Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 December 2022.

Ambassador Neil Bush says that Russia is trying to break Ukrainian resolve through its brutal attacks on civilians, hospitals and energy infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr Chair. And a warm welcome to Foreign Minister Landsbergis to the Permanent Council. The UK agrees with your assessment. We agree on the need for the international community to step up support to Ukraine so that it can win this war. We agree on the need to hold the Russian government to account for flagrant breaches of international law. And we agree on the need for the OSCE’s continued support to Ukraine and for this organisation to emerge stronger from this crisis.

Mr Chair, since October, the UK and others have repeatedly come together to condemn President Putin’s attacks on Ukraine’s civilians and critical national infrastructure. Sadly, this week is no exception.

This Monday, as the temperature in Kyiv dipped below freezing, Russia launched its latest round of missiles, targeting energy infrastructure and hitting residential buildings. According to President Zelenskyy, while Ukraine shot down ‘most of them’, the missiles which did land killed four people and caused power cuts across Ukraine. In Odesa, a missile strike cut power to pumping stations, leaving the entire city without water. We heard reports of doctors having to perform emergency surgery with flashlights, barely meeting hygiene protocols due to lack of water as a result of power outages. Sadly this is not new, but neither should it be accepted as normal. Russia would like to push Ukraine back into the dark ages.  We need to ensure that Russia fails.

Mr Chair, Russia’s systematic targeting of critical infrastructure since 10 October has damaged over 400 energy facilities. According to the World Health Organisation, this winter will be ‘life-threatening’ to millions of people in Ukraine. Cold weather can kill – and temperatures are predicted to plummet as low as minus 20 ˚C in parts of Ukraine over the coming months.

In addition, as of 5 December, Russia has conducted 630 attacks on healthcare facilities in Ukraine. Its latest missile attacks on energy infrastructure are further degrading Ukraine’s health system and compounding the impact on the most vulnerable. Maternity wards need incubators. Blood banks need refrigerators. Intensive care beds need ventilators. They all require energy.

Mr Chair, Russia’s intent is clear. It is trying to break Ukrainian resolve through its brutal attacks on civilians, hospitals and energy infrastructure over the cold, hard winter months. It is trying to crush the Ukrainian people’s spirit. Russia will fail.

As Russia well knows – intentionally directing attacks at civilians and civilian objects is not just deeply inhumane, but also violates international humanitarian law. Russia must observe its obligations under international humanitarian law and the UN Charter. If Russia is serious about a diplomatic end to its barbaric war, the path forward is simple: Russia needs to immediately withdraw all of its forces illegally present in Ukraine and cease attacks against Ukraine, including critical national infrastructure and innocent civilians.

Mr Chair, we remain deeply humbled by the bravery and the resilience of the Ukrainian people. They are paying a monstrously high price to defend the principles of sovereignty and democracy. Principles that the OSCE was founded on. Principles which are now being undermined by Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion. The UK and the international community must not – and will not – let Ukraine face this hardship alone. This is why my Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have both visited Kyiv in recent weeks to demonstrate the UK’s commitment to stand with Ukraine. The UK is providing additional air defence capabilities to Ukraine, to defend against Russia’s brutal missile attacks and we are stepping up humanitarian support to ensure Ukrainians can make it through the difficult winter ahead.

And to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people – know that your friends stand with you on this difficult journey. We will not let you face this winter alone.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 December 2022.

Statement by Rebecca Russo, UK Senior Policy Advisor, at the ECOSOC meeting on non-governmental organizations.

Thank you Madam President,

The UK welcomes the decision tabled by the United States to provide accreditation to these nine additional NGOs. These are legitimate NGOs that have faced repeated arbitrary deferrals for politicised reasoning for years, one as long as 14 years! This is despite adequately answering every, often repetitive question. Such endless deferrals demonstrate that some Committee members continue to abuse its working methods – yet another example of reprisals against NGOs seeking to work with the UN. We are therefore grateful that these NGOs have been brought forward for decision.

We were disappointed by the extensive misinformation that was spread ahead of today’s accreditation vote. ECOSOC is the parent body of the NGO Committee and therefore governs the Committee’s working methods. According to the rules and procedures, the Committee makes recommendations to ECOSOC for their consideration. Any suggestion that this decision bypasses or supersedes the NGO Committee is false. Tabling a decision in this way is a legitimate course of action with established precedent. The UK was therefore happy to cosponsor.

We would have preferred that such action not be required, that we could have worked fairly through the Committee. But the actions of a minority of member states have made it impossible for the Committee to work effectively, time and again.

Civil society voices are essential for the work we do at the UN and we will not tolerate attempts to shut them out.

We therefore encourage member states to vote in support of this decision.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 December 2022.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the Security Council briefing on Sudan.

Thank you President. And thank you also to SRSG Perthes for his briefing today and for the continued herculean efforts of UNITAMS. I also welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative of Sudan in our meeting

President, first, I would like to welcome the signing of the political framework agreement as an important step toward a return to a civilian-led transitional government in Sudan.

The efforts by all parties involved to agree on genuinely civilian-led transitional governance arrangements are commendable.

But, there is much more to be done. We now urge all Sudanese parties to urgently unite behind a final agreement to form a civilian-led government.

The United Kingdom condemns the killing of two more protestors in the reporting period and calls for the security forces to exercise maximum restraint and to respect the right to peaceful protest.

Second, we should be clear that the consequences of delay in reaching a final agreement would be severe.

Approximately one third of Sudan’s population is projected to be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2023. A concerted effort to finalise negotiations is essential to address Sudan’s urgent humanitarian and economic challenges.

A civilian-led transitional government can put the country on the road to recovery and allow for the full resumption of international support. The United Kingdom is working with partners to coordinate significant economic support to a civilian-led transitional government once it is formed.

Third, as SRSG Perthes told us, the security situation across Sudan also remains fragile. We reiterate our deep concern about the significant violence in Blue Nile State and West Kordofan.

We urge the Sudanese authorities to implement the security arrangements of the Juba Peace Agreement, engage with the impacted communities to restore peace, and fulfil their responsibility to protect civilians.

To conclude, President, the United Kingdom commends the compromises made by all parties to agree the initial political framework.

We call for an inclusive dialogue on the outstanding issues to commence without delay, and support a strong role for UNITAMS, along with the AU and IGAD, in facilitating these Sudanese-led negotiations.

The United Kingdom is committed to supporting Sudan’s journey to democracy, and the realisation of the Sudanese people’s calls for freedom, peace and justice.

And we hope that the Council will be able to give collective public expression to the latest developments in a Press Statement shortly.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 December 2022.

Ian Stubbs (UK delegation to the OSCE) says Russia has attempted to distract from failures on the battlefield with a campaign of lies, threats and propaganda.

Thank you, Mr Chair. At the Ministerial Council last week, Russia’s Ambassador delivered familiar false narratives about confrontation. I would like to again highlight the irony of this coming from a country which has invaded Georgia in 2008, illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 and then launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February this year.

Since that fateful day, the Kremlin and our Russian colleagues in this room have attempted to distract from failures on the battlefield with a campaign of lies, threats and propaganda. They have concocted increasingly ridiculous false claims and made allegations of an epic scale which do not stand up to the scantest of scrutiny. But no amount of threats and propaganda can hide the fact that Ukraine is winning this war, nor can it hide the appalling litany of atrocities and devastation left behind in the areas from which Russian forces have retreated.

Against the backdrop of this sustained onslaught of disinformation, it is perhaps timely to consider what the last nine months has demonstrated: that Putin made a grave miscalculation when he chose to invade a sovereign neighbour.

On land, the Russian Battalion Tactical Group (BTG) concept, a major part of Russia’s military doctrine for over 10 years has proved a failure. Poor logistics, agility, training, equipment, maintenance, discipline and leadership have all contributed to abject failure. Over the last three months, Russian forces in Ukraine have largely stopped deploying the BTG concept.

In the air, Russia has failed to achieve air superiority. In recent months, the number of sorties conducted by Russian tactical combat aircraft over Ukraine has reduced significantly. Russian aircraft now probably conduct tens of missions per day in contrast to a high of up to 300 per day in March 2022. It has now lost over 60 fixed wing aircraft in the war.

At sea, Russia’s failure to conduct effective force protection has left its Black Sea Fleet dangerously exposed with devastating consequences. The vulnerability of its ships and submarines is evident from their significantly reduced operational footprint.

In response to his military failures, Putin has sought to punish the Ukrainian people. He and his military leadership’s attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure aim to spread terror and deprive families of shelter, light, and heat as we enter winter. They are particularly cruel acts of vengeance, resulting in widespread humanitarian suffering across Ukraine. However, the effectiveness of Russia’s attack on Ukraine’s electricity distribution grid as a strategy has likely been blunted given that Russia has already expended a large proportion of its suitable missiles against tactical targets.

Putin and his military leaders have also doubled-down on their failed strategy of blunt-edged attritional warfare. He and his Generals have sent thousands of Russia’s own citizens to their deaths, poorly trained, poorly equipped and poorly led. More continue to be sent to the battlefield to provide numbers and mass in place of fighters and effective leadership.

But the failures of Putin’s horrendous adventurism are becoming increasingly apparent to the Russian people. Recent polling suggests that Russian public support for the so-called “Special Military Operation” is falling significantly. Data which was reportedly collected by Russia’s Federal Protective Service indicated that 55 percent of Russians favour peace talks with Ukraine, with only 25 percent claiming to support continuing the war. This contrasts with polling in April 2022 where around 80 percent of Russians claimed to support the conflict.

The persistent and institutional poor decision making by the Kremlin is having a terrible impact on the Russian people – more needless deaths; more grieving families; more defeats; more demoralised troops; more discontent; and more isolation. Putin is creating a legacy which millions of young Russians did not choose and did not vote for, but will be forced to bear the cost of for years to come.

Mr Chair, yesterday marked Ukrainian Armed Forces Day. For the brave men and women of the Armed Forces of Ukraine it was also the 285th day they have been fighting to defend and protect their homeland from a brutal and barbaric invader. We do not underestimate the continuing threat posed by the Russian Federation but, in time, there will be cause for Ukraine to celebrate. Ukraine will continue to demonstrate their resolute courage, determination and enduring moral strength as they fight to liberate more of their homeland. Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence will be fully restored. The UK and the international community will remain steadfast in our support – we will stand by Ukraine for however long it takes. Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 December 2022.

• The Foreign Secretary pledges to build “mutually beneficial partnerships of the future” on a visit to Kenya and Ethiopia.
• James Cleverly will announce new UK support to the Africa Development Fund to tackle climate change, strengthen food security and boost Africa’s growing economies.
• He will break ground on the Railway City regeneration project – a high-tech green development, designed by British architects and supported by UK export finance.

The UK will announce new support for the African Development Fund (ADF) today to help the poorest communities in Africa grow their economies, create jobs and improve healthcare.

The Foreign Secretary will confirm the funding in Kenya as a key plank of the UK’s honest, reliable investment offer, on his first visit to Sub-Saharan Africa since becoming the Foreign Secretary.

The UK will contribute £650million as part of a wider international financing package of $9 billion for the ADF over the next three years, providing high impact and low-cost finance to Africa’s poorest countries. This includes £200 million provided to the ADF’s new Climate Action Window that was announced at COP27.

The UK funding will help deliver electricity for almost 20 million people, improved sanitation for over 30 million people and create over 2.3million new jobs across the continent. The fund supports 37 of the most vulnerable countries across the African continent.

The Foreign Secretary said:

We hugely value working with our allies and friends across Africa. Such relationships benefit us all. The UK offers honest, reliable investment that does not load countries with debt, but instead unlocks huge potential for economic growth, while boosting global health and tackling climate change.

The UK’s contribution to the African Development Bank shows our long-standing commitment to the continent. We will go far when we go together.

Arriving in Kenya today (7 December) the Foreign Secretary will also see how the UK’s support is helping to grow Kenya’s green economy.

Just one month after the Prime Minister and President Ruto promised to fast-track green British investment, the Foreign Secretary will break ground on the construction of Railway City – Nairobi’s renovated central station, designed by British architects with the latest green technology. The Kings Cross London-style development, backed by £80m of UK Export Finance, will regenerate Nairobi’s bustling central business district as a green urban environment of the future.

And ahead of the Railway City launch, the UK’s development finance institution British International Investment (BII) will sign a new risk-sharing agreement with the African Guarantee Fund (AGF), to support green economic development and job creation across Africa.

The agreement will unlock $150million of affordable finance for small and medium enterprises – expected to facilitate up to 17,300 loans for businesses across Africa. BII and AGF will each underwrite 25% of the loans.

It is reflective of the UK’s ongoing support to small businesses in Africa to create jobs and transition to green energy, while helping vulnerable countries to deal with the adverse impacts of climate change.

During a climate reception at the British High Commission the Foreign Secretary will congratulate a winner of the Earthshot Prize, launched two years ago by Prince William and David Attenborough. He will announce that the UK is supporting new re-forestation projects in Kenya through the UK PACT programme with an £3.8million investment.

The Foreign Secretary will head to Ethiopia on Thursday 8 November, where he will see first-hand the devastating impacts of climate change, conflict and food insecurity.

In both countries, the Foreign Secretary will meet with key government figures where he will reiterate his vision of stronger partnerships between the UK and African countries, built on mutual respect and benefits, and supporting populations in Africa, the UK and beyond to be more prosperous, healthier and greener.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 December 2022.

Ambassador James Kariuki outlines the UK’s vision for the humanitarian system to the UN General Assembly.

Thank you Mr President, and good afternoon colleagues.

Every year, we meet here to reflect on the global humanitarian picture, and to look ahead to how we can respond to future challenges.

Yet again, we are faced with a sobering picture.

In 2023, 339 million people will be in need of humanitarian assistance – an increase of 25% from this year.

These are not just numbers.

They represent individual lives.

People suffering the impacts of both new and protracted conflicts.

People are hit simultaneously by droughts and floods driven by climate change.

People who are the most vulnerable to the global energy and food crisis caused by Russia’s choice to illegally invade Ukraine, in a year that should have been the year of recovery from the Covid 19 pandemic.

To tackle the magnitude of global challenges, we need a shared vision, and the collective political will to deliver it.

Mr President, the UK’s International Development Strategy, launched in May this year, is a commitment to the world’s most vulnerable. It sets out how we will ensure a more effective international response to humanitarian crises.

We will deliver this in three areas.

Firstly, we will push for the system to prioritise limited resources effectively, including towards the one million people who are living in famine or famine-like conditions in Yemen, Ethiopia, Somalia, and South Sudan.

We will do this by ensuring that humanitarian responses are accountable, data-driven and cost effective. And we will continue to champion the scale-up of digital cash transfers as an effective and dignified way to deliver assistance.

Secondly, we will continue to use our voice to protect the most vulnerable, and to uphold International Humanitarian, Human Rights and Refugee Law.

We will use our position on the UN Security Council to enable unhindered access to those in need, including 4.1 million people in North-West Syria this winter. And we will use all the tools at our disposal to ensure accountability for those who violate the humanitarian principles and the UN Charter in Ukraine.

We will also deliver on our commitments at last week’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Conference, bolstering our support to local, women-led organisations. These are vital to the humanitarian response, and to ensuring that women and girls are free from violence, and able to meet their full potential.

Finally, we will use our expertise to prevent today’s problems from turning into tomorrow’s crises.

We will leverage UK networks in the private sector, climate science and academia to deepen early warning expertise, promote innovation and strengthen systems to prevent and anticipate shocks.

And we will use our position on the boards of the International Financial Institutions to unlock the finance for these efforts, such as the doubling of the World Bank’s Early Response Financing to $1 billion, which we helped to secure this year.

Building on sustained advocacy at COP 26 and COP 27, we will continue to push for an increase in access to climate finance in climate vulnerable countries with the highest levels of humanitarian need. This will help communities adapt to new challenges with dignity and agency.

Mr President, with needs soaring every year, the UK humanitarian vision is not an ideal, but rather, a necessity. Today we are asking for all of you to join us in delivering it.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 December 2022.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council briefing on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

Thank you President. And thank you Under-Secretary-General Griffiths for your briefing.

“Death, destruction, displacement and suffering,” as you said.

President, this is the third time in as many weeks that we have discussed Russia’s brutal attacks on civilians across Ukraine.

On all three occasions, the UN has underlined the devastating humanitarian impact of the systematic strikes on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and civilian centres. This presents a potentially catastrophic situation for Ukraine’s brave and courageous people and for the 690 organisations that are supporting the humanitarian need as winter begins, and people are left without water, power and shelter.

We know what Russia is trying to do: it is trying to bring terror and suffering to the civilian population in a war of subjugation. It is barbaric, illegal, and horribly cruel.

The statistics we have heard from the UN today are shocking, more than 17,000 civilians have been killed in Ukraine by Russia’s senseless war. It is a devastating number of innocent lives lost, and we’ve heard today in particular the impact  Russia’s war is having on children in Ukraine:

• the millions forced to flee their homes and in need of humanitarian assistance,
• the hundreds killed, injured or missing.
• the damage or destruction of over 500 schools, and classes interrupted by air raid sirens and power cuts.
• the reports that thousands of children have been forcibly taken to Russia.
• And the credible allegations of sexual violence against children by Russian forces.

The trauma inflicted by Russia will last for generations.

President, the response from this Council, and the wider UN Membership, has been consistent: a call for an end to conflict; for peace.

President Zelenskyy again asked us, two weeks ago, to help end the suffering of the Ukrainian people and expressed his willingness to negotiate a peace based on the principles of the UN Charter.

But Russia is not listening.

Its response has been wave after wave of long range strikes, and continued, albeit frustrated, efforts to take Ukrainian territory.

It is time for Russia to end this war, withdraw from Ukrainian territory, and commit to dialogue and negotiations based on international law and the UN Charter.

Thank you, Madam President.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 December 2022.

The UK government and the Railways Industry Association have brought 11 leading UK rail companies to Australia and New Zealand to explore significant market opportunities and showcase UK innovation and capabilities ahead of AusRail, Australia and New Zealand’s premiere rail conference.

AusRail is an international rail conference and exhibition, with attendees from across Southeast Asia, the Americas and Europe. The event, held in Brisbane from 5 to 7 December, will highlight nationwide opportunities in Australia’s rail sector.

The UK delegation will take part in an exclusive programme in Auckland, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. They will participate in roundtables, hear directly from and tour City Rail Link, Auckland Light Rail, KiwiRail, Melbourne Metro Station, Invest Victoria, Austrade, Sydney Metro, NSW Rail Operations Centre, Queensland Rail and Trade and Investment Queensland.

The UK is a leading innovator in creating modern, metropolitan spaces of the future.

Here to explore the significant ANZ pipeline of over £100billion invested in transport infrastructure, the UK rail mission cohort will showcase the UK as a leading innovator in creating metropolitan spaces of the future and the partner of choice for clean growth projects in the rail sector. The cohort will also highlight the UK capabilities in market ahead of Australia and NZ’s premiere rail conference, AusRail.

The Australian & New Zealand rail ecosystems are thriving. There is a twofold focus, heavy rail for freight and suburban metro systems, and investment heading into light rail. This mission provides a tailored opportunity for UK companies to explore the Australian and New Zealand markets and connect with key rail sector decision makers and industry stakeholders.

Louise Cantillon, British Consul General and UK Deputy Trade Commissioner, Australia and New Zealand said:

Rail made the UK’s industrial revolution possible and rail can lead the green industrial revolution. The UK is a world leader in rail innovation and we are capitalising on our expertise to drive clean growth and investing in the industries of tomorrow.

Free Trade Agreements have been negotiated in Australia and New Zealand, so the timing of this in-person trade mission is ideal. Through these agreements, companies will be able to make contacts, build relationships and maximise opportunities.

UK rail companies
The 11 companies on the mission are: Railway Industry Association (RIA), AMCL, AssessTech Ltd, CU Phosco Australia, Dura Composites, First Class Safety Control, GOS Tool and Engineering Services, Hird Group, IPEX Consulting, PriestmanGoode, Resonate, VIP Polymers.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 December 2022.

Statement by Thomas Phipps, UK Alternate Political Coordinator to the UN, at the Security Council meeting on Syria’s chemical weapons.

Thank you President, and I would like to join others in thanking High Representative Nakamitsu for her briefing, and OPCW Director-General Arias for his latest monthly report.

Colleagues, let us remind ourselves why we continue to discuss this agenda item.

In the early hours of 21 August 2013, the Syrian regime targeted its own citizens in three suburbs of Damascus with rockets containing the nerve agent sarin. As many as 1500 people died.

Following these attacks, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 2118, which called on Syria to cooperate fully with the OPCW and eliminate its chemical weapons programme and stockpile.

As we are reminded each month, Syria’s initial chemical weapons declaration, upon which the destruction of its chemical weapons stocks depended, was and remains inaccurate and incomplete. When evidence of Syria’s retention of chemical weapons has proved too compelling, the regime has changed its story.

It has now amended its declaration 17 times.

We know, by the regime’s own admission, that at least one chemical weapons production facility, four laboratories, five previously undeclared chemical warfare agents, hundreds of tons of chemicals, and thousands of munitions were omitted from its initial declaration.

President, these issues are not academic.

Independent investigations have shown that the Syrian regime went on to use chemical weapons in further attacks against the Syrian people, even after they had claimed they had given up all their chemical weapons.

Several of these attacks have involved the use of chlorine dropped onto civilian centres from helicopters, in particular by a division of the Syrian Armed Forces, known as the “Tiger Forces” under the control of Brigadier-General Suhail al-Hassan.

The OPCW Investigation and Identification Team found the Tiger Forces responsible for a chlorine attack on Saraqib in February 2018. But the Assad regime has not limited its attacks to chlorine. On 4 April 2017, a Syrian S-22 aircraft delivered an aerial bomb filled with sarin into the centre of Khan Shaykhun, an attack for which the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism has attributed responsibility. As the OPCW reported in April 2020, the attack in Khan Shaykhun was preceded by two sarin attacks carried out by the Syrian Arab Air Force in Ltamenah in March 2017.

Colleagues, sarin, as I am sure we all know, is a nerve agent that suffocates people to death as their muscles spasm into paralysis.

The chemical profile of the sarin used in all these attacks bears the unique signature of the sarin production process declared in this declaration by Syria.

President, these Syrian attacks are all a matter of record, established by detailed and thorough investigations by the OPCW and the JIM. The OPCW has found Syria responsible for multiple chemical weapons attacks and other serious failures to meet its obligations as a State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention.

As my US colleague said, during last week’s Conference of States Parties, 57 countries joined a French-led statement unequivocally condemning Syria’s use of chemical weapons and its refusal to live up to its obligations as a State Party.

The scale of support for this statement speaks to the overwhelming desire of the international community to uphold the collective progress that we have made in recent decades towards a world free of chemical weapons.

It is our responsibility as members of this Council to continue to support the OPCW as it seeks to resolve outstanding issues in Syria’s declaration. As High Representative Nakamitsu also said, we must also not forget the victims of chemical weapons attacks in Syria. And the UK continues to stand in solidarity with them and we will continue to pursue justice for them and their families.

I thank you President.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 December 2022.

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