Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 May 2025.

Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

I will make three points.

First, as we’ve heard, the impact of those missing in conflict is lasting and devastating with families forced to live without knowledge of the fate of their loved ones.

As we’ve heard, the ICRC registered 56,000 new cases of missing persons in 2024 alone.

The United Kingdom supported the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 2474.

This requires parties to armed conflict to help reunite and reconnect separated families, to collect and protect information on missing persons, and to return remains to relatives.

Yet in too many cases these requirements have not been fulfilled.

As Ms Lee made clear, despite decades passing, DPRK has still not shared information about those it abducted with their families.

It is critical that all parties and stakeholders comply with resolution 2474 and IHL provisions, and that the ICRC and relevant actors are granted access to information on persons reported missing and to those detained or taken hostage.

Second, conflicts around the world continue to tear people away from their loved ones.

This includes in Ukraine, where thousands remain missing, including tens of thousands of children forcibly deported to Russia.

In Syria, over 130,000 people remain missing, and we welcome the new Syrian Government’s commitment to establish a national commission to clarify their fate.

Third, I want also to highlight the unimaginable ordeal faced by hostages held by Hamas.

This Council has heard first-hand from former hostages Eli Sharabi and Noa Argamani of the cruel and dehumanising treatment they were subjected to.

Hamas must be held accountable for its despicable actions.

We welcome the release of Edan Alexander who was reunited with his family this week. But as we heard from Ms Chen today, many more families continue to wait in agony.

This also includes the families of Avinatan Or, Yossi Sharabi, and Shay Levinson, who have strong links to the UK.

President, a ceasefire in Gaza is the best way to bring the hostages home, end the suffering of Palestinians and bring us back to much needed peace. Far too many have lost their lives and been torn away from their families.

No-one should have to suffer this fate, whether in Gaza or elsewhere in the world.

It is time for the spirit of SCR 2474 to be realised for the sake of all those who remain missing.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 May 2025.

Mr Colin Martin-Reynolds CMG has been appointed Governor of the Falkland Islands and His Majesty’s Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in succession to Ms Alison Blake CMG. Mr Martin-Reynolds will take up his appointment during July 2025.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Colin Martin-Reynolds

Date	Role
2023 to 2025	FCDO, Director, Organisational Improvement
2022 to 2023	FCDO, Director, Covid-19 Inquiry Unit
2019 to 2022	Bogota, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
2018	Pre-posting training (including Spanish language training)
2013 to 2018	FCO, Chief Information Officer
2011 to 2013	Brasilia, Deputy Head of Mission
2008 to 2010	FCO, Programme Director, Corporate Services Programme
2004 to 2008	Washington, First Secretary then Counsellor Change Management and Consul-General
2002 to 2004	FCO, Deputy Head, Human Resources Directorate
2001 to 2002	FCO, Team Leader, Southern Africa Section, Africa Directorate
1998 to 2001	FCO, Private Secretary to Minister of State
1997 to 1998	FCO, Political Section, United Nations Department
1995 to 1997	Worldwide, short-term assignments
1994 to 1994	Kyiv, Political Section
1992 to 1994	Nicosia, Political Section
1990 to 1992	FCO, Desk Officer, Migration Department

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 May 2025.

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

I will make three points.

First, let me express the UK’s deep concern at the escalation of violence which has occurred in Tripoli over recent days.

This has included the use of heavy weaponry in densely populated areas, resulting in credible reports of civilian casualties.

This most recent escalation underscores the urgent need for a credible, UN-facilitated political process that can deliver lasting peace, stability and security for the Libyan people.

We welcome recent reports that the Libyan parties have agreed on a ceasefire and we urge that it be fully and unconditionally respected.

Secondly, we welcome the continued progress made by the Office of the Prosecutor during this reporting period.

We note, for example, the 20 additional Missions undertaken by the Office of the Prosecutor over recent months and especially welcome the increased engagement with civil society organisations described in the briefing today.

The unsealing of the arrest warrant against Osama Elmasry Njeem represents a further positive step, further strengthening the Office’s work in relation to crimes allegedly committed in detention facilities in Libya.

As mentioned in the briefing today, the national authorities in the UK engaged closely with the Court in relation to this matter, including freezing Mr Njeem’s bank accounts in the United Kingdom.

We were pleased to read in the report of some positive steps taken by the authorities in Libya over recent months. This includes the arrest of a number of perpetrators of crimes allegedly committed in Tarhunah, at least two of whom remain subject to ICC arrest warrants.

However, we also note that the Office of the Prosecutor has requested further assistance, both in order to gain access to investigative files and to assist with the surrender of suspects.

We also warmly welcome the decision just announced by the government of Libya to submit a declaration under Article 12, Paragraph 3 of the Rome Statute. This is clearly an important and very positive development.

Mr President, it is clear that cooperation remains key to the Court’s work. It is therefore important that all States fulfil their obligations pursuant to UN Security Council resolution 1970 and the Rome Statute, including in relation to those subject to ICC arrest warrants.

Mr President, let me conclude by reiterating the UK’s strong support for the International Criminal Court and for its independence.

It is important that the Court is able to carry out its mandate free from sanctions or other measures which interfere with the work of the Court or its officials.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 May 2025.

Ambassador Holland welcomes the work of the OSCE Office amid a challenging financial backdrop.

Thank you Mr Chair.

First, I would like to welcome Ambassador Karttunen to the Permanent Council. Thank you to you and your team for your report, and for your informative presentation.

Chair, the United Kingdom has continued to build our relationship with Uzbekistan and is committed to supporting the government in carrying out its wide-ranging reforms. Last year our governments signed a joint declaration covering all aspects of the bilateral relationship, and this year we have signed an agreement on expanding our cooperation on Critical Minerals. We look forward to further cooperation in the coming years.

We welcome the close cooperation between the Government of Uzbekistan and the Project Coordinator and commend the Project Coordinator’s work across the three dimensions.

In the first dimension, we welcome the work the Project Coordinator is doing on border security. We were pleased to be able to support this effort by facilitating training for the Customs Committee of Uzbekistan last year by Surrey Police aimed at strengthening the capacity of Uzbek instructors to effectively use dogs in detecting drugs, cash, and firearms.

In the second dimension, we commend the work of the Project Coordinator on climate change and water management, and we are proud donors to the OSCE project on “strengthening responses to security risks from climate change in Central Asia”. We recognise the particular vulnerabilities Central Asian states have to climate change and its consequences. That is why we are funding a regional programme to improve Central Asia’s resilience and sovereignty by strengthening regional cooperation on water and energy to deliver low carbon and climate resilient growth.

And in the third dimension, we note the positive steps taken – as identified by ODIHR and the RFoM – in the draft information code.  These include a ban on censorship and media monopolisation, and the requirement for free access to and use of information for everyone without discrimination. We encourage the Government of Uzbekistan to address concerns raised about concentrating media regulation under the government rather than an independent regulatory body, and the broad grounds for restricting content and suspending media activities.

In closing, let me thank you Ambassador Karttunen and your dedicated team in Uzbekistan for their efforts in upholding the principles of the OSCE and ensuring your important work continues – particularly in light of the considerable challenges caused by the continued non-agreement of the Unified Budget.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 May 2025.

Ambassador Holland welcomes talks in Istanbul and urges Russia to end the bloodshed in Ukraine and show it is serious about peace or face further sanctions.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

Ukraine has agreed, in-principle, to a full and unconditional ceasefire. Because only when missiles and drones stop, and the deaths of innocent civilians end, can discussions towards a just and lasting peace begin.

Last weekend the UK, the US and our European partners reiterated our call on Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire now, as Ukraine has done, and create the space for talks.

Rather than seize this opportunity, Russia continues to stall. Instead of an unconditional ceasefire, they have again moved the goal posts, calling for talks to resolve the conflict’s so-called ‘root causes’. This is code for maximalist demands which would deny Ukraine its sovereignty and territorial integrity and do not meaningfully shift the dial.

We welcome today’s talks and thank Türkiye for agreeing to host them. We call on Russia to engage in good faith in the US-led peace efforts. In keeping with his commitment to ending this war, President Zelenskyy has agreed to direct talks with President Putin, an offer which we now know has been rebuffed. We commend President Zelenskyy for this decision.

Mr Chair, last week we saw another supposed three-day ‘ceasefire’ from Russia. Just like the truce at Easter, this was a smokescreen intended to portray Russia as the party of peace.

In reality, Russia’s death and destruction continued. According to the Ukrainian authorities, there were over 700 Russian violations between midnight and midday last Thursday alone. Aerial bombings killed at least three civilians in Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Sumy.

And Russia ramped up its attacks in the days after this ‘ceasefire’ just as it did at Easter. At least six civilians have been killed and dozens more injured. Civilian infrastructure has been destroyed in Odesa and elsewhere in Ukraine.

The gulf between the Russian state’s words and its actions could not be wider. But the urgency is real. April was the deadliest month in Ukraine for child casualties since June 2022. Normal lives, homes and families destroyed.

We will not stand by while the Kremlin delays and denies. The UK and our allies are prepared to impose further sanctions if Russia fails to demonstrate that it is serious about peace. And we will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Now, more than ever, Russia must heed the world’s call and agree to end the bloodshed.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 May 2025.

NATO Allies are in Turkey to underline the Alliance’s support for Ukraine and commitment to a secure and stable Euro-Atlantic.

• UK leading calls for Europe to support Ukraine
• UK and NATO Allies will commit to building a stronger, fairer and more lethal NATO at meeting of foreign ministers in Antalya
• visit follows UK hosted talks with European partners on bolstering security and support for Ukraine

As President Zelenskyy further demonstrates his commitment to peace by travelling to Istanbul for direct talks with Russia, NATO Allies are gathering in Turkey today to underline the Alliance’s support for Ukraine and commitment to a secure and stable Euro-Atlantic, with a stronger, fairer and more lethal NATO at its core.

At the NATO informal Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Antalya, the Foreign Secretary will lead calls for the strongest Alliance in history to stand united in the face of a generational threat from our adversaries, and stand behind Ukraine to secure a just and lasting peace. Security is the foundation of our Plan for Change and central to this government’s plans to deliver growth and prosperity to British working people.

Ahead of the Hague Summit in June, Allies are meeting in Antalya with a clear message that NATO must step up together to meet this critical moment for our collective security. The Foreign Secretary will say that Europe must shoulder more responsibility for its own security, as security threats from Russia and its enablers continue to mount.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

Today, President Zelenskyy is in Turkey in a further demonstration of his commitment to peace, ready to enter talks direct with Russia and continuing to push for a full ceasefire as a first crucial step.

As myself and my fellow NATO Allies also travel to Turkey, we are united alongside Ukraine in our determination to secure a just and lasting peace. We are working to deliver more for our collective security and bring this barbaric war to an end.

Euro-Atlantic security is the foundation of our Plan for Change. Without the security NATO provides, we cannot deliver the growth and prosperity the British people deserve.

During his remarks in an informal meeting of the North Atlantic Council, the Foreign Secretary will update on UK steps to protect Euro-Atlantic security and disrupt Russia’s reckless actions to force Putin’s hand. He will say that every step the Alliance takes to increase pressure on Russia and achieve peace in Ukraine is another step towards security and prosperity at home and abroad.

Earlier this week, 6 spies working for Russia were sentenced in the UK, as the UK cracks down on Russian espionage attempts on British soil. The successful convictions came about as a result of close international cooperation with a number of NATO Allies, including Bulgaria, France and Germany, demonstrating a unified front against hostile Russian activity.

The visit follows the UK-hosted Weimar+ meeting on Monday, where representatives from France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland and the EU joined the Foreign Secretary in London to share Europe’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s right to peace and freedom.

It also comes after the Prime Minister’s visit to Oslo last week where the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) announced enhanced support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces through intensive training exercises, increasing interoperability across military platforms and enhancing countering disinformation support as well as allowing JEF Nations to learn from the battlefield experience of Ukraine’s armed forces.

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

An official from the UK’s Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) engaged with stakeholders in Guatemala to advance energy transition.

Mitchell Lloyd, Senior Policy Advisor on International Energy Transition at DENZ visited Guatemala 12-14 May.  He met with the General Directorate of Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, other government departments, private sector and international financing institutions developing clean energy initiatives in Guatemala.

The discussions included a series of topics ranging from the need to galvanize global and local leadership and foster international cooperation on a clean energy transition, to unlocking clean growth, job opportunities and build robust clean energy supply chains.

Guatemala has significant potential to develop clean energy projects, with a renewable capacity potential of 3,700 MW that could be integrated into the country’s electricity grid between 2024 and 2040. This includes various sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy.

The visit supports the UK’s government mission to become a clean energy superpower, protecting households from unstable fossil fuel markets, including coal, while at the same time unlocking job opportunities at home and abroad for the clean energy sector.

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

Ambassador Holland reiterates the UK’s support to Ukraine, calls on Russia to end its war and to use this unique Forum for risk-reduction, even in crisis.

Thank you Madam Chair, dear Kaja, and to the Secretary General, for setting out Estonia’s priorities for the Forum for Security Co-operation this Trimester.  You can count on the UK’s continued support, as you chair our Forum at this crucial time for Euro-Atlantic Security.

Madam Chair, as we know, the FSC’s mandate is broad and has rightly evolved over decades.  In 1996, our Heads of State and Government adopted a Decision tasking the Forum to manage “preventive diplomacy, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation”.  In the 1996 Budapest Document, Ministers tasked the FSC with: “tackling regional security problems (including crises) flexibly in ways appropriate to each case”.  So not only did our Ministers mandate the Forum to manage risk-reduction, they also saw value in our politico-military dialogue continuing even in times of crisis.

The OSCE has an extensive acquis and toolkit to do this work.  But it relies on political will to be effective.  Participating States have used the toolkit, including transparency mechanisms, to offer de-escalation.  For example, by Georgia in 2008, by Ukraine – twenty times – in 2014, and again by Ukraine in 2022.  As these examples proved, transparency mechanisms can offer a ladder to defuse a situation or at least an early warning indicator.  But no tool can substitute for the political will required to de-escalate.  Especially if that State has decided to invade, as Russia’s actions have shown so clearly.

Madam Chair, the Code of Conduct commits us to act in solidarity if OSCE norms and commitments are violated.  As catalogued by the OSCE Moscow Mechanisms, ODIHR and UN, there is irrefutable independent evidence of Russia violating international law.  As per the Code, such breaches are a “direct and legitimate” concern for us all.

That is why our weekly statements will continue reiterating our support for Ukraine and calling for Russia to end its war and return to abiding by the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act.  That is why we welcome Estonia’s three Security Dialogue topics on the Code of Conduct; Women, Peace & Security; and protection of children in armed conflicts, keeping a focus on Russia’s invasion.  That is also why we will keep on using this Forum and its tools to execute our mandate, including on risk-reduction and voluntary briefs on military exercises.

Madam Chair, our Ministers mandated the Forum to hold a weekly politico-military dialogue in order to execute our vital mandate.  We can only do that if we respect the Forum and meet weekly to fulfil, not to frustrate, its work.

I wish to conclude by welcoming Finland to the FSC Troika, and to thank Denmark for their work as they leave the Troika.  And most importantly, I wish you, Madam Chair, and your able teams here in Vienna and in Tallinn the best of luck this Trimester.  You can count on the support of the UK delegation.

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

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen.

First, the UK remains committed to restoring freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Red Sea.

We welcome recent efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region and we hope these efforts can help provide the pathway to sustainable peace in Yemen in line with the Special Envoy’s efforts.

As we have seen with continued threats against neighbouring countries and worrying posturing on the frontlines in Yemen, the risk of escalation remains.

Through a coordinated international approach, the UK will continue to work towards effectively containing Houthi capabilities.

Maritime security is essential in upholding stability in the region.

The UK continues to support the Yemen Coast Guard in protecting their maritime borders, and we look forward to launching the Yemen Maritime Security Partnership alongside the Government of Yemen and international partners in June.

Second, as highlighted by Ms El Mamoun, women face a disproportionate impact from the conflict in Yemen.

In 2023, Yemen ranked second-to-last in the Georgetown Institute’s Women, Peace and Security Index, and we have not seen progress since then.

According to the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, most of the 4.8 million internally displaced people are women, and 6.2 million women and girls are at risk of gender-based violence.

Last year, UK funding supported nearly 1.5 million women and children with essential lifesaving services and enabled 15,000 to receive protection and gender-based violence response services.

The UK continues to champion the important role that women can play in both ending the conflict in Yemen and upholding sustainable peace.

In November 2024, the UK hosted a group of Yemeni women leaders and experts on the women, peace and security agenda to provide a vital platform for these important voices.

The UK also remains committed to supporting the UN Special Envoy’s work to meaningfully engage women activists and women-led organisations to deliver inclusive and sustainable peace in Yemen.

Third, President, as USG Fletcher has said, the humanitarian situation is severe.

The UK continues to condemn the ongoing detentions of aid workers by the Houthis, and we reiterate our clear call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained.

The Houthis’ unjustified detention of aid workers continues to shrink the humanitarian operating environment in a context where nearly 20 million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

And finally, we are grateful for the efforts of Dr Ahmad bin Mubarak, the former Prime Minister of Yemen, and we welcome the new Prime Minister, Salem Bin Breik.

We look forward to working together with the new Prime Minister and continuing our support to the Government of Yemen’s ambitious reform programme.

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

Mr Qudsi Rasheed OBE has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to The State of Kuwait in succession to Ms Belinda Lewis who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.  Mr Rasheed will take up his appointment during September 2025.

Curriculum vitae

Full Name: Qudsi Rasheed

Year	Role
2021 to 2024	Cairo, Deputy Head of Mission
2020 to 2021	Full Time Language Training (Arabic), FCDO four months as Deputy Director Covid Task Force
2018 to 2020	FCO later FCDO, Deputy Director Multilateral Policy and Head of Sanctions Unit
2017 to 2018	Beirut, Head of UK Syria Office
2014 to 2017	UKRep Brussels, External Relations (Relex) Counsellor
2011 to 2014	FCO, Legal Adviser, Legal Directorate
2011	Joined FCO
2008 to 2011	Barrister (called to the Bar of England and Wales)
2007 to 2009	UCL and King’s College London, Visiting Lecturer