Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 August 2022.

The UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French, delivered a statement remarking on the work of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet.

Thank you Mr President.

Madam High Commissioner, we wish to join others in putting on record our sincere appreciation for your work over these last four years. You have been the UN’s leading voice on human rights at an incredibly challenging time. And perhaps the most challenging time since the position of High Commissioner was created.

When you took up your mandate no one could have predicted the huge global challenges that we have collectively faced in recent times. It was essential that the international system shone a light on the many human rights challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we thank you for being at the forefront of that effort.

Regrettably, we have seen many more serious problems which could have been avoided.

The aggression against Ukraine remains, appalling, an ongoing deliberately–made crisis which has clearly been driven by one party – Russia. We thank you for your recent comments calling on the Russian President to halt the armed attack against Ukraine and for accountability for the violations which have occurred.

In all regions, we have seen persistent attacks against human rights defenders; we have witnessed dramatic set-backs on women’s rights; and we have observed with great alarm that persons belonging to minorities have come under attack.

It is vital that your successor continues to keep these issues firmly in focus.

Madam High Commissioner, we remain hopeful that in your final days in office, one piece of business, which remains as yet unfinished, will be dealt with. The UK has been among those at the forefront in calling for violations in Xinjiang, China to be properly investigated. It is essential for all of us, that no state is free from objective scrutiny on its human rights record, and that no state can be allowed to stifle the High Commissioner’s independent voice. We therefore urge you to publish your report on China.

Madam High Commissioner, we wish you well in the next chapter of your hugely distinguished life and career and thank you for everything you have done to advance human rights over these last 4 years. Thank you Mr President.

 

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 August 2022.

Actor and UN Ambassador Daniel Craig and FCDO Minister Graham Stuart MP will today call for the end of cluster munition use around the world at an international conference chaired by the UK.

Cluster bombs continue to kill and maim civilians in conflicts around the world, including Syria, Libya and Ukraine, often leaving their victims with life-changing injuries. Unexploded munitions continue to threaten the lives of civilians for years afterwards, hampering post-conflict reconstruction and development.

The UK currently holds the Presidency of the Convention on Cluster Munitions of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, an international agreement ratified by 110 countries to end the use of these devastating weapons. This conference will bring together the international community and civil society organisations to work together to rid the world of these weapons, educate communities on the dangers associated with their use and support survivors and their families.

Alongside the Minister, Daniel Craig will open the conference with a video message in his capacity as the United Nations Global Advocate for the Elimination of Mines and Explosive Hazards.

Daniel Craig will say:

Civilians all too often pay the price when these brutal weapons are used. In my work with the United Nations Mine Action Service, I have seen how long after conflicts, damage caused by cluster munitions persists.

Unbelievably we are still seeing use of cluster munitions today, most recently in Ukraine.

Countries that still use and produce cluster munitions need to stop doing so, they are barbaric weapons used mainly on civilian populations to spread fear and anxiety. It is up to us to do the hard work, to do what we can to support each other and help civilians recover from the devastating impact of these weapons.

Graham Stuart, FCDO Minister responsible for Counter-Proliferation, is expected to say:

Too many innocent civilians have lost their lives to these weapons of war. Under our Presidency, the UK has driven forward work to eliminate them altogether.

Every step taken under this Convention, makes the world a safer place – but too many states still refuse to give up cluster munitions. We will continue to speak out against these murderous weapons – as we did in March when we condemned their use in the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine.

We did so on behalf of the parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Since the Convention was founded 14 years ago, 110 State Parties have ratified it, 13 States have signed up to its objectives but not yet ratified, and 35 states have cleared their stockpiles of cluster munitions.

The UK is a leading supporter of mine action, and continues to invest heavily in clearance of cluster munitions, anti-personnel mines, and other explosive remnants of war around the world. In June 2022, the UK announced a budget of up to £100million for the third phase of its Global Mine Action Programme tackling the lethal legacy of these weapons.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 August 2022.

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

Thank you President. Let me thank USG Griffiths, DSRSG Potzel and Dr Morgan Edwards for their briefings.

Let me start by offering condolences to Pakistan following the devastating flooding in their country this week. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. As my Minister Lord Ahmad has said, we are working with the Pakistani authorities to establish the support and assistance they need. The United Kingdom stands with the people of Pakistan at this time of need.

President, Russia has called for this meeting one year after the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan. As we reflect on that anniversary, we should also recall the Soviet Union’s ten year occupation of Afghanistan from 1979 until 1989 that created the conditions for devastating civil war and the rise of the Taliban in the 1990s.

Today, it is clear that the situation in Afghanistan remains critical and the needs of the Afghan people acute.

As we have heard, over 24 million Afghans are in need of humanitarian support and nearly 20 million are facing acute food insecurity. Economic stability and the delivery of basic services are essential to end the cycle of suffering in Afghanistan. There remains a vital need to inject liquidity into the country to avoid economic collapse.

While UK personnel have left Afghanistan, our commitment to the Afghan people remains resolute.

Between April 2022 and March 2023 the UK has committed $676 million in aid to Afghanistan and our Foreign Secretary co-hosted the UN humanitarian pledging conference earlier this year, raising $2.4 billion.

By contrast, Russia contributed nothing to the UN Humanitarian Response Plan, and China pledged $2m.

On top of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the human rights situation is stark. There are credible allegations of extra-judicial killings and detentions and disappearances, including civil society activists and former security forces and government officials.

The last few months have also seen the imposition of deplorable restrictions on the rights and freedoms of women and girls, including on access to education, jobs and services and on their freedom of movement and dress. It is clear to all but the Taliban that the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in society is a pre-requisite for a stable, prosperous Afghanistan.

The Taliban have also been repeating other mistakes from the past – not least the harbouring of the leader of Al Qaida, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, in downtown Kabul in breach of their international commitments.

We again call on the Taliban to meet its commitments:

To ensure principled, unhindered humanitarian access across the country
To uphold basic human rights, most pressingly for women and girls.
And to ensure Afghanistan is never again a permissive environment for terrorist groups.
Strong and consistent UN leadership remains crucial to ensuring a well-coordinated and prioritised response and UNAMA has our full support in delivering its mandate provided by this Council.

President,

One year ago, this Council adopted resolution 2593 which set out our shared expectations of the Taliban. We hope the Council can continue to speak with one voice to press the Taliban on its commitments, and to support the Afghan people in overcoming the challenges ahead. We thank the UN for their ongoing and tireless efforts.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 August 2022.

Statement delivered by Richard Croker, Ambassador to the General Assembly at the opening session of the UN Committee [in New York] on Non-Governmental Organisations.

Thank you Madam Vice Chair,

Let me begin by echoing the concerns raised by the representative of Estonia on the impact of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine on civil society and NGOs.

As we begin our work this session, we recall the importance of this Committee. This Committee exists because we recognise that civil society is essential to our work at the UN. Their engagement enriches the evidence base at our disposal, making our meetings more effective and more substantial. In turn, this helps ensure that what we do here has an impact on the ground.

For these reasons, the UK is committed to championing civil society participation at the UN. Regrettably, we do this in the face of opposition, with a small group of Member States opposing civil society engagement with the UN, seeking to stifle their voices, afraid of the scrutiny that civil society provides.

Those states deliberately bring inertia to this Committee. Dozens of NGOs have been deferred for eight or more Committee sessions. The politicisation of this Committee is another example of the worrying increase in reprisals against organisations who seek to engage with the UN.

We were therefore pleased to see that, during this year’s regular session, some Member States brought the arbitrary deferral of NGOs to a vote in the Committee, as has happened on several previous occasions. Those NGOs put forward to the vote, were ones that had been consistently deferred for years despite responding satisfactorily to Committee questions. We were disappointed that the vote was blocked in the committee by a no-action motion, but we were happy to co-sponsor the decision at ECOSOC, the Committee’s parent body, where it was adopted by a wide margin.

We look forward to joining the Committee in January. As we have set out previously, we plan to use our membership to work with others to improve the working methods, promoting transparency to reduce arbitrary deferrals.

This Committee’s role is to facilitate NGO access, not impede it. During this resumed session, in order to fulfil our collective commitment to inclusive multilateralism, we urge Committee Members to address the backlog of deferred applications fairly and transparently, and to promote a safe and welcoming space for civil society participation at the UN.

Thank you.

 

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 29 August 2022.

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

Thank you President.

Thank you to Special Envoy Geir Pedersen and ASG Joyce Msuya for their sobering briefings.

Let me join others in welcoming our new Irish colleague, Ambassador Fergal Mythen to the Council.

The UK continues to stand with the Syrian people in their desire for a sustainable solution to the Syrian conflict. As we have said many times, the only way to achieve this is through the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 2254. This includes: a nationwide ceasefire; unhindered aid access; release of the arbitrarily detained; conditions for safe, voluntary and dignified refugee return; and free and fair elections pursuant to a new constitution.

Special Envoy Pederson’s ongoing efforts to deliver 2254 have our full support.

We are disappointed that the regime continues to stall discussions on political and constitutional reform. We are further disappointed that Russia has used the fallout of its own aggression in Ukraine as a pretext for undermining political progress in Syria, by asserting that Geneva should no longer be the venue for what should be Syrian-led and Syrian-owned Constitutional Committee talks.

While the Syrian regime continues to fail in its responsibility to respect the basic rights of Syrians, provide for their needs, or engage in the political process, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate.

Currently, around 14.6 million Syrians require humanitarian assistance – more than 67% of the population and 12 million people are facing acute food insecurity this year.

The UK recognises that early recovery is necessary to address humanitarian needs. This is reflected in our support. Our funding has helped with the rehabilitation of water networks, provided agricultural training and inputs for livestock and vegetable production, and provided apprenticeships and small business grants to help create jobs.

But humanitarian assistance, and particularly cross-border assistance, remains a lifeline for millions. By reducing the UN cross border mandate from twelve to six months, resolution 2642 has caused uncertainty for the UN and its partners, impacting humanitarian operations and early recovery programming, a priority avowedly shared by Russia as well as other Council members.

We therefore call on all Security Council members to work together to ensure a renewed agreement this January to meet the critical needs of the Syrian people. Further uncertainty, or a closing of this lifeline at the height of winter, would be catastrophic for millions of people.

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

Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, FCDO Minister of State said:

“The United Kingdom condemns the violence perpetrated by armed groups in Tripoli on Saturday 27 August. The UK calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for all parties to engage in a UN brokered dialogue. The protection of civilians is critical and access must be provided for humanitarian personnel.

There can be no military solution to the ongoing crisis of legitimacy in Libya. It is imperative that all Libyan parties engage with the UN to agree a path towards free, fair and inclusive elections, with support from all international actors. The wishes of the Libyan people must be prioritised ahead of narrow self-interests. The UK stands ready to work with Libyans, the UN and international partners to achieve sustainable peace, stability and prosperity in Libya.”

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

Cabinet Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan begins a 9-day tour of New Zealand and Australia following Free Trade Agreements being signed.

• Trip will encourage more businesses to reap the benefits of the UK’s newly signed deals
• Trevelyan is the first Cabinet Minister to meet the new Australian government on Aussie soil.
• Opportunity to discuss continued support for the UK’s work to accede accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)

Anne-Marie Trevelyan is visiting the region to promote Global Britain and opportunities for UK businesses after the UK signed trade deals worth £800 million with New Zealand and £2.3 billion with Australia.

• In NZ she meets Minister for Trade and Export Growth, Damien O’Connor to discuss how to maximise the benefits of the trade agreement and increase business awareness of it. She will also meet Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel.
• She will receive a formal Marae welcome, known as a pōwhiri, in Rotorua, and tour Miraka, a Māori owned and sustainable milk processing plant. She will also meet with Te Taumata, the Māori trade advisory board, to discuss the opportunities to boost Māori business cooperation through the UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.
• And on the final leg in Auckland she will meet Mayor Phil Goff, and visit Babcock International to promote UK and New Zealand defence industry partnerships.
• In Sydney she will visit Qantas to be briefed about Project Sunrise and purchase of key Airbus plane components and Rolls Royce engines; host an Electric Vehicle roundtable, promote the strengths of the UK’s tech ecosystem and launch a Net Zero Innovation  handbook, to showcase British expertise in climate tech. She will also visit Central Station, where UK and Australia partnership is leading the way in sustainable design and engineering.
• In Adelaide she will visit leading defence companies including BMT, MacTaggart Scott and the BAE Systems frigate shipyard.
• The Trade Secretary will also deliver a speech alongside her counterpart, Minister Farrell, on the next steps of the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement, and the wider UK business and trading relationship.

The visit also provides an opportunity for the International Trade Secretary to discuss both countries continued support for the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) by the end of the year. The CPTPP is a £9 trillion trading block, which could see 99.9% of UK exports becoming eligible for tariff-free trade with the 11 member countries. This would further boost opportunities for UK businesses in the region.

British Consul General and Deputy Trade Commissioner Asia Pacific (Australia & New Zealand), Louise Cantillon said:

“Trade is a huge part of the modern partnership between the UK and Australia and New Zealand, and I am delighted to welcome the International Trade Secretary to this region.

This is her first visit since the Free Trade Agreements were signed and is a key part of our work to prepare businesses to make the most of the deals. In NZ I’m particularly pleased we are able to meet with so many Maori businesses who will benefit from the FTA Chapter to promote the benefits of international trade.

This visit will showcase amazing British companies showing how UK innovation, technology and skills in the region are being used in partnership to deliver economic growth.”

British High Commissioner to Australia, Vicki Treadell said:

“Australia and this region are key to the UK’s Indo Pacific tilt and I am pleased to welcome International Trade Minister Trevelyan. Strong trade and investment flows are a key pillar of our partnership and having signed Free Trade Agreements our work now turns to preparing realise the benefits.

This wide-ranging visit will see the Minister engage across trade, defence and climate – testament to the importance of our modern partnership to maximise opportunities and tackle current challenges together.”

British High Commissioner to New Zealand, Iona Thomas said:

“I am delighted to host the International Trade Secretary during this important visit, focused on how to maximise the benefits of the FTA, the UK’s efforts to join the CPTPP and future cooperation on global trade. There is huge potential for economic growth by working together, increasing prosperity for both countries.

I am excited to meet thriving British Businesses across New Zealand and showcase the unique and dynamic relationship between NZ and the UK.  Both countries believe strongly in global responses to global problems and challenges, in protecting our democratic values, championing free trade and taking urgent action to protect our climate and oceans.

I am particularly pleased to be engaging with Māori businesses who have sustainability at the heart of their work during this visit. Growing the UK’s relationship with all of New Zealand is a key priority for the team in New Zealand.”

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

The UK is providing urgent support to Pakistan after flooding in the south of the country killed at least 900 people. Extreme monsoon rainfall has affected millions, with at least 700,000 homes destroyed.

In response to the disaster, the UK will provide up to £1.5 million for the relief effort. The UN is carrying out a needs assessment over the weekend, and a UN appeal is expected to be launched on Tuesday.

Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for South and Central Asia, North Africa, UN and the Commonwealth and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, said:

“The floods in Pakistan have devastated local communities and the UK is providing up to £1.5 million to help the immediate aftermath. We are witnessing the catastrophe that climate change can cause and how it impacts the most vulnerable.

My thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and their families, and I would like to pay tribute to everyone involved in the relief efforts. We are also working directly with the Pakistan authorities to establish what further assistance and support they require. The UK stands with the people of Pakistan during this time of need.”

The UK also provides assistance to Pakistan through international organisations working directly with the victims of the disaster, including the World Bank and the United Nations.

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

Aidan Liddle, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the Conference on Disarmament. has given a speech at the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference.

Mr President

In taking the floor, especially under an Argentinian President, I am reminded of Jorge Luis Borges’ injunction not to speak unless you can improve the silence. I cannot promise to do that, but I will at least be brief.

We have finally reached the culmination of a seven-year review cycle. Throughout your almost three years as President-designate, and over the last four weeks of sometimes gruelling negotiations, you have guided us with great skill, professionalism, transparency, and good humour, and I thank you very sincerely for that. I know that you have been supported in this by a superb team, including the Chairs of the Main Committees and Subsidiary Bodies, by the Secretariat, led most ably by Mr Tudor, and by your own Argentinian team. Many others have facilitated and brokered discussions between delegations on various issues to prepare the ground for the final document you produced. You and they are all a credit to your services and your countries.

Mr President

That one delegation has prevented us from adopting a substantive consensus outcome document does not negate the four weeks of intensive discussions we have had on all aspects of our Treaty. I recognise that many delegations were disappointed at what was in your text—or perhaps rather what was not in it. But it was an honest attempt—by you and by all of us—to identify areas of agreement, which my delegation was ready to support. I deeply regret that it was unable to garner consensus.

That we were so close to reaching consensus is a tribute not only to how hard you and most delegations here have worked these past four weeks, but actually is also testament to the fact that there remains more that unites us than divides us.

But we cannot escape the fact that there are deep divisions, in this Treaty and in the world. They are only exacerbated by Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine. As well as trampling on the values and the Charter that underpin the United Nations, imperilling international peace and security, and plunging the world into a food crisis, Russia’s aggression also poses grave challenges to the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime and to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Many of us have highlighted those challenges consistently throughout this Review Conference, and they have been restated with admirable clarity in the statement delivered earlier by the distinguished Representative of France, with which my delegation fully associates itself. Perhaps it was inevitable that Russia would not allow this Conference to adopt a document that exposed those challenges to the world, even as obliquely as the one you put before us did. But they have been laid bare throughout these four weeks. Just as they have this evening, they try to to blame everyone but themselves for their actions. But while Russia can block the adoption of a document, or filibuster an international conference, they cannot hide from the world’s revulsion at their actions.

Mr President

Even if there is no common agreement on the way forward, our obligations under the NPT endure. Our prior commitments, from 1995, 2000 and 2010, remain valid. We must continue to make progress along this path, even if we have been unable to update the roadmap.

The United Kingdom will do its part. In particular, we look forward to taking forward, with Norway, the initiative on clarifying and applying the principle of irreversibility; to contributing to the working group on strengthening the review process that we have agreed to this evening; and to establishing, with the United States and 30 other partners who have joined so far, the Sustained Dialogue on expanding access to the peaceful uses of nuclear technologies. We also remain committed to working internationally to reduce the risk of nuclear conflict and enhance mutual trust and security—an increasingly urgent task.

Final document or no, the NPT remains, and will remain, the cornerstone of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation architecture, and makes a vital and integral contribution to international peace and security. The United Kingdom takes its obligations, commitments and responsibilities seriously. My country will continue to play its part in bringing about a safer world for all and achieving the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 25 August 2022.

The Prime Minister spoke to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi this afternoon, to welcome the cooperation between the UK and Egypt during his premiership and discuss ways to further boost the relationship between our countries.

The leaders highlighted increased trade, business and education links, including the creation of the UK-Egypt Investment Council and new investment opportunities in Egypt.

They also welcomed our countries’ close defence and security cooperation, and the Prime Minister thanked President Sisi for his role in helping to get grain out of Ukraine’s ports and on route to countries facing desperate food shortages as a result of Russia’s blockade.

The Prime Minister and President Sisi discussed resolving the consular case of Alaa Abdel Fattah, and the Prime Minister expressed his hope for swift and positive progress on the issue.

The leaders also looked ahead to the UK handing over the COP Presidency to Egypt at COP27 in November, emphasising the importance of driving forward the transformative action on climate change agreed in Glasgow last year.