Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 December 2022.

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

Thank you President,

Let me begin by thanking all our briefers today and I welcome Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Lutundula to our meeting.

President, I will focus my intervention on the situation in eastern DRC, regional efforts, MONUSCO and sanctions.

President, the UK remains deeply concerned by the security situation in eastern DRC, in particular increased armed group violence. We strongly condemn the attack by M23 in Kishishe that killed 131 civilians, as confirmed by the UN Joint Human Rights Office and MONUSCO.

We take note of M23’s statement indicating their willingness to withdraw from their current positions. We call on them to do so immediately and to uphold the Luanda ceasefire.

We also urge the Government, with the support of MONUSCO, to use all necessary measures, to prevent further M23 advances, including towards Goma.

The humanitarian toll of this violence has been devastating, and in this regard, we urge all actors to ensure assistance reaches affected people, including the 1.29 million newly displaced this year.

President, the UK reiterates our full support for the Nairobi and Luanda political processes. We are delighted to announce UK funding to support the East African Community led Nairobi Process.

We encourage continued dialogue through this and for Congolese armed groups to participate in the Nairobi process. We welcome the recently agreed ceasefire in Luanda and urge all parties to uphold their commitments to ensure peace prevails.

All support to armed groups must stop, including external support to M23. We call on countries in the region to use all means available to them to urge an immediate ceasefire of hostilities and immediate resumption of consultations on concrete steps to deescalate current tensions.

President, I welcome the information shared by EAC Secretary-General Mathuki today. Both the EAC Force and DRC Armed Forces must substantively engage with MONUSCO on de-confliction of operations to ensure the protection of civilians, as well as the safety and security of peacekeepers and the effective implementation of MONUSCO’s mandate.

The UK fully supports the work of MONUSCO and commends the Mission, and SRSG Keita, for their continued efforts in increasingly challenging circumstances.

We remain deeply concerned by the widespread anti-MONUSCO sentiment in DRC, which undermines the mission’s ability to implement its mandate. We encourage the Government of DRC to engage in a structured dialogue with MONUSCO to clarify roles and responsibilities for a responsible, conditions-based drawdown of MONUSCO.

Let me conclude by welcoming the cooperation extended by the DRC, Rwanda and Uganda to the DRC Sanctions Committee during its recent visit to the region. It is regrettable that Russia has blocked the SRSG for Sexual Violence in Conflict from briefing the DRC Sanctions Committee, particularly given that this a significant problem in the DRC and one that the Government is committed to working with the international community to tackle.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 December 2022.

At the International Anti-Corruption Conference in Washington DC, the United Kingdom delegation emphasised the need for the global community to continue fighting illicit finance and corruption.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 December 2022.

The Foreign Secretary has claimed ‘sordid deals’ between Russia and Iran are threatening global security, following the release of information by the US today showing Iran has become one of Russia’s top military backers.

The US have today released information laying bare the extent of Iran’s military support to Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, including the provision of hundreds of drones used to kill Ukrainian civilians.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

Iran is now one of Russia’s top military backers. Their sordid deals have seen the Iranian regime send hundreds of drones to Moscow, which have been used to attack Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and kill civilians.

In return, Russia is offering military and technical support to the Iranian regime, which will increase the risk it poses to our partners in the Middle East and to international security. The UK will continue to expose this desperate alliance and hold both countries to account.

The UK agrees with the US assessment that Iranian support for the Russian military will grow in the coming months as Russia attempts to obtain more weapons, including hundreds of ballistic missiles.

The UK is concerned that Russia intends to provide Iran with more advanced military components, allowing the regime to strengthen their weapons capability, further increasing the risk to both regional and international security.

On the 19 October the UK, together with the US and France, raised this issue with the UN Security Council and supports Ukraine’s request for a UN investigation into the Iranian transfers, which are in violation of Security Council resolution 2231.  We will continue to hold both countries to account for this deplorable activity.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 December 2022.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the adoption of the Security Council Resolution on crosscutting humanitarian exceptions to UN asset freezes.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 December 2022.

Mrs Jane Owen has been appointed Governor of the Cayman Islands in succession to Mr Martyn Roper OBE. Mrs Owen will take up her appointment during April 2023.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Full name: Jane Owen

Married to: David Donnelly (died 2017)

Children: Two

Date	Role
2017 to present	Bern, His Majesty’s Ambassador, and Non-Resident Ambassador to the Principality of Liechtenstein

2014 to 2016

UK Trade and Investment, Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer

2010 to 2014

Oslo, Her Majesty’s Ambassador

2006 to 2010

New Delhi, Counsellor for Trade, Finance, Science and Climate Change

2002 to 2006

Tokyo, Commercial Counsellor

1998 to 2001

Hanoi, Deputy Head of Mission

1996 to 1998

FCO, Head, Mediterranean and Asia Section, Europe Department

1993 to 1996

Department of International Trade, Head, Japan Section

1990 to 1993

Tokyo, Second Secretary, Trade

1988 to 1990

Full Time Language Training (Japanese)

1987 to 1988

FCO, Desk Officer, Central America Department

1986 to 1987

Japan English Teaching programme (JET)

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 December 2022.

The UK summoned the Iranian Chargé d’Affaires on 8 December following the execution of a protestor.

The Foreign Secretary instructed the FCDO to summon Iran’s most senior diplomat after Iran carried out the first execution of a protestor since demonstrations began in September.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

The execution of Mohsen Shekari by the Iranian regime is abhorrent. He is a tragic victim of a legal system in which disproportionate sentences, politically motivated trials and forced confessions are rife.

We have made our views clear to the Iranian authorities – Iran must immediately halt executions and end the violence against its own people.

Vijay Rangarajan, Director General for the Middle East, held the meeting with Mehdi Hosseini Matin to underline that in the UK’s view this is a grossly disproportionate action, which is designed to intimidate ordinary Iranians and stifle voices of dissent.

He stressed that the UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and urged Iran to immediately halt executions and the imposition of death sentences.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 December 2022.

Foreign Secretary has announced sanctions that targets corrupt actors, those violating human rights, and as perpetrators of sexual-violence in conflict.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has today (09 December) announced a new wave of sanctions that targets corrupt actors, and those violating and abusing human rights, as well as perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict.

This wave, co-ordinated with international partners, marks International Anti-Corruption Day and Human Rights Day.

The package includes individuals and entities involved in a wide range of grievous activities – including the torture of prisoners, the mobilisation of troops to rape civilians, and systematic atrocities.

These sanctions demonstrate the UK’s commitment to defend free societies and the human rights of everyone, everywhere.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

It is our duty to promote free and open societies around the world. Today our sanctions go further to expose those behind the heinous violations of our most fundamental rights to account. We are committed to using every lever at our disposal to secure a future of freedom over fear.

Since gaining new powers following our exit from the EU, the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office has used targeted sanctions across multiple regimes to hold those committing these egregious acts, whether in Russia, Iran, Myanmar, or elsewhere, to account.

Today’s sanctions include targets from 11 countries across 7 sanctions regimes – the most that the UK has ever brought together in one package.

Sanctions targeting Human Rights violators and abusers

As part of today’s package, the UK has designated 8 individuals under our Global Human Rights regime, which allows the UK to stop those involved in serious human rights abuses and violations from entering the country, channelling money through UK banks, or profiting from our economy. These sanctions include:

• Mian Abdul Haq, a Muslim Cleric from Pakistan, responsible for forced conversions and marriages of girls and women from religious minorities
• General Kale Kayihura, the Inspector General of Police in Uganda from 2005 to 2018. While Kayihura was in charge, he oversaw multiple units responsible for human rights violations including torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment
• Sadrach Zelodon Rocha and Yohaira Hernandez Chirino, the mayor and deputy mayor of Matagalpa in Nicaragua. Both have been involved in promoting and supporting grievous violations of human rights
• Andrey Tishenin, member of the Russian Federal Security Service in Crimea, and Artur Shambazov, a senior detective in the Autonomous republic of Crimea. The pair tortured Ukrainian Oleksandr Kostenko in 2015
• Valentin Oparin, Major of Justice for the Russian Federation, and Oleg Tkachenko, Head of Public Prosecutions for the Rostov region. Both individuals have obstructed complaints of torture, with Tkachenko also using torture to extract testimony

Sanctions in Iran and Russia

The UK is also using geographical sanctions regimes to ensure that violators of human rights are held to account.

10 Iranian officials connected to Iran’s judicial and prison systems, have been sanctioned.

This includes 6 individuals linked to the Revolutionary Courts that have been responsible for prosecuting protestors with egregious sentences including the death penalty.

In addition, Ali Cheharmahali, and Ghloamreza Ziyayi, former directors of the Evin Prison, in Tehran, a facility notorious for the mistreatment of both Iranian and foreign detainees, have been sanctioned. Allah Karam Azizi, warden of Razee Shahr Prison, has also been sanctioned.

The UK has also sanctioned the Russian Colonel Ibatullin for his role as the commander of the 90th Tank Division, which has been on the front line since Russia began its illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Sanctions targeting perpetrators of conflict related sexual violence

Sexual violence in conflict, which is currently happening in at least 18 active conflicts around the world, is an abhorrent act and and prohibited by international law.

In many cases it is used as a deliberate method of warfare. Six individuals and entities are being sanctioned today – utilising one of the tools at the UK’s disposal to hold perpetrators of CRSV to account.

Amongst those sanctioned today are Gordon Koang Biel and Gatluak Nyang Hoth, the County Commissioners for Koch and Mayendit in South Sudan. Both individuals were involved in the conflicts in the Unity State between February and May 2022, and mobilised troops to rape civilians.

The Katiba Macina group, also known as the Macina Liberation Front, in Mali, has been sanctioned. The group is known for perpetrating sexual violence, including the organisation of forced marriages

Today’s sanctions also target those involved in the Myanmar military junta. The security forces are known for committing systematic atrocities against the people of Myanmar, including massacre, torture, and rape. Designations include:

• The Office of the Chief of Military and Security Affairs. It is reported that this office has been the central perpetrator of torture for interrogation since the coup, including rape and sexual violence
• The 33rd and 99th Light Infantry Division of the Myanmar Armed Forces who were responsible for attacks including sexual violence during ‘the clearance operations” of the Rakhine state in 2017 and continue to commit atrocities across the country.

Sanctions targeting corrupt actors

The UK is also today using its Global Anti-Corruption regime to sanction an additional 5 individuals.

Lining their pockets through corruption and theft, corrupt actors have a corrosive effect on the communities around them – undermining democracy and depriving countries of vital resources for their own gain.

As a result, over 2% of global GDP is lost to corruption every single year.

The UK is using sanctions to tackle serious corruption. Today’s designations include:

• Slobodan Tesic, a significant arms dealer based in Serbia, accused of bribing the Chief State Prosecutor of another country
• Ilan Shor, the Chairman of the Şor Party in Moldova, and reportedly involved in the 2014 Moldovan Bank Fraud Scandal. Shor was accused of bribery to secure his position as chair of the Banca de Economii in 2014
• Vladimir Plahotniuc, a businessman and a former politician, fugitive from Moldovan justice, involved in capturing and corrupting Moldova’s state institutions
• Milan Radojcic, a construction industry businessman and Vice president of Serb List. Radojcic has profited from the misappropriation of state contracts and used his influence to award his own construction companies lucrative contracts
• Zvonko Veselinovic, a construction industry businessman in Kosovo using public contracts to misappropriate state funds

The UK will continue to use all levers at our disposal to tackle corrupt actors and morally reprehensible violations and abuses, including sexual violence, of human rights around the world.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 9 December 2022.

The UK, Italy and Japan will join forces to develop the fighter jets of the future.

The UK will work with Italy and Japan to adapt and respond to the security threats of the future, through an unprecedented international aerospace coalition announced by the Prime Minister today (Friday).

The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is a new partnership and ambitious endeavour between the UK, Japan and Italy to deliver the next generation of combat air fighter jets.

The Prime Minister will visit a UK RAF base today to launch the first major phase of the programme, which aims to harness the combined expertise and strength of our countries’ defence technology industries to push the boundaries of what has been achieved in aerospace engineering to date.

Due to take to the skies by 2035, the ambition is for this to be a next-generation jet enhanced by a network of capabilities such as uncrewed aircraft, advanced sensors, cutting-edge weapons and innovative data systems.

By combining forces with Italy and Japan on the next phase of the programme, the UK will utilise their expertise, share costs and ensure the RAF remains interoperable with our closest partners. The project is expected to create high-skilled jobs in all three countries, strengthening our industrial base and driving innovation with benefits beyond pure military use.

The Prime Minister said:

The security of the United Kingdom, both today and for future generations, will always be of paramount importance to this Government.

That’s why we need to stay at the cutting-edge of advancements in defence technology – outpacing and out-manoeuvring those who seek to do us harm.

The international partnership we have announced today with Italy and Japan aims to do just that, underlining that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions are indivisible. The next-generation of combat aircraft we design will protect us and our allies around the world by harnessing the strength of our world-beating defence industry – creating jobs while saving lives.

It is anticipated that more likeminded countries may buy into GCAP in due course or collaborate on wider capabilities – boosting UK exports. The combat aircraft developed through GCAP is also expected to be compatible with other NATO partners’ fighter jets.

During a visit to RAF Coningsby today, the Prime Minister will view the Typhoon aircraft which have been at the heart of the UK’s air policing for two decades. The new combat aircraft designed by GCAP is expected to replace the Typhoon when it comes out of service. The Prime Minister will also meet Quick Reaction Alert Station engineers and pilots, who protect the UK’s skies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The UK, Italy and Japan will now work intensively to establish the core platform concept and set up the structures needed to deliver this massive defence project, ready to launch the development phase in 2025. Ahead of the development phase, partners will also agree the cost-sharing arrangements based on a joint assessment of costs and national budgets.

Alongside the development of the core future combat aircraft with Italy and Japan, the UK will assess our needs on any additional capabilities, for example weapons and Uncrewed Air Vehicles.

A report by PricewaterhouseCoopers last year, suggested the UK taking a core role in a combat air system could support an average of 21,000 jobs a year and contribute an estimated £26.2bn to the economy by 2050.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

This international partnership with Italy and Japan to create and design the next-generation of Combat Aircraft, represents the best collaboration of cutting edge defence technology and expertise shared across our nations, providing highly skilled jobs across the sector and long-term security for Britain and our allies.

GCAP sits alongside our other defence cooperation with international allies, including the AUKUS partnership and NATO – to which the UK remains the leading European contributor.

The UK defence industry is already leading the world in advanced aerospace engineering. At BAE Systems’ new ‘factory of the future’ in Lancashire, for example, the company is pioneering the use of advanced 3D printing and autonomous robotics in military aircraft.

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

Statement delivered by Ambassador Barbara Woodward to the UN General Assembly.

Mr. President,

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea – UNCLOS – is a major achievement of diplomacy and international law. It is a critical part of the rules-based international system.

It has made a significant contribution to global peace, prosperity and security by providing consistency and certainty about ocean governance. It provides the legal framework for all maritime activities. The United Kingdom is committed to upholding its rules and securing the implementation of its rights and obligations.

This legal framework applies in the South China Sea as it also applies across the rest of the world’s ocean and seas. In that context, the UK underlines importance of unhampered exercise of the freedoms of the high seas, in particular the freedom of navigation and overflight, and of the right of innocent passage enshrined in UNCLOS.

The UK recognises, however, that challenges to ocean governance remain. The UK recognises the particular concerns of the member countries of the Pacific Island Forum and Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) with respect to the stability of their maritime boundaries in the face of sea level rise.

Despite duties on States to protect marine environment, the health of the ocean has significantly degraded due to human action, including from industries directly regulated by UNCLOS.

The UK is a founding member of the Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Action Alliance launched and the UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon earlier this year.

As the leader of the Global Ocean Alliance, and Ocean co-chair of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature & People alongside Costa Rica and France, and a member of the High Ambition Coalition for Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) , the UK looks forward to the conclusion of an ambitious BBNJ Agreement at the resumed fifth session of the intergovernmental conference in February 2023.

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

Statement by Alice Jacobs, UK Deputy Political Coordinator at the UN, at the Security Council briefing on Central Africa.

Thank you President. Thank you also to the briefers, President of the Commission of ECCAS, and welcome to Special Representative Abarry. We look forward to working with you again in your new role and commend UNOCA’s ongoing efforts to support and promote peace, stability, and security in Central Africa.

President, I will make four points today.

First, as we look towards opportunities, elections in the sub-region are intrinsic to building and sustaining peace, as we have seen in Sao Tome et Principe and Angola. It is critical that political processes remain inclusive, peaceful and credible. UNOCA and its partners have an important role to play in supporting these processes, but it is up to member states to draw on that support and deliver democratic elections and inclusive transitional processes.

Second, the United Kingdom reiterates our support to Chad’s transition to civilian and constitutional rule. However, we remain concerned that the transition, as currently envisaged, contravenes the conditions set out in the African Union Peace and Security Council communiqué of 14 May 2021 that President Deby agreed to uphold.

We were saddened to see the eruption of violence in October and welcome the launch of an inquiry as well as your engagement, SRSG, with Heads of Missions in N’Djamena on this important issue. We urge UNOCA, ECCAS, and the Chadian government to ensure that the investigation is credible, transparent and independent. We also call on the Chadian government to ensure due legal process for the remaining individuals currently detained, including minors.

Third, a continuing challenge for the sub-region is the ongoing crises in Cameroon, and the dire humanitarian situation, which require urgent attention. The United Kingdom calls on all parties to engage in inclusive dialogue, and enable safe access to schools and humanitarian assistance.

Finally, I want to reiterate our concern for the ongoing violence in the Central African Republic and the distressing toll it is taking on the population. It compounds an already acute humanitarian situation and risks undermining progress on reconciliation. Targeting of civilians not only by armed groups, but by national forces and the Russian mercenary group, Wagner, continue to play a destabilising role in the country. We call on the Government of the CAR to conduct full and timely investigations into allegations of human rights violations and abuses, to ensure that all perpetrators are held to account

Thank you, President.