Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 July 2025.

Ministers from the UK and Pakistan have announced new measures to boost trade between the two countries, following the launch of the UK-Pakistan Trade Dialogue.

As part of the Dialogue, ministers announced the creation of a new UK-Pakistan Business Advisory Council bringing together senior business leaders and government officials to facilitate high value trade and investment. The Council will provide strategic advice on policy reform, offer a confidential forum for engagement, and help promote commercial opportunities by addressing market access challenges and sharing best practices.

Today’s (14 July) meeting in London was co-chaired by the UK Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security, Douglas Alexander, and Pakistan’s Federal Minister of Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan. Both Ministers agreed to annual ministerial meetings to unlock growth opportunities, and support businesses and investors in the UK and Pakistan.

UK Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security Douglas Alexander said:

Today’s Dialogue marks the next step in our long-standing relationship with Pakistan, taking our trading partnership to the next level and unlocking new opportunities for businesses in both our countries.

By deepening cooperation in key sectors like healthcare and digital technology – areas central to the UK’s Industrial Strategy – we can drive growth, foster innovation, and create jobs.

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal said:

The UK remains one of Pakistan’s most important economic partners. This Dialogue lays the foundation for a more structured and forward-looking trade relationship. By strengthening collaboration and aligning our priorities, we can expand bilateral trade, attract greater investment, and create sustainable economic opportunities that benefit both nations.

The UK has also announced up to £200,000 to support Pakistan’s aspirations to attract investment from the UK. The funds will provide technical assistance for investor outreach, and support matchmaking between Pakistani investors and UK-based opportunities. This initiative reflects the UK’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s ambitions to increase outbound investment and to strengthening the bilateral investment relationship.

The Dialogue highlighted shared ambition to build on recent momentum, with bilateral trade increasing by 7.3% during the final quarter of last year. Bilateral trade is currently valued at £4.7 billion. Today’s discussion focussed on key sectors including information technology and healthcare, two priority areas under the UK’s Industrial Strategy.

The UK’s Industrial Strategy presents a significant opportunity for businesses and investors. The UK is committed to making it easier, faster, and more predictable for international firms to operate in its market. This includes reforms in skills development, innovation, regulation, and planning – creating a more dynamic and open business environment. Through the alignment of the UK’s Industrial Strategy and the UK – Pakistan Trade Dialogue, we are reaffirming our commitment to open and fair trade, and to deepening economic ties with key partners like Pakistan.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 July 2025.

The Foreign Secretary has released a joint statement on recent developments in Georgia alongside European partners.

Joint statement of 11 July 2025 by the Foreign Ministers of Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the High Representative of the European Union on recent developments in Georgia:

We, the Foreign Ministers of European democracies, are disturbed and deeply concerned at the deteriorating situation in Georgia.

We strongly condemn the recent, politically motivated, imprisonment and detention of the leaders of Georgian opposition, clearly designed to stifle political opposition in Georgia, a few months ahead of the local elections. Their detention, as well as arbitrary arrests and increasing repression of other Georgian authorities` critics, representatives of civil society, peaceful protesters and independent journalists, contribute to dismantling of democracy in Georgia and rapid transformation towards an authoritarian system, in contradiction to European norms and values. Recent legislative changes aim at stifling independent civil society and legitimate protest.

The course of political repression carried out by the Georgian authorities has led, in reaction, to a considerable downgrading of our relationship, including reduction of assistance and cooperation with Georgian authorities. Today, the authoritarian and anti-European course of the Georgian authorities further threatens Georgia’s democratic achievements and relations with our countries.

We will continue to call out Georgian authorities’ undemocratic actions and violations of human rights and will not hesitate to make use of the range of unilateral and multilateral tools available to us should Georgian authorities continue to take steps that erode Georgia’s democracy and respect for human rights.

It is not too late to reverse course.  We call on the Georgian authorities to immediately release unjustly detained politicians, journalists and activists, to reverse repressive legislation and to engage in a national dialogue with all relevant stakeholders to find a way out of the current situation.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 July 2025.

Sri Lankan garment sector set to benefit following reforms to simplify imports from developing countries like Sri Lanka.

• Liberalised rules of origin will now allow for more garments manufactured in Sri Lanka to enter the UK tariff-free.
• Further measures will make it easier for countries like Sri Lanka to trade, supporting jobs and growth.
• UK businesses and consumers to benefit from more competitively priced products.

On 10 July, the UK government unveiled a package of reforms to simplify imports from developing countries like Sri Lanka. Upgrades to the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) make it easier for businesses to trade with the UK and help lower prices on the UK high street.

The changes, announced as part of the UK’s wider Trade for Development offer, aim to support economic growth in partner countries including Sri Lanka while helping UK businesses and consumers access high-quality, affordable goods.  This announcement builds on the UK’s Trade Strategy published last month.

New measures include simplifying rules of origin, enabling more goods from countries such as Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and the Philippines to enter the UK tariff-free — even when using components from across Asia and Africa.

The announcement follows engagement with UK businesses and international partners, major importers and trade associations. This included the Sri Lankan government and the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF). The most significant positive change for Sri Lanka is that the rules of origin for the garments sector specifically will be liberalised. The changes will ensure that DCTS countries can now source their materials from a wider range of nations and will give manufacturers from countries such as Sri Lanka the opportunity to take advantage of 0% tariffs on garments. These changes are expected to be in place by early 2026.

The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick said:

“This is a win for the Sri Lankan garment sector, and for UK consumers. With the UK being the second largest export market and garments making up over 60% of that trade, we know manufacturers here will welcome this announcement.

“We want Sri Lanka to improve the utilisation of the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme for a wider range of goods, not just garments. With the Sri Lankan government’s ambition to grow exports, and with the simplification of rules of origin for other sectors too, we strongly encourage more exporters to explore how they can benefit from the preferences offered by the DCTS.

“The UK remains committed to working towards creating shared prosperity for both our countries.

Responding to the announcement Secretary General of the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) Yohan Lawrence said:

“We warmly welcome the UK’s Trade Strategy. JAAF has worked very closely with the UK Government to work on solutions to improve utilisation of the Scheme. We are delighted that, for garments, it will now be possible to source more raw material regionally and continue to qualify for duty free export to the UK. This will be a game-changer for our trade with the UK under the DCTS.

“We believe that the changes will also deliver significant improvements against the objectives of the Scheme. At around USD 675m in value, the UK is the second largest market for Sri Lanka Apparel, accounting for close to 15% of apparel exports, while the industry supports a million livelihoods across the country. This announcement will help secure employment opportunities and ensure sustainable growth in Sri Lanka by allowing us to compete on equal terms with our major competitors, and we expect exports to increase significantly when the new rules come into effect.”

Background

Launched in 2023, following the UK’s exit from the EU, DCTS is the UK’s flagship trade preference scheme. Covering 65 countries (including Sri Lanka) DCTS offers reduced or zero tariffs on thousands of products. It is one of the most generous schemes of its kind in the world. The recent changes further improve this offer. This will open up new commercial opportunities for UK businesses to build resilient supply chains, invest in emerging markets, and tap into fast-growing economies.

In addition to the DCTS changes, the UK will continue to provide targeted support to help exporters in Sri Lanka to access the UK market and meet import standards particularly focused on agri-foods and apparel sectors. This is through programmes being delivered by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in partnership with the Sri Lanka Export Development Board:

• The UK Trade Partnerships programme will continue to support on-going work on strengthening and rolling out Sri Lanka’s national organic standards, alongside completing certification audits of existing beneficiaries, and delivering training on digital marketing.
• Following the work on establishing the SheTrades Commonwealth+ hub in Sri Lanka earlier this year, the UK will continue to support in building policy capacity to mainstream gender into trade policy.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 July 2025.

Britain will deepen relations with countries across the Indo-Pacific to bring together UK and Southeast Asian innovation and technology.

• Strengthened ties with Southeast Asia open up new trade and security opportunities to create jobs and boost growth in the UK
• Free and open Indo-Pacific central to Plan for Change – delivering growth and opportunities for British businesses across the country.
• UK to participate in ASEAN Regional Forum for first time – an important forum for security dialogue with one of the fastest growing regional economies

Britain will deepen relations with countries across the Indo-Pacific to bring together UK and Southeast Asian innovation and technology to drive economic growth and create new business opportunities at key meetings in Malaysia today (Friday 11 July).

Stepping up cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on regional security, the visit will see the Foreign Secretary participate in the region’s main security forum– the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) – for the first time as Guest of Chair. The UK aims to become a permanent member of the ARF, in recognition of the fact that the greatest threats to ASEAN’s security also impact UK national security, from instability driven by climate change to risk of conflict.

These strengthened security ties demonstrate the government’s Plan for Change in practice – delivering on the commitment to strengthen national security for working people.

The UK will also strengthen cooperation with ASEAN nations to tackle transnational crime including scam centres, illicit finance and illegal migration – protecting our citizens from criminals and the shared threats we face. This builds on the ASEAN-UK Plan of Action as we approach the fifth anniversary of our Dialogue Partnership.

Secure and resilient growth depends on working with Indo-Pacific partners to preserve a stable balance of power, manage conflicts and protect our people from threats such as cyber scams and illicit finance. Strengthening our cooperation builds on recent success in strengthening ties with key allies and partners, and ensuring the UK’s national security.

Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said:

There is enormous economic potential in the Indo-Pacific with over 50% of the world’s population and 40% of global GDP. This government is breaking down barriers between businesses in the UK and Southeast Asia to tap into this market.

We are working together to tackle key threats to our mutual prosperity – illegal migration, illicit finance and scam centres. Engaging with our partners on these enemies of growth protects our people and their hard-earned money.

We want to work with partners like Singapore to seize the benefits of AI and technology and manage the risks – supporting the delivery of the ASEAN Community’s Vision 2045 and the UK’s Plan for Change.

Southeast Asia is already the fifth largest economy in the world, home to almost 700 million people, half of whom are under 30. The UK’s accession last December to CPTPP, one of the world’s biggest trade blocs, marked a breakthrough in connecting the UK to a group of economies now worth £11.7 trillion, putting money into UK businesses up and down the country.

On top of attending the ASEAN Foreign Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, the Foreign Secretary will also meet the Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan to reinforce the shared ambition to elevate the relationship between the UK and Malaysia to a Strategic Partnership, particularly in the areas of education, energy, defence and trade which will help generate growth.

Investment into clean, renewable energy will reduce British people’s energy bills and enshrine climate resilience and energy security. Catalysing the clean energy transformation, the Foreign Secretary, alongside Deputy Prime Minister Gan, will announce a landmark pledge of up to £70 million into Singapore’s Financing Asia’s Transition Partnership (FAST-P), advancing the UK and Singapore’s joint efforts to accelerate sustainable infrastructure and investment across Southeast Asia. The UK’s funding, to be delivered through British Investment International’s (BII), will support low-carbon energy projects and innovative business models, protecting energy security and insulating UK billpayers.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 July 2025.

Statement by Legal Adviser Colin McIntyre at the UN Security Council meeting on Sudan.

Let me begin by stressing the United Kingdom’s condemnation of the recent cyberattack against the ICC.

The UK has committed funds to strengthen the Court’s cybersecurity framework and we are pleased that this incident was swiftly contained.

Mr President, I will make three points today.

First, we welcome the Office of the Prosecutor’s continued focus on Darfur.

In this regard, we are gravely concerned by the findings of the Office of the Prosecutor that there are reasonable grounds to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity may have been committed, and indeed are continuing to be committed, in Darfur.

We also echo the report’s concerns about the situation in El Fasher. Large-scale attacks carried out on Zamzam IDP camp in April 2025 reportedly displaced over 400,000 people and continue to affect the population.

It is appalling that their suffering is compounded by denials of aid.

We call on the parties to the conflict to allow and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Second, we note the continued cooperation of the Sudanese authorities, including the facilitation of the recent visit to Port Sudan.

Given the significant challenges faced by the Office in implementing its mandate, we encourage the Sudanese authorities to redouble their efforts to cooperate with the Office, particularly in relation to the arrest and transfer of individuals subject to ICC arrest warrants, including Mr Ahmad Harun.

Third, we welcome the enhanced cooperation between the Prosecutor’s Office and other actors, including civil society organisations and the UN Fact Finding Mission for Sudan.

We commend the Office of the Prosecutor and the Fact Finding Mission’s ongoing documentation efforts and their commitment to delivering concrete progress.

Mr President, the Sudanese people deserve justice.

We therefore call for the SAF and the RSF to immediately cease hostilities and prioritise the protection of civilians in line with resolution 2736.

Accountability must go hand in hand with finding a political solution to this horrific war and ending the cycle of impunity that has scarred Sudan for decades.

Mr President, let me conclude by reiterating that the UK supports the independence of the International Criminal Court and does not support the sanctioning of individual court officials.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 July 2025.

Today the leaders of member states and international organisations of the Coalition of the Willing gathered in London, Rome and virtually to discuss strengthening support to Ukraine and further pressure on Russia.

Today the leaders of member states and international organisations of the Coalition of the Willing gathered in London, Rome and virtually to discuss strengthening support to Ukraine and further pressure on Russia. They welcomed the participation of United States Special Presidential Envoy, General Keith Kellogg, and Senators Graham and Blumenthal – the first time representatives of the United States have joined in the Coalition of the Willing meeting.

The leaders congratulated Prime Minister Meloni of Italy on hosting the Ukraine Recovery Conference, from where President Zelenskyy and fellow leaders joined the meeting.

The Leaders reiterated that President Putin’s unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine is a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and a threat to their security interests. They underlined their unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

They commended President Zelenskyy’s sincere support for US-led efforts to reach peace. Four months have passed since Ukraine agreed to a full, unconditional ceasefire. In this time, Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine’s civilian population, killing more than 700 and injuring over 3,500 in the most intense air strikes of the invasion to date. The Leaders called on Russia to end attacks against civilians, and to commit to a full and unconditional ceasefire in order to negotiate a just and lasting settlement.

The Leaders supported further peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, praising efforts by President Trump on establishing a peace process backed by the United States and other close partners. This should make progress towards a meeting of leaders.

Leaders also agreed to step up action against Russia’s war economy. They agreed to develop further restrictive measures, in coordination with all relevant actors, against Russia’s energy and financial sectors, including Russian oil and gas exports, the ‘shadow fleet’, and third country supply to Russia’s war machine.

The Leaders reiterated that strong Ukrainian armed forces are the primary guarantee of the country’s sovereignty and security. They agreed that, while Russia’s aggression continues, this group would prioritise making sure that Ukraine gets the military and financial support it needs to defend itself in the fight now. Furthermore, they reaffirmed agreement to provide at least €40bn in military support to Ukraine in 2025 to bolster the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine – matching the commitment made by the NATO Alliance in 2024. They agreed to work through the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) and the Capability Coalitions to accelerate support for Ukraine’s future forces.

A primary priority for support is the strengthening of Ukraine’s integrated air-defence capabilities. Leaders also agreed on further support to deter Russian massive drone attacks, and to increase financing for the production of drone interceptors.

They reiterated their commitment to Ukraine’s long-term security and to building Ukraine’s ability to deter and defend against future armed attack by Russia. They welcomed the development of mature operational plans to deploy a reassurance force  – the ‘Multinational Force Ukraine’ – once hostilities have ceased, and to help secure Ukraine’s skies and seas and regenerate Ukraine’s armed forces. They welcomed the establishment of a UK/French led operational headquarters to support planning activity, the commitments made by partners to contribute to the force, as well as Ukraine’s readiness to issue an invitation to the force and enter into formal agreements with participating countries where necessary.

Leaders also underlined the importance of ensuring fiscal and economic support for Ukraine. They agreed to draw up a collective plan to support Ukrainian public finances in 2026. They also recognised that free and safe navigation in the Black Sea will strengthen Ukraine’s economy and restore food security, and reiterated their commitment to support demining efforts in the Black Sea. The Leaders also agreed to continue to explore all lawful routes to ensure that Russia pays for the damage that it has done to Ukraine, including looking at further options for the use of revenues stemming from Russian immobilised sovereign assets.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 July 2025.

Ambassador Holland welcomes the discussions held during the 64th round, and commends the Co-Chairs for their continued efforts to facilitate dialogue among all participants.

The United Kingdom reaffirms its strong support for the Geneva International Discussions (GID) as a vital platform for addressing the consequences of the 2008 conflict in Georgia and promoting long-term peace and stability in the region. We commend the Co-Chairs for their continued efforts to facilitate dialogue among all participants.

The UK reaffirms its full support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. We continue to call on the Russian Federation to reverse its recognition of the so-called independence of Georgia’s Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions.

We welcome the discussions held during the 64th round, particularly the focus on security arrangements, non-use of force and humanitarian issues – including freedom of movement, documentation, and the rights of displaced persons. We regret that the agenda item on internally displaced persons and refugees could not be addressed due to a walkout by some participants, and we urge all parties to engage constructively in future rounds.

The UK remains deeply concerned by the ongoing restrictions on freedom of movement and the human rights situation in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We again call for full access for international humanitarian and human rights mechanisms.

We look forward to the next round of discussions in November 2025 and encourage all parties to engage in good faith to achieve tangible progress for the benefit of all conflict-affected communities.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 July 2025.

Ambassador Holland condemns Russia’s latest aerial bombardment of Ukrainian cities, which have killed civilians and damaged civilian infrastructure, and highlights the UK’s recent sanctions package in response to Russia’s use of chemical weapons in Ukraine.

Thank you, Mr Chair. Last week in this Council we said that Russia had launched its biggest aerial attacks of the war so far. One day later, it was already out of date.  Last Friday, on 4 July, Russia broke its record again, launching overnight 539 drones and 11 missiles at Ukraine. Apartments, businesses, a school, a medical facility and other civilian infrastructure were damaged. A thick smoke cloud hung over central Kyiv, prompting health warnings. And, overnight on Tuesday, 8 July, Russia exceeded that again, launching 728 drones and 13 missiles at Lutsk and other Ukrainian cities. This was the largest such attack in the war to date. Russia shows no sign of letting up these aerial assaults. The barrage and destruction continue.

So far in 2025, Russia has launched over 20,000 drones at Ukraine. That’s around 3,500 per month. This is more than 3.5x the average in 2024. Russia has launched the nine largest daily air attacks of the war in the past six weeks.

Mr Chair, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights recently published its periodic report on the human rights situation in Ukraine. It stated: “Our findings strongly suggest a failure to distinguish between civilian and military targets, and to take all feasible precautions to verify the military nature of those targets – or worse, an intentional decision not to.”

These aerial attacks are not the actions of a government that is serious about peace.  President Putin has demonstrated that amply in recent days by repeating his maximalist objectives for the war. Following his call with the Kremlin on 3 July, President Trump told reporters that he was ‘very disappointed with the conversation’ because Putin was ‘not looking to stop’.

Mr Chair, the statement published last week by the Dutch and German intelligence services indicating Russian use of chemical weapons on the front line is deeply concerning. The OPCW has now published three reports confirming the presence of CS gas in samples collected by Ukraine from the battlefield. We will not ignore such disregard of the Chemical Weapons Convention. That is why the UK announced a second package of sanctions this week against two senior Russian military officials and a Russian research institute for their involvement in Russia’s chemical weapons violations.

Mr Chair, we must also redouble our efforts to support Ukraine to get through this, and to rebuild after the war is over. The Ukraine Recovery Conference being held in Rome this week is a pivotal moment for the international community to demonstrate its commitment. In total, the UK has committed £5.3 billion in non-military support to Ukraine. The World Bank has estimated that Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction needs will cost USD $524bn over the next decade. Early recovery and reconstruction are vital to get through the war and secure a just and lasting peace. It is essential for all countries to step up their support, ensuring a unified and effective response to Ukraine’s recovery needs. Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 July 2025.

Ambassador Holland thanks Austria’s Court of Audit for their professional work as External Auditor, and urges other participating States to engage constructively towards agreeing an OSCE Unified Budget.

The United Kingdom thanks the Secretary General, and representatives of the Austrian Court of Audit and the Audit Committee for their presentations today and their comprehensive reports.

The External Auditor and Audit Committee reports provide an important overview of the OSCE’s financial health, and oversight of the organisation’s administration and internal controls. We recognise that the audit assessments have been made in the context of significant ongoing challenges – including the impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and the continued non-agreement of the OSCE Unified Budget.

The UK welcomes the unqualified opinion of the External Auditor that the OSCE’s financial statements for 2024 presented fairly the financial position of the organisation. We appreciate the Austrian Court of Audit’s professional work in this role, and warmly welcome your earlier agreement to extend for a further two audit cycles until July 2026.

Mr Chair, it is vital for the work of all OSCE structures that participating States agree a Unified Budget for 2025 and beyond. As the Reports and presentations this morning clearly illustrate, the continued non-agreement of the Unified Budget – and the lack of an updated Post Table – continue to severely constrain all parts of the organisation in delivering their mandates. We again urge all participating States to engage constructively with budget proposals and ensure the organisation is able to carry out its work effectively in line with the OSCE principles we have all signed up to.

We welcome the assessments in the Reports that the OSCE’s overall financial liquidity remains sound. We commend the OSCE executive structures for their ongoing work to adapt to the financial challenges facing the organisation, and for helping to maintain continuity of business. We also appreciate the tireless efforts of successive Chairs-in-Office – Malta and Finland – in advancing budget proposals and agreeing additional expenditure authorisations.

I again thank the Austrian Court of Audit and the Audit Committee for the comprehensive reports. As always, the UK looks forward to engaging constructively on the report recommendations.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 July 2025.

Ambassador Holland honours the memory of those killed in the Srebrenica genocide, and underlines the UK’s support to Bosnia and Herzegovina in its ongoing efforts to build a stable, inclusive country for all its citizens.

Madam Chair, 30 years ago in Srebrenica, genocide took place in Europe for the first time since 1945. Over 8,000 innocent men and boys were brutally killed in a single month that summer, and more than 20,000 women and children were forcibly uprooted from their homes. We honour the memory of those killed, pay tribute to the survivors, and stand firm alongside them in their pursuit of justice and reconciliation.

On 16 June, the UK marked our National Srebrenica Memorial Day at a ceremony in St Paul’s Cathedral, attended by the Deputy Prime Minister. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Edinburgh will visit Bosnia and Herzegovina this week for the official Commemoration at the Srebrenica Memorial Centre.

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia found that several individuals were guilty of genocide in Srebrenica. Acknowledgement of that fact should in no way be seen as an attempt to blame an entire country or people for the suffering of another, and it should not be a cause for tension and division. Rather, it is a basis on which true reconciliation can be achieved.

The UK stands with Bosnia and Herzegovina in its ongoing efforts to build a stable, inclusive country for all its citizens, regardless of religion or ethnicity, and to heal the divisions inflicted by war. It is deeply troubling that divisive and inciteful rhetoric, reckless secessionist ambitions, and direct attacks on the Dayton Peace Agreement – which remains Bosnia and Herzegovina’s constitutional framework – continue to threaten peace and stability.

Madam Chair, this will be the fourth successive year that we mark this anniversary in the shadow of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Terrible events such as the genocide at Srebrenica show the consequences of inaction. We owe it to the victims to create societies that are stable, inclusive and cohesive, and to fight against prejudice, hatred, fear and division. Remaining true to our shared commitment to the concept of comprehensive security, articulated by the Helsinki principles and central to membership of the OSCE, remains the best way to achieve this.

Only through such collective responsibility can we honour the past, respect the survivors’ enduring efforts, and work to ensure that atrocities such as the Srebrenica genocide are never repeated.

Thank you, Madam Chair.