Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 September 2022.

Speaking at an event on the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Horn of Africa at the UN General Assembly in New York, Ford announced £22.8 million to enable the UN and our NGO partners to continue lifesaving assistance through cash support; access to water and sanitation services; and the delivery of highly specialised health and nutrition treatment.

Ford called on the international community to act now to avert disaster, as concerns rise that a projected famine in Somalia could be worse than in 2011, when a quarter of a million people lost their lives.

Minister Ford said:

The drought in the Horn of Africa is one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.  Almost half of Somalia’s population is in dire need of help – with 300,000 people forecast to be in famine by October if assistance is not provided immediately.

The UK is playing a leading role in the international response to this crisis. We are providing vital life-saving food security, health, nutrition and water support to half a million people across Somalia, backed up by the funding announced today.

If we are to avoid a repeat of the catastrophic drought which saw a quarter of million people die in Somalia a decade ago, the international community must act now.

This package of support takes the UK’s total humanitarian, health and nutrition funding for Somalia this financial year up to £52.8 million.

The UK has allocated a total of £156 million in humanitarian support for crises in East Africa this financial year.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 September 2022.

Ian Stubbs (UK Delegation to the OSCE) says it is unclear whether Russia’s front-line forces have sufficient reserves or adequate morale to withstand another Ukrainian assault.

Thank you Mr Chair. Over the past weeks, we have seen that the strong will, courage and remarkable military skill of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has not only minimised Russian gains, but also enabled substantive advances through counter attacks in eastern and southern areas of Ukraine.

As Ukraine continues offensive operations in the north-east of the country, Russian forces have sought to establish a defensive line between the Oskil River and the town of Svatove. This zone is important to Russia, it contains one of the few main resupply routes Russia still controls from the Belgorod region of Russia into Ukraine. Additionally, this line sits along the border of Luhansk Oblast which Russia declared its intent to seize as one of its immediate war aims.

As Russia digs in and attempts to defend this zone, Ukrainian Forces have now begun to conduct offensive operations east of the Oskil River and reports indicate that they are now in control of Bilohorivka, a village located in the Luhansk oblast. It is increasingly unclear whether Russia’s front-line forces have sufficient reserves or adequate morale to withstand another concerted Ukrainian assault.

Mr Chair, recent reporting indicates that, despite their purported overall size, sufficient Russian manpower for its invasion of Ukraine remains a key challenge for the Russian military and presents a stark mismatch between ambition and reality. Last July, in this Forum, we discussed the attempts by the Kremlin-linked Russian private military company, Wagner Group, to recruit Russian convicts for service in Ukraine. This has been reinvigorated. A video recently posted online appears to show Wagner owner Yevgeny Prigozhin making a recruitment pitch to prisoners. In the video, Prigozhin emphasises that he is only seeking “fighters for assault units”. In return, prisoners have been offered commutation of their sentences as well as cash incentives.

Additionally, numerous reports indicate that the Russian military is deploying mobile recruitment offices throughout Russia to attract “contract soldiers” to fight in Ukraine, selling the proposition as “the choice of a real man”. A significant monetary incentive is also being offered to these potential “contract soldiers”.

It is a telling indication that the Russian leadership has resorted to bribing its citizens and convicts to join the so-called “Special Military Operation” in an attempt to bolster its force levels.

Separately, Russian military academies are now shortening training courses and bringing cadets’ graduation dates forward. Almost certainly to enable the early release of cadets so that they can be deployed more quickly in support of the Ukraine operation.

Mr Chair, in sum, the impact of Russia’s manpower challenge has become increasingly severe. The acceleration of officer cadets’ training, the recruitment of “contract soldiers” and Wagner’s demand for assault troops suggests that two of the most critical shortages within the Russian military manning crisis are combat infantry and junior commanders.

Further to this, President Putin’s decision to impose a partial mobilisation shows he is willing to break his own promises and also sacrifice citizens of Russia for his so-called “Special Military Operation”. This mobilisation is a clear admission that President Putin’s mission is failing. He and his Defence Minister have sent thousands of their own citizens to their deaths, poorly trained, poorly equipped and poorly led. No amount of threats and propaganda can hide the fact that Ukraine is winning this war, the international community are united and Russia is becoming a global pariah.

Meanwhile, at the FSC, our Russian colleagues would rather we did not focus on Russia’s struggles to resource its illegal war of choice. Last week we saw efforts to distract from these setbacks and shift blame onto others by doubling down on tired old narratives, seeking to justify the unjustifiable, to this Forum and the Russian population.

These maladroit attempts to obfuscate the truth fool no one. The clear and unambiguous fact is that it is the Russian leadership who decided to conduct its unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine. Russia was warned that such a reckless act would be a strategic mistake, a strategic mistake that would have strategic consequences. The blame for the impact of these consequences lies solely with the Russian leadership and military – no one else.

Russia’s aggressive actions have brought into sharp focus for many countries what was once unthinkable – Russia’s willingness to invade a sovereign neighbour. In response, the UK, along with others who seek a secure and stable future in the Euro-Atlantic area, is strengthening its defensive capabilities, including though the NATO Defensive Alliance, to protect against Russia’s chosen path of naked aggression.

Mr Chair, the Kremlin’s conspiracy theories and self-serving propaganda that seek to portray Russia – the aggressor who has unleashed horrendous violence on Ukraine – as the victim, is nothing more than the textbook delusion of an oppressor who has severely miscalculated.

As our Ukrainian friends have so aptly demonstrated: “Courage is fire, bullying is smoke.”

Finally Mr Chair, I would note that just yesterday, it was reported that Russia is pressing ahead with plans to carry out a referendum in temporarily controlled areas. Any Russian attempt to hold sham referenda on the sovereign territory of Ukraine would have no legitimacy and will be met with a coordinated response from Ukraine’s partners.

Mr Chair, the UK stands in solidarity with Ukraine, including through the ongoing provision of military assistance, as Ukrainians defend their homeland and fight for the simple right to a free, peaceful and prosperous future. Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 September 2022.

A spokesperson from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said:

The Foreign Secretary James Cleverly met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the UN’s General Assembly in New York on Tuesday 20 September 2022.

Both underlined their unwavering, long-term support to Ukraine and to maintaining unity with partners to ensure Putin fails in his illegal war. There must be no impunity for Putin’s hostility.

The Foreign Secretary also reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to maintaining the rules-based international order, peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and beyond, as the G7 set out last month.

He and the Secretary of State discussed the threat to international peace and security posed by Iran’s continued nuclear escalation. Both underlined their commitment to the security of our partners in the Middle East.

Finally, on the Northern Ireland Protocol, the Foreign Secretary re-iterated the UK’s top priority to protect the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and get the Northern Ireland Executive up and running. He explained the Protocol is, however, causing real problems in Northern Ireland which we must fix. The UK’s preference has always been to resolve this through talks.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 September 2022.

A spokesperson from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said:

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly held a first meeting with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday 20 September 2022.

The Foreign Secretary expressed his appreciation for Vice President Wang Qishan’s attendance at Her Late Majesty The Queen’s funeral, and the condolence message from President Xi Jinping.

Mr Cleverly set out the importance of constructive engagement with China as a fellow P5 member on key issues including foreign and security challenges, climate change and global health, as well a channel to discuss issues where we don’t agree.

The Foreign Secretary expressed concern over the current tensions in the Taiwan Strait. He also set out the UK’s condemnation of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 September 2022.

The UK highlights the effect of Russia’s war on energy at the OSCE Economic and Envirnomental Forum, and pledges support to Ukraine’s energy sector recovery.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 September 2022, relating to an event held in Prague on 8 September 2022.

Justin Addison (UK Delegation to the OSCE) speaks at the 2022 OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum about its role in advancing dialogue and co-operation in the OSCE’s second dimension.

The UK welcomes the opportunity to reflect on the operation of the economic and environmental forum and dimension. This dimension offers particular opportunities for dialogue and cooperation that may not be open to our colleagues working on other issues, as demonstrated by our success in recent years in achieving consensus on these topics.

Environmental confidence-building measures, such as trans-national water cooperation or forestry protection, can better protect both sides from environmental disasters, whether natural or man-made; whilst greater economic connectivity can deepen ties across States, building resilience to conflict. And of course the existential threat of climate change makes the second dimension more relevant than ever.

In 1992, in this city, OSCE Ministers agreed to strengthen the organisation’s focus on the transition to, and development of, free-market economies, as an essential contribution to the building of democracy. While environmental issues were subsequently added to the OSCE’s mandate, the forum’s original objective of promoting better relations through regional connectivity and cooperation remains as important as ever – a fact made more obvious as one participating State now chooses economic isolation and weaponisation over collaboration and partnership.

As with the adding of environmental issues, what is important is the Forum’s – and the wider dimension’s – ability to respond to new challenges. For example, as climate change presents itself increasingly as a threat to regional security, so should the OCEEA shift focus to this topic. We welcome their doing so. Similarly, as the economies of the OSCE region – and especially Ukraine – are threatened, so should the OCEEA respond to this new challenge. And we welcome their proposed programme of work.

We are asked in this session to consider emerging themes. With Russia’s refusal to engage with the international community we have witnessed the end of the economic cooperation necessary for economic recovery and growth. The OSCE remains a useful platform for economic cooperation, but as long as Russia rejects international norms and behaviours, isolates itself from the international community, and violates the forum’s economic principles, the OSCE will not be able to reach its potential. We continue to call for Russia to live up to the commitments it has freely signed up to.

The UK believes in co-operation on these issues in a wider Europe. We have a positive experience of economic cooperation with states across the OSCE. For example, our development programme in Central Asia supports efforts on anti-corruption, innovation, the growth of small businesses, diversifying the private sector, and economic policy delivery. This work includes drawing on best practices from comparable contexts and building local capacity – exactly the sort of work the OSCE does best.

We also promote regional cooperation and connectivity in Central Asia through the CASA-1000 energy transmission project, which connecting hydropower stations in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. We see the benefits of deeper economic connectivity across the region, and welcome the OCEEA’s role in enhancing trade, transport and digital facilitation. Connectivity and cooperation amongst peaceful states are central to resilience – we cannot rely on those who may threaten us. We welcome the OCEEA’s work on the protection of critical energy infrastructure and advancing energy security in Central Asia.

We also recognise the important role the OSCE can play in water diplomacy and water management. The work done since 2004 on the Dniester river basin has yielded strong results. As climate change exacerbates water scarcity, transboundary co-operation will only become more important.

To conclude, there is no division in the OSCE between sub regions when it comes to our ability to cooperate on economic and environmental issues. And it is in all states’ self-interest to do so. However, so long as one state continues to shun the offers of cooperation and pursue a violent, unilateral campaign against a fellow OSCE participating State, it will drag the whole region down in the process. In considering the future orientation of the second dimension, we must look afresh at how we mobilise our economic and environmental tools to increase our collective resilience against such barbarity.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 September 2022, relating to an event held in Prague on 8 September 2022.

Justin Addison (UK Delegation to the OSCE) speaks at the Opening Session of the Forum about the effect Russia’s war against Ukraine is having on the region’s economies.

The theme of this year’s Forum is sustainable economic recovery – a theme set last year when we were still reeling from the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Back then, our most pressing issue was to find a way to limit and reverse the economic damage being done, whilst also accelerating the transition towards a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient form of economic development and growth.

Times have changed.

Even as COVID-19 continues to claim lives and livelihoods, and climate change threatens to undo hard won development gains, we are faced with a new threat. But this time it comes from the deliberate actions of one participating State.

Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has become the region’s most pressing security issue. But until Russia is stopped, our collective economies will continue to suffer, with Ukraine suffering most of all.

The economic dialogue that is necessary for economic cooperation and recovery is a function of political dialogue. But Russia has shown, through its complete disregard for international norms that it has no interest in political dialogue.

Faced with appalling barbarism and war crimes, the international community rallied together to condemn the war and impose the largest and most severe economic sanctions Russia has ever faced.

From the UK’s side we have sanctioned Putin’s corrupt cronies; frozen Russian state assets; cut off access to the UK’s financial services; hindered those behind Putin’s disinformation agencies, including RT and Sputnik; stopped Russian aircraft from flying or landing in the UK; and banned their vessels from our ports. We join others in our collective resolve to keep targeting Russia’s economy until Ukraine prevails.

It is clear that President Putin did not anticipate this reaction. So accustomed is he to acting with total impunity within his own borders that he wrongly expected the world to turn a blind eye as his army crossed another’s. We now see him lashing out through crude attempts to weaponise Russia’s energy exports and use energy as a tool of geopolitical coercion. The dire consequences of this are felt across the globe, including by many States represented here.

In order to better protect our societies from Russia’s aggression we must collectively increase our economic and energy resilience. This includes reducing reliance on Russian hydrocarbons; committing to energy and resource diversification; and expediting global clean energy transition towards net zero by 2050. The OCEEA’s work on energy network protection and sustainable energy production is central to these efforts.

Resilience also requires deepening regional connectivity amongst peaceful neighbours; increasing cooperation over scarce resources such as water; and mitigating the worst effects of climate change together. We welcome the OCEEA’s support in fostering greater bilateral and regional co-operation in these areas.

Russia’s war indeed affects us all. But we should not lose sight of who it affects most. When Ukraine has prevailed, and successfully defended itself against this aggressor, its economic recovery can be completed.

The United Kingdom will push for immediate investment to drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth. We need to need able to support those returning to Ukraine; we need to give people hope about the future; and we need to give them the means to be able to support themselves.

Ukraine has shown itself to be a bastion of freedom and democracy. It is now the duty of those countries who believe in OSCE principles to do whatever it takes to support its sustainable economic recovery. Ukraine’s recovery from Russia’s war of aggression will be a symbol of the power of democracy over autocracy, of freedom over oppression. It will show Putin that his attempts to destroy Ukraine have only produced a stronger, more prosperous and more united nation.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 September 2022, relating to a meeting in Geneva on 13 September 2022.

UK Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French, delivered a statement on the Acting High Commissioner’s Oral Update on Xinjiang, Sudan and South Sudan.

Thank you Mr President,

Acting High Commissioner,

The former High Commissioner’s recent report on Xinjiang included credible evidence of arbitrary and discriminatory detention, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, forced sterilisations and abortions, and the destruction of religious sites. This report provides further compelling and harrowing evidence of the extent of China’s efforts to silence and repress Uyghurs and other minority groups in the region including acts that may constitute crimes against humanity. China must allow independent UN experts to conduct unrestricted visits to Xinjiang to verify the findings. The Council must not stay silent as an ethnic and religious minority is so brutally targeted.

Turning our attention to other countries, in Sudan, violence, the killing of protestors and other human rights violations continue. We are disappointed that important progress made on human rights since the 2019 revolution has been lost following last year’s coup. The UK urges the Sudanese authorities to allow peaceful protests, to deliver on their commitment to protect civilians, to implement the Juba Peace Agreement, and to hold those responsible for violations to account. All parties must recommit to Sudan’s democratic transition to deliver the peace and justice the Sudanese people deserve.

In South Sudan, the human rights situation is appalling, evidenced by harrowing reports of violence, killings and widespread sexual violence. The UK calls on the Government of South Sudan to hold the perpetrators of these abuses to account, end impunity, and protect civilians. A secure, stable and enduring peace is essential. The Government should now implement the 2018 peace agreement, meeting the timelines set out in their recently announced Roadmap.

We are also deeply concerned by the recent violence seen in Libya, most notably on the weekend of 26 August when 32 people were killed and over a hundred injured. The Libyan authorities must prioritise the protection of civilians and respect the human rights of all Libyans.

Thank you

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 September 2022, relating to a meeting in Geneva on 12 September 2022.

UK Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French, delivered a statement on the worsening situation in Sri Lanka.

Thank you Mr President,

The United Kingdom welcomes the High Commissioner’s comprehensive report.

We recognise the economic challenges facing Sri Lanka, and the hardships these have caused.

In coming together to protest about the economic situation, Sri Lanka’s people exercised their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association and freedom of expression. We are dismayed that in response, violence was used against protesters. We are deeply concerned about the arrest and ongoing detention of protestors under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and continue to call for reform of the Act.

We are also concerned about reports of continued militarisation and intimidation impacting on communities in the north and east, including on families of the disappeared. We regret the limited progress made on accountability and justice as requested in HRC resolution 46/1. The domestic reconciliation and accountability process promised in 2020 has not emerged. For these reasons, OHCHR’s work collecting and preserving evidence must continue.

We welcome Sri Lanka’s recent commitments on respect for the rights of those from all religious and ethnic groups, including through political inclusion and constitutional reform. We stand ready to continue dialogue and support Sri Lanka with this and with the promised approaches to accountability, justice and reconciliation.

Thank You.

 

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 September 2022, relating to a meeting in Geneva on 12 September 2022.

UK Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French, delivered a statement on the deteriorating situation faced by women and girls in Afghanistan.

Thank you Mr President,

Two months ago, this Council concluded that “the oppression of women and girls in Afghanistan is grave, institutionalized, widespread and systematic”. Tragically, nothing has changed.

To the human rights defenders across Afghanistan and to the Afghan women here today, let me begin by saying thank you. Thank you for continuing to shine a spotlight on the appalling situation you face. I am humbled by your courage and tireless determination.

Afghanistan is the only country in the world where girls cannot attend secondary school. Women in Afghanistan are unable to move around freely. They are confined to their homes. In many cases they are unable to work. They are severely restricted from enjoying their human rights.

With girls kept out of school, and as parents struggle to feed their families, the risk of child early and forced marriage increases.

Without education for girls, there will be fewer doctors, teachers and entrepreneurs in Afghanistan.

The UK will continue strongly championing the voices of Afghan women and girls and continue to provide life-saving support and provide space for Afghan women’s voices.

Our message to the Taliban is clear. Listen to Afghan women. Allow girls to go to school. Allow women to work. Allow women humanitarian workers to deliver life-saving aid. To put it simply, uphold their human rights.

Mr President, this Council must unite and demonstrate, once again, that we stand with Afghan women and girls.

Thank you.