Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 September 2022.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East peace process.

Thank you President, and I thank Special Coordinator Wennesland for his helpful but sobering briefing.

Let me start by welcoming both Prime Minister Lapid and President Abbas’ support for a two-state solution, during their speeches to the General Assembly last week. The UK firmly believes that a two-state solution, based on 1967 lines, with Jerusalem as a shared capital and a just solution for refugees is the best way to deliver long-term peace.

The challenges facing a two-state solution however remain significant. We share deep concerns about the deteriorating security situation in the West Bank. And we urge all parties to reduce tensions and avoid de-stabilising unilateral actions.

We urge Israel not to proceed with demolitions at Masafer Yatta, which would cause unnecessary suffering, and are against international law in all but the most exceptional circumstances.

We unequivocally condemn the execution of five Gazans by Hamas this month. The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances.

In the West Bank, in 2022 more Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the UN started recording fatalities in 2005. The UK remains fully supportive of Israel’s right to self-defence, but where there are accusations of excessive use of force, we advocate swift, transparent investigations.

We are appalled too by terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens. Such attacks cannot be justified.

We appreciate Norway’s leadership in convening the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee this month. We welcome progress on economic measures, including the electronic payment of Palestinian workers in Israel, and work ensuring the continued success of E-Vat. However, bolder and faster action is needed to deliver real economic change in the OPTs. TThe UK is committed to supporting another meeting of the Joint Economic Committee as soon as possible.

We also thank Jordan and Sweden for hosting a Ministerial meeting in support of UNRWA. The UK is a long-standing financial and political supporter of UNRWA, and we welcome UNRWA’s continued support to Palestinian refugees across the region. We encourage further dialogue among partners to ensure delivery on UNRWA’s mandate.

In conclusion President,

Peace will only be achieved only through meaningful dialogue between the parties, which tackles the drivers of instability and violence in the immediate term. We encourage further and deeper engagement towards this goal.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 September 2022.

Commenting on Iranian attacks on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Minister of State for the Middle East, South Asia, UN and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, said:

Iran must cease its indiscriminate bombardment of Kurdish towns which has led to the loss of innocent lives and damaged civilian infrastructure. These attacks are a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and are wholly unacceptable. They demonstrate a repeated pattern of Iranian destabilising activity in the region.

We stand with the Kurdistan Regional Government in condemning these attacks and will continue to support the sovereignty and security of Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 September 2022.

Joanna Hamer MBE (UK Ministry of Defence) highlights the importance of the Women, Peace and Security agenda at the OSCE, and outlines UK government actions.

I would like to thank Her Excellency Hadja Lahbib and the four panellists for their interventions. Hugely informative to the discussion today.

Mr Chair, as Colonel Romanova has so eloquently set out, the conflict in Ukraine has underlined the ongoing importance of today’s topic. We have already heard of the thousands of women serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend their homeland, of whom many are serving at or near the frontlines. Beyond service in the armed forces, in times of war, women are often the first responders, stepping up to organise and serve their communities. This is true in Ukraine, where women have been instrumental to the humanitarian, political, and security efforts in the defence of their country, including the collection of evidence to help bring the perpetrators of war crimes to account. The world has watched in horror as overwhelming evidence has emerged of heinous atrocities committed by the Russian Armed Forces against civilians, a large majority of them women. The UK has committed up to £2.5m this year to support Ukraine to deliver justice for these crimes, including sexual violence, through the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group.

The UK is determined to ensure the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in our own Armed Forces. Women have served in the British Armed Forces for over a century. Since 2016, women have been able to serve in Ground Close Combat roles. And since 2018 they have been able to serve in any Armed Forces role, including that of the Special Forces. And as of last year, around sixteen thousand women are serving in the UK Regular Armed Forces – about 11% of the total strength. And of that 13.6% of women officers. Our Ministry of Defence has set a Level of Ambition to achieve a 30% inflow of women to the Armed Forces by 2030 – but this recognises that this must be combined with a greater focus on retention, inclusion and advancement into leadership positions. Following the report last year by the Defence Sub-Committee on Women in the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence has enacted new measures. I would just like to highlight three of these today:

Firstly, the Ministry published three new measures in July on preventing and addressing sexual exploitation. The Ministry has combined these with new trainings, transforming the Service Complaints Reform, setting up an independent Defence Service Crimes Unit and publishing statistics to improve transparency. Tackling all types of harassment, including sexual harassment, is important to creating an inclusive working environment.

Secondly, the Servicewomen’s Health Improvement Focus Team (SHIFT) was established to deliver key women’s health policies and initiatives. This ranges from procuring personal hygiene products, to starting a conversation through a series of blogs on women’s health – normalising discussion of women’s health topics. This conversation has supported the wellbeing of servicewomen, and helped others to better understand and support their colleagues.

Thirdly, all branches of the Armed Forces have made amendments to the uniform and clothing that address women’s sizing, body shape and body changes. This includes the development of the Narrow Scalable Tactical Vest (STV) and is part of UK efforts to ensure that our soldiers’ body armour is fit for purpose, improves comfort and represents the modern UK military, where men and women serve on equal terms.

Mr Chair, the UK is transparent about our national efforts and provides full information, including in our National Action Plan. The UK will launch its fifth National Action Plan later this year, in which will continue the important tradition of reporting to the UK Parliament. This transparency is also critical at the international level to hold us all to account. Our annual voluntary report on Women, Peace and Security under the OSCE’s Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security is an important method of sharing information and best practice on an issue where we can all learn from each other.

Mr. Chair, I wish to conclude by highlighting again the importance of the Women Peace and Security Agenda. As experience has taught us, the full, equal and meaningful participation of women leads to better outcomes during and after conflicts. The joint statement supported by 53 of the 57 participating States at the Ministerial Council last year shows the overwhelming support for doing so. And as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reminds us daily – we have a clear moral and practical imperative to act.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 September 2022.

The Foreign Secretary’s visit will focus on boosting trade, increasing security and strengthening the ties of friendship between the UK and Korea. It is his first trip to Korea since his appointment as Foreign Secretary earlier this month.

Speaking from Seoul, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said:

South Korea is a trusted friend in the region and important trading partner for the UK. We have a shared understanding of global threats and a commitment to work together to increase security and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific.

The bilateral framework sets our ambition to elevate our relationship to a new level on our shared values and mutual interests, benefiting both countries.

During his visit, the Foreign Secretary will meet President Yoon Suk-yeol, reaffirming the close ties of friendship between the UK and Korea. He is expected to express thanks on behalf of the British people for the recent attendance of the President and First Lady at the funeral of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

As part of the existing bilateral framework, Cleverly will engage in a Strategic Dialogue with Foreign Minister Park Jin, covering UK-Republic of Korea cooperation on global security and economic issues including Ukraine, Russia and China.

The Foreign Secretary will also tour the Joint Security Area of the Demilitarized Zone with Lt Gen Andy Harrison, Deputy Commander of UN Command in Korea.

After concluding his visit to Korea, the Foreign Secretary will travel to Singapore for the final leg of his trip.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 September 2022.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

Mr. President,

Russia’s holding of sham referenda in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions of Ukraine is an egregious violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and of the principles of the UN Charter.

As the UN told us today, this process is both illegal and illegitimate.

It is a shameless propaganda effort aimed at justifying Russia’s illegal presence on sovereign Ukrainian territory.

We have seen Russia’s referendum playbook before in Crimea. We see it playing out again now: disinformation, intimidation and fabrication.

As my Foreign Secretary told the Council last week, we know that President Putin is planning to rig the outcome.

These are regions that voted overwhelmingly to join an independent Ukraine in 1991 and to back President Zelenskyy in 2019.

When given a free vote, their choice has been clear: to be part of a free, independent, democratic Ukraine.

Since invading, Russia’s control in these regions has been through violence, torture, filtration and forced deportation.

We’ve all seen images of soldiers with automatic rifles accompanying the ballots as they move from door to door, forcing Ukrainians to take part.

Any referenda held under these conditions, at the barrel of a gun, can never be remotely close to free or fair.

And the very idea that a referendum on a fundamental question could be held at three days’ notice in the middle of a war zone is frankly farcical.

We must all unequivocally reject these illegitimate actions and Russian attempts to illegally annex Ukrainian territory. And support the draft resolution the US and Albania have brought forward today.

Colleagues, this is a critical moment. There is no middle ground. No member of the United Nations should turn a blind eye to Russia tearing up the principles of the UN Charter.

If we allow Russia to believe it can change sovereign borders by force, then the entire system on which we base our shared safety and security is under threat.

These Potemkin referenda, as well as Putin’s decision to mobilise Russian men to fight in his illegal war, are admissions that his invasion is failing.

Instead of sending thousands more of his own citizens to their death and inflicting further destruction on Ukraine, he should end this senseless war today.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 September 2022.

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

Thank you President,

I join others in thanking Deputy Special Representative Potzel, Ghada Waly, Executive Director, and Ms Fawzia Koofi for their sobering briefings and also UNAMA and the Secretary-General for his quarterly report.

As we’ve heard, nearly 60% of the population of Afghanistan officially requires humanitarian assistance, but the true need is much higher.

The World Bank predicts GDP will have contracted by one third by the end of this year, and the Taliban continues increased restrictions on human rights and fundamental freedoms.

I cannot speak more eloquently than Fawzia Koofi did about the restrictions on freedom of movement that women and girls face – the political, economic, educational and social exclusion that they face.

UNICEF estimates the ban on schooling for girls has cost the Afghan economy at least $500 million during the last year. But the human cost for each of these Afghan girls is immeasurable.

President,

Some Council Members appear determined to politicise the crisis in Afghanistan, and I think their assertions are neither accurate nor helpful.

The UK disbursed $306 million in humanitarian and development assistance for Afghanistan last financial year, and we have committed a further $306 million this financial year.

We are the second largest donor to the World Bank’s Afghanistan Reconstruction Fund, and we continue to work with the World Bank, IMF and others on economic stabilisation.

We recognise the importance of restoring liquidity to the banking system, including a functioning Central Bank able to access Afghanistan’s overseas reserves. But this requires an independent Central Bank operating transparently with professional leadership and proper controls in place to prevent funds being diverted to terrorism.

Calling for reserves simply to be returned before these essential steps are in place is neither responsible nor compatible with a genuine commitment to stopping terrorist financing.

President,

Humanitarian and financial support can help, but it will not resolve Afghanistan’s problems unless the fundamental building blocks for stability are put in place. To do this, the Taliban must uphold, rather than repress human rights, allow unhindered humanitarian access, meet counter-terrorism commitments made in the Doha Agreement, and they must take responsibility for stabilizing the economy.

This means creating an enabling environment for greater investment, including ensuring transparency on revenue and budget, and enabling women – half of the population – to contribute to economic activity.

Finally President,

I take the opportunity to welcome the appointment of Special Representative Otunbayeva. It is vital for Afghanistan’s future that the Taliban cooperate with her and the UN, and we urge all members of the Council to support her as she implements UNAMA’s critical mandate.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 September 2022.

• Team of experts from the United Kingdom carried out the workshop “Response to marine pollution: preparedness and best practices from the United Kingdom” with Peruvian authorities.
• More than 50 representatives from Peru’s environmental, fisheries, and coast guard sectors actively participated in the four-day workshop.

Lima, 26th September. – Between 20 and 23 September, a team of UK-based pollution response experts from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), delivered the workshop “Marine Pollution Response: preparedness and best practise from the UK”, with Peruvian Governmental authorities.

This 4-day workshop brought together over 50 representatives from Peruvian environment, fisheries and coastguard sectors, including officers from the Minister of Environment, the National Park Service and coastal municipalities. With the support of colleagues from British Embassy in Lima, the UK delegation shared lessons learned from historic UK incidents and discussed key legislation and preparedness principles to ensure an effective and timely response to marine pollution incidents.

The workshop also covered a range of topics including response options, use of satellite and drone technology, socio-economic impacts of spills, evaluating impacts to marine birds and marine mammals, post-spill monitoring and hydrocarbon analysis and fingerprinting. It also included presentations from UK Deputy to the Secretary of State’s Representative for Maritime and Salvage, and sessions from oiled wildlife response organisation Aiuka.

Bethany Graves, from the JNCC, said:

It’s a pleasure to be here, sharing UK experience and knowledge and working closely with Peruvian Governmental agencies to explore opportunities to be better prepared. We have had an excellent week of workshops with good engagement and discussions.

We’re grateful for the British Embassy Lima’s help in the organisation of the workshop and we are glad to see that all who attended found it useful.

The workshop concluded with a table-top exercise in which lessons learned from the previous days were tested and cemented. After this workshop, the UK team will prepare a ‘Recommendations for better Readiness’ report to hand over in the next few months. This will include comments on Peru’s National Contingency Plan and key gaps in preparedness as identified in the workshop (and shared from Peru agencies).

The British Ambassador to Peru, Gavin Cook added:

The oil spill off Lima was a wake-up call. But it’s one the Peruvian government is responding to, in both managing the aftermath of the disaster and thinking longer-term. The UK is proud to be supporting this alongside our broad environmental work in Peru.

British expertise has a huge amount to offer – especially in the use of technology – and we look forward to continuing to share best practice and drive change.

The workshop was delivered under the Ocean Country Partnership Programme, a UK-led programme funded through the UK government’s £500 million Blue Planet Fund, which aims to help eligible countries reduce poverty, through supporting the sustainable management of their marine environment.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 September 2022.

Ambassador Neil Bush highlights the importance of inclusive, democratic institutions and accountable governments at OSCE’s Warsaw Human Dimension Conference.

Thank you, Madam Moderator,

The United Kingdom believes that inclusive, democratic institutions and accountable governments are the foundations on which open, stable and prosperous societies thrive. Societies with the full participation of women and marginalised groups and equal rights for all. Resilient, responsive, and representative.

And yet, we have seen authoritarian influence on the rise in states across the OSCE region leading to democratic backsliding, restrictions to civic space and the rollback of rights.

Where human rights abuses go unchecked, we see the seeds of conflict sown, often with devastating consequences for communities and nations. The absence of democratic freedoms and equality, good governance and the rule of law also impedes nations’ prosperity, deters international investment, restricts innovation, and reduces opportunities.

The work of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is vital to strengthening democracy and fostering long-term security. We fully support ODIHR’s election observation methodology – its impartial and objective approach to elections has helped improve electoral processes across the OSCE region.

It is crucial that ODHIR has a proper budget to continue delivering on its mandate and ensure democratic progress is sustained.

We also recognise that the information people need to participate democratically is increasingly moving online. Collectively, we need to ensure that journalists are able to operate safely and to hold the powerful to account. We must also remain vigilant of disinformation by malign actors.

Madam Moderator – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shows that it is critical that we work even harder to strengthen democratic resilience. Internal repression in Russia and Belarus is tied to external aggression. We stand totally and firmly with Ukraine.

Madam Chair – in conclusion, societies that govern themselves democratically, where all groups meaningfully participate in political and economic processes, are safer, stronger and more secure. We call on all OSCE participating states to recognise the importance of democracy in underpinning collective security, to work together to combat democratic backsliding in the OSCE region and to fully support the vital work of ODIHR.

Thank you very much.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 September 2022.

Thank you President and to SRSG La Lime and our briefers.

I’d like to add three brief points to the discussion today:

Firstly, like others, the United Kingdom remains deeply concerned by the continued deterioration of the security and human rights situation in Haiti. Violence and insecurity further entrench the multifaceted challenges faced by Haiti and exacerbate the vulnerabilities of the Haitian population.

As we’ve heard today from our briefers, the humanitarian situation within Haiti also continues to deteriorate. Rooted in long standing economic, security and socio-political crises – the current escalation of these challenges has exacerbated the food

insecurity of the Haitian people. The looting of the World Food Programme office and warehouse is deeply concerning, preventing assistance from reaching thousands of Haiti’s most vulnerable.

The United Kingdom encourages all actors to work constructively to find urgent solutions, and to support recovery and progress for the Haitian people.

Secondly, as others have also said, there must be greater efforts by Haitian stakeholders to resolve the political gridlock. This is critical in enabling Haiti to find its own pathway out of the compounded challenges it is facing.

We renew our call for all actors to resume political dialogue and to work together to ensure the necessary security environment within which free and fair elections can be held as soon as possible.

Thirdly, I would like to underscore the United Kingdom’s support for the work of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti. BINUH is fundamental in supporting Haiti to resolve these multifaceted challenges. By strengthening the Haitian National Police and facilitating dialogue between Haitian political stakeholders, BINUH’s efforts help lay the groundwork for stability in Haiti. We look forward to seeing the outcome of the strategic review of options to support security in Haiti and hope these are part of a renewed holistic and joined-up approach by the UN and other partners.

Finally President, we welcome the intention of the United States and Mexico to propose a draft resolution and look forward todiscussing it with partners. We support action that moves Haiti closer to security and stability with a return to democratic processes as soon as possible.