s work to eradicate Daesh and support those affected by its terrorism.

• Minister will address the Global Coalition against Daesh ministerial-level meeting in Riyadh today
• he will outline the UK’s work to tackle the continued threat posed by Daesh and support people in north-east Syria and Iraq
• Lord Ahmad will then travel onto Istanbul, the first visit to Turkey by a UK government Minister since President Erdogan’s re-election

The Minister of State for the Middle East will attend the annual Global Coalition against Daesh ministerial-level meeting in Riyadh today and reaffirm the UK’s commitment to tackling the continuing threat posed by Daesh and helping people rebuild their lives.

Lord Ahmad will outline the UK’s support to counter the threat posed by Daesh, including approximately £88 million towards ongoing efforts for counterterrorism, stabilisation and socio-economic development in Northeast Syria and Iraq over the next 5 years.

Examples of what this funding will provide include working with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to address the barriers to return, reintegration and reconciliation of Iraqis displaced by Daesh’s violence, including the 30,000 Iraqis in Al-Hol camp in Syria. The funding will also provide targeted job training for hundreds of young people in Iraq, as part of efforts to prevent violent extremism and counter Daesh’s influence.

This will come alongside a further £16 million over the next 2 years to specifically address acute humanitarian needs in north-east Syria. This package will provide 76,735 people with humanitarian assistance, including psychosocial support targeting children traumatised by conflict and programmes to empower women through education and access to the labour market.

The global meeting in Riyadh will see ministers and representatives from the 86 partners of the Global Coalition gather to discuss the continuing threat from Daesh and to coordinate efforts to counter Daesh and stabilise liberated areas.

Minister of State for the Middle East Lord Ahmad said:

Though territorially defeated, Daesh is a threat that continues to destroy lives – not only in liberated areas of Iraq and Syria, but also in Afghanistan and parts of Africa where its affiliates are active.

I am proud of the UK’s continuing role in eradicating Daesh, including rebuilding communities affected by its terrorism, and leading global efforts against its poisonous propaganda.

I look forward to visiting Istanbul to strengthen the UK’s important partnership with Turkey and to discuss a broad range of foreign policy issues, including Syria, Sudan and Ukraine.

Following his attendance at the Global Coalition against Daesh ministerial-level meeting, Lord Ahmad will travel to Istanbul to strengthen UK-Turkey ties and to participate in an international diplomacy conference. This will be the first visit to Turkey by a UK government minister since President Erdogan’s re-election, following the second round of presidential elections on 28 May.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 June 2023.

Ambassador Holland recalls the importance of inclusive, democratic institutions and accountable governments for security in the OSCE region.

Thank you, Mr Chair. Welcome to the Permanent Council, High Commissioner. Today is a welcome opportunity to put on record, on behalf of the UK, our appreciation for your efforts and those of your predecessors.

The United Kingdom believes that inclusive, democratic institutions and accountable governments are the foundations on which open, stable and prosperous societies thrive. Societies with the full participation of women and marginalised groups and equal rights for all. Resilient, responsive, and representative societies.

And yet, we have seen authoritarian influence on the rise in states across the OSCE region as well as democratic backsliding, restrictions on civic space and the rollback of rights.

Where human rights violations and abuses go unchecked, the seeds of conflict are sown, often with devastating consequences for communities and nations.

Indeed, last year’s Moscow Mechanism report established how growing internal repression in Russia enabled external aggression and ultimately Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. As participating States our comprehensive definition of security requires that we work harder than ever to strengthen democratic resilience and human rights.

High Commissioner, as you know, Putin’s war has impacted the enjoyment of nearly every human right in Ukraine. Reporting from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and OSCE institutions helps us understand the sheer scale of the damage. It describes war crimes as well as Russia’s restrictions on freedom of religion and belief, freedom of movement, and freedom of association.

Thank you for your Office’s continued commitment to documenting and reporting the human rights situation in Ukraine, despite operating in challenging circumstances. Like the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism reports and Ukraine Monitoring Initiative, your Office’s reporting helps the international community understand the scope and scale of Russia’s violations and systematic use of violence. It makes a vital contribution to accountability for Russia’s actions. For example, the UN Commission of Inquiry’s report in March this year provided important insight into child deportations from Ukraine.

Events in Ukraine mirror the repression Putin’s regime has subjected the people of Crimea and the people of Russia to for years. Echoing the concern of the UN Special Rapporteur on torture regarding the treatment and health of Alexei Navalny, I take this opportunity to call on the Russian authorities to ensure that Mr Navalny receives urgent and comprehensive medical care.

I also take this opportunity to repeat the UK’s support for the appointment of the first UN Special Rapporteur on human rights on the Russian Federation, Mariana Katzarova. The UK looks forward to publication of her report in September 2023.

Finally and briefly, I want to recall in this forum the importance of the OSCE’s own institutions for the defence of human rights. ODIHR’s work is vital to fostering long-term security in the OSCE region.  All participating States have a responsibility to ensure that ODHIR has a proper budget to continue delivering on its mandate.

High Commissioner, thank you for your presence here today. The UK looks forward to continuing to work with you and your Office, and to advocating within the OSCE for the importance of human rights and democracy in underpinning our collective security.  Thank you Mr Chair.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 June 2023.

The UK has announced an additional £750,000 of funding to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to support its missions in Ukraine, at the meeting of the Board of Governors in Vienna today, Wednesday 7 June.

At the meeting, Director General Grossi presented the latest report on Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards in Ukraine.

The report outlined the state of nuclear safety at Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, and in particular the deeply concerning situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant which relies on water from the Kakhovka dam for its cooling pond.

The UK has now provided £5 million to support IAEA efforts in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion of the country, and also gives an annual budgetary contribution to the IAEA’s work.

Today’s additional funds will help the IAEA continue its vital work in Ukraine providing support and advice to the Ukrainian government in nuclear safety. UK funding also facilitates training in detection of radiological materials and expert investigative missions to nuclear power plants.

Delivering the UK’s statement at the meeting, UK Permanent Representative to the IAEA Corinne Kitsell said:

Russia’s barbaric attacks on Ukraine’s civil infrastructure and its illegal control of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant runs contrary to all international nuclear safety and security norms. It claims to uphold nuclear safety standards, but its actions say otherwise.

I commend the work of the IAEA’s staff in Ukraine and I am pleased that the UK’s additional funding will help to facilitate its vital work, particularly given the additional risk posed by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam.

The IAEA Director General’s report also sets out numerous concerns: Russian military presence at the site and the immense pressure placed on the Ukrainian operating personnel and their families.

The UK also echoes Ukraine’s calls for an uninterrupted power supply from Ukraine to Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and continues to call for the Russian Federation’s full withdrawal from the site, and for it to end its illegal war of aggression in Ukraine.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 June 2023.

Statement by UK Political Coordinator Fergus Eckersley at the UN Security Council meeting on Iraq.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 June 2023.

UK, France and Germany (E3) statement to the IAEA about Iran’s implementation of its obligations under its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement.

Chair, France, Germany and the United Kingdom thank Director-General Grossi for his report on the implementation of safeguards in Iran contained in GOV/2023/26.

We fully support and commend the DG and the Secretariat for their professional, independent and impartial verification of Iran’s safeguards obligations, and commend their repeated efforts to engage Iran on clarifying information concerning the correctness and completeness of its declarations under its NPT Safeguards Agreement. The IAEA should continue to evaluate all safeguards-relevant information available, in line with its mandate and standard practice.

Chair, a few hours before the last Board, the IAEA and Iran agreed the 4 March 2023 joint statement in which “Iran expressed its readiness to continue its cooperation and provide further information and access to address the outstanding safeguards issues” and, “on a voluntary basis, to allow the IAEA to implement further appropriate verification and monitoring activities”.

This joint statement was agreed in the context of Iran’s grave and continued escalation of its nuclear program, which included 2 particularly concerning actions:

• centrifuge configuration changes made by Iran at Fordow without prior notice to the IAEA and uncovered during an unannounced inspection
• detection of particles of uranium enriched at 83.7%, which is grossly inconsistent with the declared level of enrichment

These Iranian actions also took place in the context of over 4 years of a lack of substantive cooperation with the IAEA regarding possible undeclared nuclear material at a number of undeclared locations in Iran. The Board has adopted 3 resolutions on this matter, most recently in November, when the Board decided that it is “essential and urgent”, that Iran act to fulfil its legal obligations and clarify all outstanding safeguards issues without delay.

In the context of this escalation, and Iran’s longstanding lack of cooperation with the Agency, incremental and limited steps are neither sufficient nor satisfactory. Only the full implementation by Iran of its Joint Statement commitments, and crucially its legal obligations under its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, can re-establish trust in Iran’s claim that its nuclear program only serves peaceful purposes.

Chair, Iran’s level of cooperation remains insufficient, as reflected in the Director General’s report.

On outstanding safeguards issues, we note that the Agency at this time has no additional questions on the depleted uranium particles detected at Marivan. But we also note that the Agency’s assessment of the activities undertaken by Iran in the other location at Marivan remains as set out previously: that Iran conducted explosive experiments in preparation for the use of neutron detectors. This is a stark reminder of the reason why we need to continue to demand full transparency from Iran on all outstanding safeguards issues.

We also note with great concern that the Agency reports no progress towards resolving the remaining outstanding safeguards issues. As clearly requested by the Agency in its report, Iran needs to address outstanding issues and provide, without further delay, technically credible information on the current location(s) of nuclear material and contaminated equipment in relation to Turquzabad and Varamin.

Unless and until Iran provides technically credible explanations to the Agency’s persisting outstanding questions, as reiterated by the November Resolution, the Agency will not be able to confirm the correctness and completeness of Iran’s declarations under its NPT Safeguards Agreement. These outstanding issues need to be resolved for the Agency to be in a position to provide assurance that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful. Such assurances are critical for the international community and the international non-proliferation regime.

In addition, a new issue has arisen with regard to a discrepancy, detected more than a year ago, between the amount of natural uranium from Jaber Ibn Hayan Laboratory declared by Iran and the amount verified by the Agency. The Agency considers Iran’s latest accountancy “not to be based on scientific grounds, and therefore, not acceptable”. We call upon Iran to engage the Agency to explain the shortfall of nuclear material. It is worth recalling that this material is related to a previous safeguards site of concern – Lavisan-Shian.

Finally, we once again recall that implementation of Modified Code 3.1 is a legal obligation for Iran under the Subsidiary Arrangement to its NPT Safeguards Agreement which cannot be modified or stopped unilaterally.

On other safeguards issues, we take note of the Agency’s assessment regarding the 83.7% enriched uranium particles, that “the information provided [by Iran] was not inconsistent with Iran’s explanation for the origin” of such particles. We continue to stress that any such enrichment, whatever its nature or intention, is wholly unacceptable. It constituted an unprecedented and extremely grave development, for which there is no credible civilian justification. These actions show Iran has built capabilities suitable for enrichment for nuclear weapons purposes.

On verification and monitoring activities, we note the limited steps that have been taken such as the reinstallation of enrichment monitoring devices of high enriched uranium at both Fordow and Natanz. We also note the reinstallation of some surveillance cameras in some centrifuge production facilities. Yet, progress again remains short of expectations.

Steps taken to allow further verification activities constitute a start, but they remain vastly incomplete. Without the installation of surveillance equipment in all locations requested by the Agency, and without access to the data recorded since February 2021 such steps have limited value, despite efforts of the Agency to secure this oversight. These steps are fragile: the Agency clearly states that “the process needs to be sustained and uninterrupted in order that all of the commitments contained therein are fulfilled without further delay”.

Chair, we urge Iran to act without any possible delay as requested by the Agency, in order to clarify and resolve all outstanding issues. The Director General has made clear asks in his report and requested engagement from Iran, and the November Resolution makes clear the Board’s requirements of Iran. Both should be delivered by the next Board of Governors at the latest.

If Iran fails to implement by the next Board the essential and urgent actions contained in the November 2022 Resolution and the March Joint Statement in full, the Board will have to be prepared to take further action, including if necessary making a finding on whether the Agency is not able to verify that there has been no diversion of nuclear material. We reiterate that we are looking forward to Iran clarifying all outstanding issues as soon as possible and that if the IAEA Director General confirms that these issues have been duly addressed we will not deem further reports on developments necessary.

We would like to thank the IAEA for their impartial and professional work on this issue.

We encourage the Director General to continue reporting to the Board of Governors and welcome making the report contained in GOV/2023/26 public, consistent with long-standing practice.

Thank you, Chair.