Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 26 November 2022.

Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family, including food.

We strongly believe that this right, not a privilege, is inalienable for all people, for all countries along with the right to life and liberty. Every country must be reliably protected from famine.

At the same time, any state that provokes famine and tries to make access to food a privilege must face the toughest reaction from the world.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the world market has received 10 million tonnes of agricultural products less than in the same period last year. This means that the food security of millions of people around the world is seriously threatened.

These are just the initial consequences of the Russian blockade of the Ukrainian ports and Russia’s attempts to use missile strikes to prevent Ukraine from building new export logistics. Moscow’s actions deserve strong condemnation and must result in bringing those responsible to account.

However, even in such conditions, Ukraine in cooperation with international partners is actively engaged in search for ways to provide agricultural products to those in need. In particular, by supporting Somalia, Ethiopia, the Republic of the Sudan, Yemen, Kenya and Nigeria, and continuing grain exports to Africa, Asia, Europe, and the American continent.

Ukraine has always been and remains a reliable contributor to global food supplies and partner of the UN World Food Programme, supporting, in the spirit of global solidarity, efforts aimed at achieving food security and improved nutrition throughout the world.

Taking into consideration that approximately 70 million socially unprotected people, particularly from Africa and Asia, are at risk of hunger according to the UN statistics,

noting the fact of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, which will cause food insecurity for millions of people around the world, with Africa suffering the most,

pointing out the deliberate months-long blockade of Ukraine’s ports by Russia, which has put hundreds of millions of people around the world on the verge of hunger, as well as Russia’s repeated attempts to block the Black Sea Grain Initiative to continue blackmailing the world with interrupting the food supplies to achieve its aggressive and revisionist aims, emphasizing the role of Ukraine as an essential guarantor to the global food security and the effective operation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has sent more than 10 million tonnes of grain worldwide, including the countries that were most affected by hunger,

We underscore the necessity to act persistently and in coordination to achieve the goals of the 2021 Food Systems Summit, as well as to respond to immediate humanitarian needs and build more resilient agriculture and food systems.

We recall the United Nations General Assembly resolution “State of Global Food Insecurity” adopted on 23 May 2022 that called on the international community to urgently support countries affected by the food security crisis through coordinated action.

We welcome the initiative of the Secretary-General to establish a Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy, and Finance; and call upon Member States and other relevant stakeholders to support the functioning of food, agriculture supply chains and keep trade channels and markets open for the deliveries of food.

We welcome the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes, which have facilitated the export of over 17 million tonnes of Ukrainian agricultural goods since May by road, rail and through Black Sea and Danube ports. Together, the Solidarity Lanes and the Black Sea grain initiative have taken more than 28 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain, oilseeds and related products to world markets, including to the countries most in need. We welcome the further boosting of the Solidarity Lanes by the European Commission, working with partner Financial Institutions (the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the World Bank), which have mobilised EUR 1 billion of additional funding.

We condemn Russia’s aggression aimed at the destruction of the civil infrastructure of Ukraine and global food security.

We strongly urge the Russian Federation to stop its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine and to restore its territorial integrity by fully withdrawing all military units from entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

We call for support of attempts of Ukraine, Türkiye, and the UN to prolong the Black Sea Grain Initiative and continue to provide food supplies for the countries that are most affected by hunger.

We welcome continuous joint efforts of the international community to prioritize global food security and to support multilateral efforts in finding acceptable solutions to the crisis.

With this aim, today we support the initiative of Ukraine and we are launching the Humanitarian Program “Grain from Ukraine” which will establish the framework to deliver Ukrainian food to the countries of Africa and Asia, which are most affected by hunger.

We set an ambitious and important goal for ourselves and invite other states and socially responsible businesses to support the implementation of this Humanitarian Program, particularly by financing the shipment of grain for the needs of Africa and Asia.

We are convinced that we will jointly overcome the grave humanitarian and economic consequences of the global food crisis caused by Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 December 2022.

The United Kingdom is contributing an additional £4.5 million to sustain the Rohingya refugee response in Bangladesh, lifting its funding from the start of the crisis in August 2017 to a total of £345 million. This additional support to WFP (£3m) and UNICEF (£1.5m) will provide food, water, sanitation, and child protection to Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.

British High Commissioner Robert Chatterton Dickson said

“The UK remains committed to supporting Rohingya refugees and their host communities in Bangladesh. This new UK assistance will provide vital food, water, sanitation, and protection to Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.

“The UK continues to push for a long-term solution that will enable the Rohingya to return to Myanmar on a safe, voluntary and dignified basis, when the conditions there allow. We will continue to provide support to the Rohingya whilst they remain in Bangladesh.”

This new UK support will provide

• Food assistance to 219,000 Rohingya refugees
• Water, sanitation and hygiene facilities for 46,000 Rohingya refugees
• 8,500 menstrual hygiene kits for Rohingya women and adolescent girls
• Protection support to 1,500 children and adolescents from the refugee camps and host communities

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

Statement delivered by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council briefing on Ukraine.

Thank you President and I thank the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs for her briefing.

President, I will be brief because we discussed Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine just three days ago.

During that meeting, we heard Under-Secretary-General Griffiths’ harrowing account of the horrific consequences of Russia’s war and his deep concerns about the impacts of systematic attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and civilian centres, particularly ahead of winter. We have just seen further OHCHR reporting on potential atrocities against civilians committed by Russia.

The irony, given the topic of this meeting, is that Russia is perpetrating this war with weapons sourced from Iran in violation of resolution 2231, and is almost certainly seeking to source weaponry from other UN sanctioned states like North Korea as its own stocks dwindle.

We note that despite the resounding calls in this Council again on Tuesday for a ceasefire, and for peace, meaningful dialogue and diplomacy, the Russian President on Wednesday doubled-down, confirming that the invasion would continue and that it would be protracted. He also reaffirmed the neo-imperialist nature of the campaign, claiming that unlike Peter the Great, he had made the Sea of Azov a Russian internal sea.

President, in the face of Russia’s relentless effort to seize Ukraine’s territory in breach of the UN Charter, and to dehumanise, kill and subjugate its people, Ukraine has no choice but to exercise its right to defend itself. If it does not, it would cease to exist. In a similar situation, all of us would do the same. And due to the deep determination to live, Ukraine is prevailing.

The UK is proud of the support it is providing to the Ukrainian people in the face of this aggression, be it defensive, humanitarian or assistance to rebuild critical infrastructure destroyed by Russian attacks.

President, Russia can end this suffering immediately by ceasing attacks against Ukraine, including critical national infrastructure and innocent civilians, and withdrawing all of its forces illegally present in Ukraine.

We welcome and support Ukraine’s initiative for a just and sustainable peace. We again join the international community in calling on Russia to similarly commit to meaningful dialogue and negotiations based on upholding Ukraine’s rights under international law and the UN Charter.

Thank you President.

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.