Tag: Foreign Office

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

The Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, and Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, met today (21 March 2023) in London. The Ministers reiterated their shared commitment to work intensively to conclude UK-EU negotiations in respect of Gibraltar as soon as possible. A treaty would provide certainty for those living and working in Gibraltar and in neighbouring communities, and secure future prosperity for the whole region.

The Foreign Secretary said:

The UK’s commitment to Gibraltar remains as strong as ever. We continue to work side-by-side to conclude an EU treaty as soon as possible.

Throughout the negotiations we have presented proposals that maintain the careful balance of the December 2020 Political Framework and could unleash economic growth for everyone in the region.

As the UK and EU continue to exchange proposals and work constructively towards an agreement, the Ministers recalled the need to respect the balance achieved by the December 2020 Political Framework.

The Ministers, while committed to the successful conclusion of negotiations, agreed to continue preparations to ensure robust plans are in place for all eventualities, including a no-negotiated outcome.

The Foreign Secretary reaffirmed that the UK remains steadfast in its support for Gibraltar and will not agree to anything that compromises UK sovereignty.

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

Interactive Dialogue with the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia, delivered by UK Human Rights Ambassador Rita French.

Thank you, Mr President.

The UK commends the progress that the Ethiopian Government and Tigray People’s Liberation Front have made towards implementing the November 2022 Pretoria Peace Agreement, ending two years of conflict. We welcome the progress on disarmament, the withdrawal of Eritrean forces, and humanitarian access to Tigray.

Ensuring justice for the victims of atrocities committed during the conflict, and holding those who perpetrated these accountable, are crucial future elements of the peace process. We welcome the proposals on transitional justice brought forward by the Ethiopian Government, and the recent public consultations on this, including with civil society, and we encourage the Government to establish an inclusive and transparent process to implement these provisions.

Commissioners,

Thank you for your briefing today, and for your important work investigating and documenting the human rights violations and abuses committed by all sides during the conflict. We commend you for carrying out your work with a commitment to professionalism and impartiality. We reiterate our call on all parties to the conflict and regional partners to co-operate fully with your mandate.

Now that the peace agreement is in place, how do you hope to work with the Ethiopian Government, TPLF and AU to ensure robust accountability for human rights violations and abuses?

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

Moses Kuria meets UK Ministers to increase trade in the first meeting of its kind under the UK-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement.

• The UK-Kenya Economic Partnership Council meets in London for the first time
• The Economic Partnership Agreement is the first trade agreement Kenya has signed with a partner outside of Africa
• The agreement will help secure jobs, increase economic growth, and support agricultural development and manufacturing in Kenya
• UK Kenya trade is currently worth KES 167bn (£1.1bn) per annum

On Tuesday 21 March, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry, Moses Kuria, met UK Minister for International Trade Nigel Huddleston in London at the first-ever UK-Kenya Economic Partnership Council Meeting.

Both parties agreed to accelerate work to remove barriers affecting bilateral trade and investment, working with our respective public and private sectors, and discussed the good progress made on the £3.5 billion of green investment deals which UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and President William Ruto agreed to fast track at COP27.

The Economic Partnership Council meets once every two years as part of the UK-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which came into force in March 2021.

The agreement ensures that all companies operating in Kenya, including British businesses, can continue to benefit from duty-free access to the UK market – saving exporters over KES 1.5bn (£10m) every year in duties on products such as green beans and cut flowers.

The agreement supports Kenya to grow its economy in a sustainable way, whilst providing UK businesses with increased trade opportunities. It secures jobs for Kenyans, whilst enhancing Kenya’s global competitiveness, trade capabilities, and ability to attract investment. The EPA has benefited approximately 2,500 UK businesses exporting goods to Kenya each year, providing frictionless trade. British companies in Kenya employ more than 250,000 Kenyans.

The UK is the first country outside of Africa to enter into a trade agreement with Kenya, the East African Community’s largest economy. UK-Kenya bilateral trade is already worth KES 167bn (£1.1bn) per annum, with capacity for significant growth.

The EPA supports the UK-Kenya Strategic partnership – an ambitious five-year agreement delivering mutual benefits for the UK and Kenya, including job creation and economic growth.

The agreement open to all Member States of the East African Community, one of the fastest growing regional economic blocs in the world.

As part of his visit to London, Cabinet Secretary Kuria will meet with UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Kemi Badenoch.

The meeting is part of a chain of UK-Kenya engagements that are deepening economic ties between the two countries. Since COP27 in December 2022, when President William Ruto and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak agreed to fast-track KES 500bn of investment, construction has begun at Nairobi Railway City, and Cabinet Secretary for Road, Transport and Public Works, Kipchuma Murkomen visited London King’s Cross Station – a UK example for Nairobi Railway City.

In addition, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visited Kenya in 2022, announcing support for the African Development Fund (ADF) to help communities in Africa grow their economies, create jobs and improve healthcare.

UK High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriott, said:

By meeting, as agreed, two years after the ratification of the EPA, the UK and Kenya are advancing our joint commitment to securing jobs for Kenyans and growing our economies – delivering mutual benefits for both our countries.

The UK and Kenya go far when we go together.

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

Statement from UK’s Ambassador to the WTO and UN in Geneva, Simon Manley, for the Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine.

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

The UK and Israel will today sign the 2030 Roadmap for UK-Israeli Bilateral Relations, boosting economic, security and technology ties.

• The Foreign Secretary and Israeli Foreign Minister will today sign the 2030 Roadmap for UK-Israeli Bilateral Relations, boosting economic, security and technology ties.
• The Roadmap builds on 75 years of close relations between the two countries and includes shared commitments to tackle the scourge of antisemitism.
• The Foreign Secretary and Foreign Minister Cohen are also expected to discuss the recent spike in violence across Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the threat posed by Iran.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will host his Israeli counterpart Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in London today (21 March) to sign a landmark agreement that will define bilateral relations between their two countries until 2030.

The UK and Israel are committed to a modern, innovative and forward-looking relationship that continues to focus on mutual priorities for mutual benefit. The 2030 Roadmap for Israel-UK Bilateral Relations is an ambitious agreement that will ensure the partnership remains modern and continues to innovate to address shared challenges. Adopting a thematic approach, the Roadmap contains detailed commitments for deepening cooperation across the breadth of the Israel-UK relationship, including on trade, cyber, science and tech, research and development, security, health, climate and gender.

New multi-million-pound programmes announced in the Roadmap, including around £20m of joint funding commitments on technology and innovation, will enable both countries to remain at the forefront of the technological revolution. The UK is also committed to working closely with Israel to tackle the scourge of antisemitism. As chair for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance in 2024, the UK will promote fact-based knowledge of the Holocaust and strengthen media and information literacy.

Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, said ahead of the visit:

The UK-Israel Bilateral Roadmap is a testament to the strength of our close and historic relationship.

As we approach the 75th anniversary of UK-Israel relations, our Roadmap will allow us to fully take advantage of the opportunities in areas of mutual interest, including tech, trade and security.

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

The UK-Israel relationship has already delivered huge benefits to both economies. Our trade relationship is worth around £7bn, and there are more than 400 Israeli tech firms operating in the UK. Israeli investment into the UK drives growth and jobs, adding around £1bn gross value to the UK economy and creating about 16,000 jobs in the last eight years.

The Roadmap is the culmination of efforts that began with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in November 2021 to work more closely over the next decade on cyber, technology, trade and defence, which formally elevated the UK’s relationship with Israel to a ‘strategic partnership’. Last year, the UK and Israel launched negotiations for a new free trade agreement, with a focus on innovation and the aim of upgrading the trading relationship. The new trade deal, by lowering barriers and championing free trade, is a key priority for both governments.

During the visit, the Foreign Minister and Foreign Secretary will also discuss areas of shared concern including countering the current threat from Iran and tackling Iran’s destabilising and malign activity in the Middle East, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the UK’s ongoing support for the Abraham Accords.

The Foreign Secretary will also raise the UK’s concerns about the recent spike in violence in the Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the need for all parties to take steps to deescalate and end the cycle of violence.

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

During the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council, the UK delivered a statement on children in armed conflict.

Thank you, Mr President.

Let me begin by thanking the Special Representative for her work and extensive global advocacy on this issue.

The number of grave violations committed against children is alarming. The dramatic rise of conflict-related sexual violence against children around the world is a scourge which cannot be ignored.

The UK is committed to supporting all survivors and children born of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence and taking concerted action in preventing such heinous crimes.

At the UK hosted Conference on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence last year, a new Platform for Action Promoting the Rights and Wellbeing of Children Born of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence was launched. We encouraged all member states to join us and other stakeholders, in committing to action under this Platform’s framework.

We are also concerned about the use of explosive remnants of war and the surge in improvised explosive devices which disproportionately affect children. The UK will continue to share good practice and strengthen cooperation with our partners.

Madam Special Representative,

Could you please provide an update on the situation in Ukraine, Ethiopia and Mozambique and the work your office is doing to support children in those countries?

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 March 2023.

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

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

President, I will make four broad points.

First, I would like to commend the progress made since the announcement of the Framework Agreement on 5 December.

The United Kingdom welcomes the wide and diverse range of participants involved in the completed workshops.

We encourage the holding of the remaining workshop on security sector reform as soon as possible.

As we approach Ramadan, it is essential to consolidate the progress made so far. The time is now for all parties to seize momentum, accelerate their engagement and reach a final agreement within the coming weeks.

The United Kingdom is working with partners to ensure an early and coordinated offer of support to a civilian-led transitional government.

We support the role of UNITAMS, the AU, and IGAD in facilitating the political process, and encourage the non-signatories of the Framework Agreement to join these discussions and contribute to a final agreement.

Second, we echo the Secretary-General’s call for the Sudanese authorities to create conducive conditions to help negotiations succeed.

In this light, we welcome the release of hundreds of Darfuri civilians from arbitrary detention, but condemn the excessive use of force against protestors, which resulted in the death of 125 protestors since the start of the coup.

Third, the UK remains deeply concerned by ongoing intercommunal conflict across Sudan.

We call on the Sudanese authorities to accelerate implementation of both the Juba Peace Agreement and the National Plan for the Protection of Civilians, and to deploy the Joint Security Keeping Force to Darfur.

Lastly, the worsening humanitarian situation continues to have a devastating effect on ordinary Sudanese citizens.

We urge the Sudanese authorities to remove all bureaucratic impediments which are hindering the ability of humanitarians to address the record levels of need. This includes urgently processing visas and lifting movement restrictions for UN personnel.

President, in closing, the United Kingdom remains committed to the realisation of the Sudanese people’s calls for freedom, peace and justice.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 March 2023.

His Majesty’s Deputy Trade Commissioner for Latin America and the Caribbean, Spencer Mahony, will visit Guatemala 22-24 March.

His Majesty’s Deputy Trade Commissioner, Spencer Mahony, is visiting Guatemala in order to strengthen bilateral economic and trade relations between Guatemala and the UK. His trip reaffirms the commitment of the British government to champion UK trade with economic partners in the Central American region.

With this visit, the Deputy Trade Commissioner seeks to understand the priorities of Guatemala and the projects it has in the pipeline in order to identify key areas where the UK can offer its expertise. During these meetings, the Deputy Commissioner will highlight the United Kingdom’s interest in continuing to work with Guatemala to create more opportunities that help build closer commercial ties that promote prosperity for both countries.

For that purpose, the Deputy Trade Commissioner will meet with senior representatives of regional organisations, British multinationals, Guatemalan companies and will participate in an event, co-organised with the British Chamber of Commerce, which will highlight the experience of UK companies doing business in Guatemala. This visit will focus on priority sectors in which UK companies have great expertise and more interest to explore business opportunities in the region; sectors such as agritech, electric mobility, infrastructure, life and sciences, education and food and drink.

The Deputy Trade Commissioner will also reinforce the opportunities that the Association Agreement between the UK and Central America brings to foster the trade relation with Guatemala and promote business possibilities to UK companies looking to expand overseas. He will stress the importance to promote a level-playing field for British companies wanting to do more business in Guatemala and strengthen the rule of law to attract more trade and investors to the country.

According to UK statistics, UK-Guatemala total trade between October 2021 and September 2022 was USD 200 million; an increase of 6.3% compared to the same period the year before. Total UK exports to Guatemala amounted USD 80 million; these included refined oil, electrical goods, chemicals, cars and beverages. Total UK imports from Guatemala were USD 120 million and included vegetables, beverages, coffee, sugar and clothing.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 March 2023.

UK Human Rights Ambassador Rita French delivered a statement on the situation of human rights in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Thank you, Mr President,

I would like to start by welcoming the Special Rapporteur’s critical work in continuing to report on the DPRK’s human rights record. We remain deeply alarmed by the systematic and widespread human rights violations by the DPRK regime.

Instead of upholding its human rights obligations and meeting the needs of the most vulnerable in society, the DPRK continues to prioritise its illegal weapons programme. Moreover, the DPRK’s border restrictions in response to COVID continue to severely hamper UN agencies’ ability to access and deliver life-saving support to the people of North Korea.

The UK urges the DPRK to now engage credibly with the international community and allow UN human rights mechanisms unhindered access. We stand ready to engage and assist the DPRK on human rights issues.

Madam Special Rapporteur,

How do the prolonged COVID-related measures introduced by the regime continue to impact human rights in North Korea?

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 March 2023.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council briefing on North Korea.

Thank you, President. I also thank ASG Jencča for his briefing today, and welcome the participation of the Republic of Korea.

The UK condemns the launch by the DPRK of a further intercontinental ballistic missile on 16 March. This was the DPRK’s tenth ICBM launch since the start of 2022.

Make no mistake. This missile wasn’t designed, built, deployed and launched overnight. The DPRK first displayed this type in 2020. It has been tested multiple times since in a long-planned development process, in defiance of this Council’s decisions, and shielded by two of its members.

Those same members may seek to equate lawful defensive military exercises with the DPRK’s actions. Let’s be clear. Defensive exercises are safe when they are notified to other states in advance, and when they operate within defined areas, as South Korean and US exercises have done.

We should protect the credibility of this Council by challenging these violations with a firm and united response. Five years of inaction, forced on the Council by two members, have left no one safer. Now is the time for a comprehensive resolution that addresses international security concerns with new targeted measures, while also setting conditions for renewed dialogue, and facilitating aid.

We should recall that the cost of these illicit launches is being borne by the North Korean people, whose government diverts resources from peoples’ basic economic needs toward its illegal weapons programme. We call on the DPRK to allow UN international staff to enter the country. Sanctions exemptions are in place to support expedited humanitarian assistance.

We again call on all member states to fully implement existing Resolutions, which all Council members voted for multiple times, to counter the continued development of the DPRK’s prohibited programmes.

Finally, President, we call on the DPRK to cease these launches and engage meaningfully with offers from the United States and the Republic of Korea of dialogue. Diplomacy is the only route to sustained peace on the peninsula.

Thank you.