Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 November 2022.

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

Thank you President, and I thank ASG Pobee, Executive Secretary Tiare, and to Mr Usman for their briefings.

President, the regional picture in the Sahel is stark. Countries are facing unprecedented challenges with escalating violence, rising humanitarian needs and famine-like conditions. As always, it is ordinary people who suffer the most. The United Kingdom remains committed to supporting the people of the Sahel – last year we contributed around $355 million to the region.

However, if our collective response to these challenges is to be sustainable then the right conditions need to be in place.

Firstly, political will is needed to drive forward accountable governance, rule of law and justice. With three countries in the region now in the midst of political transitions, continued engagement with ECOWAS and the African Union is vital. We urge the Burkinabe, Chadian and Malian authorities to prepare for elections in open dialogue with civil society, including women and young people.

Second, effective counter-terrorism and respect for human rights must go hand in hand. To do otherwise risks aggravating grievances, undermining trust with local communities, and driving recruitment to terrorist groups. The harmful impact of Wagner Group operations on civilians in Mali and elsewhere on the continent is, by now, well documented. This is why Wagner will not succeed in Mali, and why they are not the right answer for any other country in the region.

We welcome the UN’s efforts to build the G5 Sahel Joint Force’s capacities for human rights compliance. But we urge the Joint Force to implement the mitigation measures identified under Human Rights Due Diligence assessments, as a condition of MINUSMA’s support.

Finally, President, like others we look forward to the outcome of the Independent High Level Panel Strategic Assessment on the Sahel. We also look forward to the forthcoming discussions in the region on the Accra Initiative. Together these will help us to identify how best to work together to support regional security.

The United Kingdom remains committed to helping address the Sahel’s challenges through a holistic approach, with accountable governance and human rights at its heart. Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 November 2022.

Thank you President, and I would like to thank SRSG Bathily for taking time away from his important engagement with Libyan stakeholders to brief the Council today. I welcome your continued engagement with all Libyan stakeholders, including women and youth, across the country.

Let me once again express the United Kingdom’s support for SRSG Bathily and his efforts to reinvigorate Libya’s stalled peace process. Stability in Libya can only be achieved through a UN-facilitated, Libyan-led and owned process that leads to Parliamentary and Presidential elections as soon as possible. All Libyan parties have an obligation to work with SRSG Bathily to achieve this and deliver elections for the Libyan people.

We are concerned by reports that armed groups prevented a meeting of the High State Council in Tripoli yesterday. Any attempt to obstruct civilian institutions from carrying out their responsibilities is unacceptable.

President, the United Kingdom reaffirms our commitment to working with Libya and our international partners to secure peace, stability and prosperity for Libya. The unanimous adoption of the 12-month UNSMIL mandate renewal was a welcome demonstration of the Council’s support, and I look forward to engaging with SRSG Bathily again during the mandated Council meeting next month.

And I thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 November 2022.

Deputy Ambassador Deirdre Brown highlights the importance of women’s economic empowerment at OSCE’s Economic and Environmental Dimension Implementation Meeting.

Thank you, Mister Chair,

It cannot be overstated how vital women’s economic participation is to countries’ economic development, and how valuable women’s economic inclusion is for maintaining peace in post-conflict settings. Today’s meeting is a clear signal of the importance of the topic.

Women and girls are at the heart of the UK’s approach to economic development. We integrate gender provisions into our Free Trade Agreements; partner with G7 Finance Institutions to mobilise investments for women in developing markets; and our Work and Opportunities for Women programme has helped over a hundred thousand women access better jobs and improved working conditions in global value chains.

Over the years OSCE participating States have collectively committed to several important decisions on women’s economic participation; notably in 2011 when we expressed our concern about women’s continued inequality in labour markets; and in 2017 when we recognised the significant contribution of women’s economic empowerment to economic development and cohesive societies.

But these commitments cannot be fulfilled when those we seek to empower are forced to flee bullets and bombs.

Mister Chair, it is currently, the women of Ukraine who are facing some of the greatest threats to their economic empowerment in the OSCE region.

Since Russia launched their war of aggression on 24 February, over 7 million refugees have fled Ukraine, over 90% of whom are reportedly women and children; a further 6 million are internally displaced, including women and children in need of medical care.

Russia’s war has done significant damage to the Ukrainian economy, with inflation forecast to exceed 30% by the end of this year and a public sector funding gap of 38 billion dollars. As we saw during the COVID pandemic, economic shocks hit the most vulnerable hardest, particularly those in more precarious employment; those who cannot work remotely; or those with childcare responsibilities. Women are disproportionately represented in these groups.

To help, the UK has so far provided around 400 million pounds in economic and humanitarian grants to ensure the continued running of vital humanitarian services for Ukrainians. Furthermore the UK’s Good Governance Fund is supporting Ukrainian SMEs to relocate and resume operations in Poland, helping them navigate the legal requirements of operating there. All our programmes mainstream gender equality; and we have also been supporting refugees to access financial services outside Ukraine.

Ukraine’s recovery from Russia’s war of aggression will be a symbol of the power of freedom and democracy over autocracy. But the extent of Russian destruction means Ukraine needs international support to rebuild. At the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano in July, the UK reaffirmed its support for Ukraine’s reconstruction. Among other assistance, the UK has provided guarantees unlocking £1.35 billion of World Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) lending to Ukraine. We look forward to hosting the second Ukraine Recovery Conference next year and a continued focus on women’s economic empowerment at the OSCE.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 November 2022.

• Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will sign new agreement with Cypriot Foreign Minister Kasoulides to enhance UK-Cyprus cooperation.
• The ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ (MOU) will boost collaboration on foreign policy, security, science, climate and trade.
• The UK and Cyprus will work together to respond to shared threats such as global warming and the Ukraine crisis.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will meet Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides of the Republic of Cyprus in London today (Tuesday 15 November) to sign a new agreement for closer bilateral relations between the two countries.

The ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ will increase foreign policy, security, economic and educational ties between the UK and Cyprus.  It will support joint cooperation on urgent global challenges such as climate change and Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

The modern UK-Cyprus relationship is defined by our shared history, our common values, and our mutual ambition for the future – underpinned by our close people-to-people links.

This agreement will boost research collaboration between our universities and increase opportunities for trade in professional services, shipping and green growth.

To ensure implementation of the agreement, the UK and the Republic of Cyprus will hold regular consultations to assess progress, exchange information and propose new areas for joint cooperation.

After the MOU signing, Foreign Minister Kasoulides will attend a lunch hosted by Lord Ahmad, Minister of State for the UN.

The UK and Cyprus have just celebrated 62 years of bilateral relations and share strong people-to-people links, with 300,000 Cypriots residing in the UK and approximately one million Brits visiting Cyprus every year.

Both countries will continue to work closely together for a just and lasting solution to the Cyprus settlement process within the UN parameters.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2022.

Statement delivered by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN General Assembly discussion on a resolution on remedy and reparation for aggression against Ukraine.

Thank you President.

Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine, including its attacks on civilians, schools, hospitals and power supplies, has caused and continues to cause immense damage and loss to Ukraine and its people.

In contrast, the scenes of relief and joy we have seen as Ukrainian civilians in Kherson greet the liberating Armed Forces of Ukraine should leave us in no doubt at the cruel and destructive nature of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

It will take a broad international effort to support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction in order to build a safe and prosperous future for the Ukrainian people.

But only one country, Russia, is responsible for the damage to Ukraine and it is absolutely right, as this resolution sets out, that Russia pay for that damage. Russia must be held to account for actions which are in clear violation of international law, including the UN Charter.

The United Kingdom supports Ukraine’s ambition to establish a register of damage to ensure that the evidence of the destruction caused by Russia is documented and preserved. This is an important first step in Ukrainian efforts to seek justice in accordance with international law. It is right that we begin that process now.

Putin must end his war of choice, end the lies and distortion, end the global devastation in its wake, and withdraw his troops from Ukraine.

We remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine, and for justice and compensation for the damage which Russia has caused. Thank you President.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2022.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the Security Council briefing on the situation in the Central African Republic.

Thank you, President.

The United Kingdom welcomes the renewal of MINUSCA’s mandate and thanks France for its efforts as penholder to reconcile differing views of Council members.

Delegations made difficult compromises.

The United Kingdom is disappointed by the loss of agreed Responsibility to Protect language. But we maintain that the Government of the Central African Republic remains primarily responsible for the protection of all civilians from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, and that this issue will remain a key factor in future conversations.

This mandate renewal takes place in a difficult political and security context, and MINUSCA itself is facing significant challenges. But the Mission retains a key role in helping to build long-term peace in the Central African Republic. And while we recognise the views expressed by our A3 partners and welcome recent overall reductions in violations of the Status of Forces Agreement, we remain deeply concerned by night flight restrictions imposed by the government.

Such restrictions limit MINUSCA’s ability to implement its mandate and jeopardise the safety and security of peacekeepers and of civilians. We support new language in the mandate to address this critical issue. And we call on the authorities to ensure MINUSCA’s freedom of movement, with unhindered and immediate access throughout the territory of the Central African Republic, including by air and at night, as set out in the Mission’s Status of Forces Agreement.

President, with this mandate MINUSCA can continue to provide effective support to long-term stability in the country. It is now up to the government to deliver on their stated commitments: to protect civilians and human rights; to take definitive steps on the peace agreement; and to uphold MINUSCA’s freedom of movement.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2022.

A new agreement between the Governments of Montserrat and the United Kingdom comprises a protection against exchange rate fluctuations for the UK’s contribution to Montserrat’s annual recurrent budget, and new capital investments for essential equipment.

Recurrent Budget support

• The recent fluctuations in exchange rate and continued pressure on the cost of living has meant a reduction in real terms to the cash value of the UK’s support for Montserrat’s recurrent budget.
• In recognition of this, the UK Government has agreed to an uplift of up to £4.72m to ensure that Montserrat is protected for the rest of this financial year from currency exchange impacts; to enable continued delivery of public services for the people of Montserrat.
• This will enable the delivery of essential services which otherwise would have been at risk.
• However, there is still a need to prioritise spending in what are challenging economic times.

Governor Sarah Tucker expressed her thanks to the FCDO and UK Government for offering this much needed additional support to Montserrat during these exceptional times.

Referring to the budget support, Honourable Premier, Joseph Farrell said:

On behalf of the government and people of Montserrat I wish to express my sincere thanks to the FCDO and the United Kingdom Government for providing the additional funds towards our 2022/23 financial aid package, these monies will allow the government to continue providing essential services to the people on island.

Capital support

• The UK Government has agreed to provide an additional £3 million of funding for essential equipment.
• Specifically, this money will provide a foam fire engine for the airport, a new two megawatt generator to provide greater resilience to the Montserrat Utilities Limited’s (MUL) energy provision across Montserrat, and additional health service support including a CT scanner, 3D mammography unit, oxygen generator, emergency room and incubator equipment, and a medical incinerator. Procurement work will be completed by the end of this financial year.

Her Excellency the Governor, Sarah Tucker, said:

This new additional support will enable a more resilient power source, whilst we continue to develop greener energy alternatives, ensure our fire officers have the equipment they need to keep us safe, and, very importantly, bring forward the ability to offer CT scans and mammography here in Montserrat, enabling faster diagnosis and therefore faster more effective care.

Deputy Director of the Overseas Territories Directorate, Adam Pile, said:

This additional funding demonstrates the UK Government’s continued commitment to Montserrat, I am delighted that additional support has been provided for capital equipment and that we are able to protect Montserrat from the exchange rate volatility this year. Credit is due to the Financial Secretary and her team for all of their continued hard work and support.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2022.

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

Thank you President. My thanks here to Under-Secretary-General Lacroix, and to all our briefers for the presentations today. And let me take the opportunity to thank all our UN Police forces for their essential work in sometimes really tough conditions.

I am pleased today’s discussion is focusing on A4P and A4P+. UN Police have an important role to play in delivering whole-of-mission approaches to these reform priorities. So I will focus on the areas covered by the two Police Commissioners – protection of civilians and performance.

First, I thank Commissioner Fossen for her invaluable insight into implementing a protection of civilians mandate in UNMISS. We can sometimes forget when talking about Protection of Civilians how important unarmed approaches are. Of course, it is only part of the picture, and both armed and unarmed activity complement each other. We must consider the full range of tools to prevent and respond to civilian threats.

Peacekeepers need not only to protect civilians from physical violence, but provide a protective environment, and the space for mediation and dialogue. UNPOL are uniquely placed for this task. They are often the first and the last to meet with the local population during any intervention or response to a crisis. They need to establish strong relationships with those populations founded on trust.

Secondly, President, on performance. I thank Commissioner Berethe for speaking to this point in the MONUSCO context. Operating in any mission environment has its challenges, but MONUSCO is arguably one of the most challenging, as demonstrated by increased violence directed toward the Mission in recent months.

The UK welcomes the ongoing implementation of the Integrated Peacekeeping Performance and Accountability Framework and of CPAS to monitor and evaluate performance and review progress against mandate implementation. Better performance means better missions.

For UNPOL to operate and perform at its best, it needs to deliver the full range of policing roles it is mandated to fill. This should include capacity-building and development efforts of host-State police and justice and corrections institutions.

In line with the findings of the 2016 External Review of UNPOL, there could be more focus on institution building and specialist capabilities, not simply the number of personnel deployed. It is these skills that support sustainable peace and restoration of the Rule of Law.

Finally Mr President, our briefers and many speakers today have underlined the importance of the contribution UNPOL makes to the Women, Peace, and Security agenda. The UK strongly supports this, and welcomes the progress made to date.

We look forward to continuing to work together to strengthen UNPOL to deliver on its full potential. I thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2022.

The world faces acute food and nutrition challenges. Conflict, climate change and the lasting impacts of COVID-19 are having devastating effects on local and global food systems and the people who rely on them. Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine has significantly worsened these challenges and vulnerabilities.

The European Union, the United States of America and the United Kingdom, alongside other G7 members and our international partners, are at the forefront of global efforts to address food insecurity that is affecting millions of vulnerable people in developing countries, whilst also driving up living costs in our own countries.

We have always been clear that the target of our sanctions is Russia’s war machine and not the food or fertiliser sectors. To that end, we have provided clarity to industry and partners. This includes the UK’s publication of a General Licence, the US General Licence 6B; as well as updated and detailed EU guidance . These provisions make clear that banks, insurers, shippers, and other actors can continue to bring Russian food and fertiliser to the world.

We call on our global partners, and on the actors, industries and services involved in agricultural trade, to take note of these provisions; to act in accordance with them; to bring Ukrainian and Russian food and fertiliser to meet acute demand; and to continue to advance the accessibility of food to all.

We reiterate our call on all countries to demonstrate their support for the Black Sea Grain Initiative. We call on the parties to the Initiative to extend its term and scale up its operations to meet the evident demand. And we reiterate our support for other efforts by the United Nations to facilitate access to food and fertiliser in global markets.

Overall, we are united in our commitment and resolve to address food insecurity. We are working to meet humanitarian needs, keep food and fertilisers moving, provide emergency funding, improve resilience, and to accelerate the transition to sustainable food systems to withstand future challenges. We are taking action alongside partners to mobilise the international community, including through the UN-led Global Crisis Response Group (GCRG) on Food, Energy and Finance, the G7 Global Alliance for Food Security (GAFS), the Roadmap – Call to Action and the EU-led Solidarity Lanes.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 November 2022.

The UK and international partners have announced coordinated sanctions on Iranian officials who are leading the violent repression of protests in Iran.

Protests continue across Iran following the tragic death of 22 year old Mahsa Amini, in the custody of Iran’s so-called Morality Police, who were sanctioned by the UK on 10 October. The Iranian authorities have responded to the protests with violence, reportedly killing hundreds and injuring thousands of others.

The Foreign Secretary has announced the UK will designate Communications Minister Issa Zarepour and a range of local law enforcement and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officials who have been involved in and ordered the crackdown on protests.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

These sanctions target officials within the Iranian regime who are responsible for heinous human rights violations.

Together with our partners, we have sent a clear message to the Iranian regime – the violent crackdown on protests must stop and freedom of expression must be respected.

The Iranian people could not be clearer. It’s time for the regime to stop blaming external actors and start listening to the voices of their people.

Zarepour and Vahid Mohammad Naser Majid (chief of Iran’s Cyber Police) have been designated for shutting down the internet in Iran, including disabling Whatsapp and Instagram, and banning the use of the Google Play app and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

Their actions are part of a wider clampdown on freedom of expression in Iran which has included the arrest and detention of more than 40 journalists and Iranian girls being sent to ‘psychological centres’ for protesting for their right to choose what to wear, according to regime officials.

22 other Iranian political and security officials are designated today in response to the continued brutal violence aimed at protestors, in provinces including:

• Sistan and Baluchestan – On 30 September, over 80 people were reportedly killed in the city of Zahedan. Today the UK has sanctioned Ahmad Taheri (former chief of the Law Enforcement Force in Sistan and Baluchestan), Mahmoud Saadati (former chief of the Law Enforcement Force in Zahedan), Hossein Maroufi (deputy co-ordinator of mobilization of the IRGC in Sistan and Baluchestan), Ahmad Shafahi (commander of the IRGC Salman Corps in Sistan and Baluchestan) and Hossein Modarres Khiabani (governor of Sistan and Baluchestan).
• Kurdistan – Protests have been brutally cracked down across the province, including in the cities of Sanandaj and Mahsa Amini’s hometown of Saqqez. Today the UK has sanctioned Ali Azadi (chief of the Law Enforcement Force in Kurdistan), Ali Reza Moradi (chief of the Law Enforcement Force in Sanandaj), Ali Sayd Safari (chief of the Law Enforcement Force in Saqqez), Abbas Abdi (chief of the Law Enforcmeent Force in Divandarreh), Sereng Hossein Rajabpour (Basij commander in Bijar), Morteza Mir Aghaei (Basij commander in Sanandaj), Esmaeil Zarei Kousha (governor of Kurdistan) and Sardar Seyed Sadegh Hosseini (senior commander of the IRGC in Kurdistan).
• Tehran – At Sharif University in Tehran, Iranian security services used live rounds and tear gas against students, barricading them inside the university building. Today the UK has sanctioned Hossein Rahimi (chief of the Law Enforcement Force in Tehran) and Hasan Hassanzadeh (senior commander of the IRGC in Tehran)

These sanctions will ensure that the individuals on the list cannot travel to the UK and any of their assets held in the UK will be frozen.

The UK has already designated a number of high-ranking security and political figures, as well as the Morality Police, for their roles in protests in Iran.

The Foreign Secretary also summoned the Iranian Chargé d’Affaires last week to make clear that the UK does not tolerate threats from foreign nations against individuals here.