Tag: Foreign Office

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

UK Statement at Bolivia’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Delivered on 21 January 2025.

Thank you, Mr President,

The United Kingdom thanks the Bolivian delegation for setting out its efforts to protect human rights and welcomes progress by Bolivia since its last review in 2019. We look forward to Bolivia developing further improvements in key areas.

We recommend that Bolivia:

1. Increase oversight and scrutiny as part of a wider plan to ensure the independence, impartiality and integrity of the Bolivian judiciary, in the next five years.
2. Strengthen and develop the training and capacity building of law enforcement and the judiciary, to enable the implementation of those laws designed to protect women and girls from violence and exploitation.
3. Takes steps to ensure greater legal and practical protection for journalists to enable them to fulfil their roles free from legal, political and economic pressure or harassment.

Thank you.

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

A key Russian cybercrime syndicate responsible for aiding merciless ransomware attacks around the world has been targeted by new UK sanctions.

• UK sanctions target Russian cyber entity, ZSERVERS responsible for facilitating crippling ransomware attacks globally
• targets also include 6 ZSERVERS members who are part of a prolific cybercrime supply chain, and their UK front company XHOST
• action on illicit Russian cybercrime syndicate is latest step to strengthen UK national security

Fresh sanctions are targeting ZSERVERS, a key component of the Russian cybercrime supply chain, and 6 of its members, as well as its UK front company, XHOST Internet Solutions LP. ZSERVERS provide vital infrastructure for cybercriminals as they plan and execute attacks against the UK.

The illicit supply chain protects, supports and conceals the operations of some of the world’s most ruthless ransomware gangs. Ransomware actors rely on these services to launch attacks, extort victims and store stolen data.

In the modern digital-first economy, cyber security is a non-negotiable cornerstone of business success. A secure digital economy is a less attractive target for cybercriminals and a more attractive home for investment, generating jobs and putting more money into hardworking people’s pockets, delivering on this government’s Plan for Change.

Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said:

Putin has built a corrupt mafia state driven by greed and ruthlessness. It is no surprise that the most unscrupulous extortionists and cyber-criminals run rampant from within his borders.

This government will continue to work with partners to constrain the Kremlin and the impact of Russia’s lawless cyber underworld. We must counter their actions at every opportunity to safeguard the UK’s national security and deliver on our Plan for Change.

Predatory ransomware groups pose a clear and persistent threat to national security, public services and privacy. These attacks threaten critical national infrastructure, disrupt essential services, compromise sensitive data and generated $1 billion from their victims globally in 2023 alone.

Minister of State for Security, Dan Jarvis, said:

Ransomware attacks by Russian affiliated cybercrime gangs are some of the most harmful cyber threats we face today and the government is tackling them head on. Denying cybercriminals the tools of their trade weakens their capacity to do serious harm to the UK.

We have already announced new world-first proposals to deter ransomware attacks and destroy their business model.  With these targeted sanctions and the full weight of our law enforcement, we are countering the threats we face to protect our national security, a foundation of our Plan for Change, and our economy.

ZSERVERS explicitly advertise themselves to illicit actors as a Bulletproof Hosting (BPH) Provider. Some BPH are known to host hackers, misinformation, child exploitation material, spam and hate speech. BPH providers like ZSERVERS, protect and enable cybercriminals, offering a range of purchasable tools which mask their locations, identities, and activities. Targeting these providers can disrupt hundreds or thousands of criminals simultaneously.

Today’s action is the latest in a series of coordinated steps alongside US and Australian partners, and comes off the back of recent sanctions against notorious ransomware groups LockBit and Evil Corp.

LockBit affiliates are known to have used ZSERVERS as a launch pad for targeting the UK, enabling ransomware attacks against various targets, including the non-profit sector.

Protecting the nation from threats both physical and digital sits at the foundation of the government’s Plan for Change. That is why we are moving through the entire ransomware pipeline step by step, cracking down on Russian cybercriminals that threaten the UK’s security, integrity, and prosperity.

Background

The full list of those sanctioned today:

• ZSERVERS
• XHOST Internet Solutions LP
• Aleksandr Bolshakov (employee)
• Aleksandr Mishin (employee)
• Ilya Sidorov (employee)
• Dmitriy Bolshakov (employee)
• Igor Odintsov (employee)
• Vladimir Ananev (employee)

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

Statement by Fergus Eckersley, UK Minister Counsellor, at the UN Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

The UK remains fully focused on tackling the continued threat from Daesh and its affiliates.

Whilst steady progress has been made by the international community to suppress Daesh, we cannot become complacent.

Daesh continues to exploit regional instability, drive division and seek new ways to finance its operations through emerging technology and this remains a global threat which we need to address collectively.

In the Middle East, after decades of atrocities committed by the Assad regime, the United Kingdom stands with the people of Syria and their desire to build a more stable, free and prosperous future.

We welcome continued efforts, including by the Global Coalition, to suppress Daesh and reduce the risk they pose as Syria embarks on this historic political transition.

Iraq also remains a critical partner – the reduction in Daesh’s influence and impact in Iraq is a credit to Iraqi determination and sustained military efforts, alongside Coalition partners.

The UK remains committed to achieving justice for survivors of Daesh crimes.

We will continue working with the Government of Iraq as they build on UNITAD’s legacy and deliver accountability through their National Centre for International Judicial Cooperation (NCIJC).

In Asia, ISKP continue to pose a threat despite work to combat them, including by Pakistan, and other countries in the region.

The UK continues to coordinate action against the group through the ISKP Diplomatic Grouping, targeting their propaganda and seeking to restrict their access to financial resources.

In Africa, Daesh continues to spread across large parts of the continent, threatening regional stability and inspiring individuals to conduct attacks.

The African Union plays a central role in coordinating the international response, and the UK welcomes, for example. the renewed mandate of the Multinational Joint Task Force and the recent deployment of the AU Support and Stabilisation Mission to Somalia.

Finally, we cannot fight terrorism with force alone.

A whole of society approach with the meaningful participation of women is needed to address the long-term drivers of terrorism.

The protection of human rights and rule of law should be at the heart of all of our efforts.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 February 2025.

UK and others regret cancellation of OSCE election observation and call on Tajikistan to engage constructively with ODIHR.

Mr. Chair,

I am delivering this statement on behalf of the following participating States: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and my own country Canada.

We thank the European Union for adding this item to the agenda today.

In Istanbul in 1999, participating States committed to invite observers to elections from other participating States, ODIHR, and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and to follow up on ODIHR’s election assessment and recommendations.

In this context, we deeply regret that the authorities of Tajikistan have not accredited OSCE/ODIHR election observers in a timely manner, nor made assurances that they would do so.

This has resulted in the cancellation of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission for the upcoming parliamentary elections and has denied the people of Tajikistan an impartial and independent assessment of the elections.

As ODIHR has stated, host governments need to provide the necessary conditions for the effective and unrestricted operation of election observation missions. Prolonged uncertainty surrounding accreditation undermines the integrity of the process.

Fulfilling these necessary conditions is an integral part of meeting OSCE commitments on the invitation of observers. We regret that not all OSCE participating States have chosen to uphold their commitments in this regard.

We thank ODIHR for its efforts in preparing and deploying the Election Observation Mission to Tajikistan.  We fully support ODIHR’s mandate, autonomy and their well-proven and objective election monitoring methodology.

We encourage Tajikistan to engage constructively with ODIHR on previous election recommendations, as well as on ODIHR’s support for meeting OSCE commitments to strengthen democracy and human rights, including on free, fair and genuine elections.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 February 2025.

UK Statement for the UN Human Rights Council Special Session on the situation in the DRC. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

Thank you Mr President.

Let me begin by commending the Democratic Republic of the Congo for convening this special session. We welcome its broad support from across the African Continent.

The situation in eastern DRC has received far too little attention for far too long, including by this Council. We condemn the recent offensive by M23 and Rwandan Defence Forces, which has worsened an already dire humanitarian situation.

We call on all parties to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to allow the delivery of life-saving assistance. In particular, the UK calls on M23 and Rwanda to re-open Goma airport as a matter of utmost urgency.

The scale of sexual and gender-based violence across eastern DRC is atrocious. We are horrified by reports of the brutal rape and murder of hundreds of women in Goma’s Munzenze Prison.

We must respond robustly and collectively to ensure a thorough investigation and bring an end to impunity.

The UK is convinced of the need to use all available Council mechanisms to address the human rights situation.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 February 2025.

UK to drive international cooperation on irregular migration as host of Western Balkans Summit.

• UK to host major summit with Western Balkans leaders in Autumn 2025
• summit will boost cooperation with Western Balkans partners to tackle irregular migration along key transit routes, delivering on the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change
• diplomat Karen Pierce appointed as the UK’s Special Envoy to the Western Balkans

The UK will host leaders of the 6 Western Balkans countries and other European leaders later this year for a crucial international summit to support stability, security and economic co-operation in the region.

It will also focus on how to work together to combat the region being used as a transit route for irregular migration, with the government focussed on using every tool at its disposal to control the UK’s borders.

Known formally as the ‘Berlin Process’, the summit will strengthen cooperation with European partners to help deliver on the UK government’s strategy to strengthen borders, smash the gangs, and get those with no right to be here returned to their countries.

As one of the UK’s most experienced diplomats, Dame Karen Pierce DCMG has been appointed the UK Special Envoy to the Western Balkans, charged with driving forward the UK’s strategic objectives across the region, including preparations for the summit.

The summit comes as the UK develops a world first sanctions regime to snare people smugglers upstream.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

The Western Balkans is of long-standing importance to the UK, and our partnerships in the region are central to our efforts to tackle irregular migration and bear down on the evil trade in human lives. Hosting the Berlin Process in the UK demonstrates our commitment to European Security, and to delivering on the government’s Plan for Change.

With her experience and expertise, Dame Karen Pierce is the ideal person to drive this important work forward. I would like to thank Lord Peach for his personal dedication and service in advancing UK interests in the Western Balkans over the past 3 years.

Minister for Border Security and Asylum Angela Eagle said:

Co-operation is key if we want to stop people making dangerous journeys to the UK. Which is why, through the Border Security Command, we are rebuilding strong relationships across Europe and beyond to address the common challenge of irregular migration and secure our borders.

This government has already agreed new deals to increase operational co-operation on organised immigration crime with countries including North Macedonia, Serbia, and Kosovo. Our international work, alongside a stronger immigration enforcement approach being taken in the UK, will ensure we are breaking the business model of the people-smuggling gangs at every level.

The UK’s hosting of the summit in partnership with Germany underlines this government’s commitment to resetting its relationships with Europe, and the latest step in the government’s strategy to build enduring partnerships to bear down on criminal groups facilitating irregular migration. The announcement follows the Prime Minister hosting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the weekend.

Last month, the Foreign Secretary visited Tunisia to boost support for projects to tackle the drivers of small boat arrivals in Europe and the UK. In January, the UK also announced plans for the world’s first sanctions regime to take down people smuggling rings and starve them of illicit finance fuelling their operations.

With 3 NATO allies present in the region, the Western Balkans is of critical importance for UK and European security. The risk of instability increasing: regional tensions are aided by malign Russian influence and there is an urgent need to crack down on criminal gangs who have made the region into a major transit route for irregular migration across Europe.

The UK’s Special Envoy will also contribute to wider missions of the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, including working to disrupt organised crime groups to make Britain’s streets safer and promote opportunities for British businesses to deliver economic growth.

Before serving as British Ambassador to the United States, Dame Karen Pierce was the UK’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York – the first female officer to hold each position. She will take up her new position in the spring, taking over from Air Chief Marshal The Lord Peach KG GBE KCB DL.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 6 February 2025.

The Prime Minister met Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof in Downing Street today.

The leaders reflected on the UK and Netherlands’ strong friendship and shared approach to global challenges. They talked about the successes of existing cooperation on tackling organised crime, including the people smuggling gangs driving illegal migration. The Prime Minister set out the UK’s approach to disrupting these criminals, and agreed further cooperation with the Netherlands on this issue.

The Prime Minister then reflected on his attendance at the Informal European Council meeting in Brussels on Monday, and his ambition to strengthen cooperation with the EU for mutual benefit through the UK-EU reset.

Discussing Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine, the Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s iron-clad support and the leaders underscored their commitment to working together so that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position.  They agreed to work towards a new bilateral security partnership led by their Foreign Ministers.

Turning to technology and innovation, the leaders agreed on the importance of moving at pace to seize on the opportunities offered by new and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, quantum and semiconductors, and agreed to pursue a new innovation partnership to accelerate growth in key technologies.

On the subject of energy, the Prime Minister shared details on his plans to make it easier to build nuclear infrastructure in the UK. The leaders agreed to work towards a new agreement on sustainable energy, including nuclear, and both agreed on the importance of energy security.

The leaders looked forward to the fact direct Eurostar services between London and the Netherlands are set to restart on Monday, and hoped to speak again soon.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 February 2025.

A three-year project will provide tools for families in climate sensitive areas to better plan the management of their landscapes and improve well-being of indigenous and ladino communities.

The British Ambassador to Guatemala, Juliana Correa, and the Vice Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Edwin Castellanos, attended on 6 February in Chiquimula the launch of workshop for the project “Nature-based solutions for climate resilience of indigenous and local communities in Guatemala”, a UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme funded through the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate (GCBC) by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in the United Kingdom.

The project has a duration of three years and will invest more than US$1million (£847,784) in communities in the Departments of Alta Verapaz and Chiquimula.  Activities on the ground will be implemented by the University of Greenwich, the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Centre (CATIE), the University of Valle of Guatemala (UVG), and the Federation of Cooperatives of the Verapaces R.L. (FEDECOVERA).

The project aims to facilitate the integration of traditional and scientific knowledge about nature to plan a more climate-resilient landscape through the implementation of nature-based solutions. It will assess the effectiveness of different reforestation systems and their contribution to climate resilience; support indigenous and local communities to document their understanding of nature’s contribution to their livelihoods; and develop guidelines and tools for the co-design of nature-based solutions for climate resilience and justice at a multi-stakeholder level.

In Alta Verapaz activities will focus on a high rainfall montane region populated by Q’eqchi’ communities whose main income sources come from cardamom, coffee and timber production. FEDECOVERA represents some 40,000 Q’eqchi’ families supporting their access to Fairtrade, Organic, and Forest Stewardship Council certified markets.

Interventions in Chiquimula will cover the “dry corridor” populated with Maya Chorti and ladino communities near the border with Honduras and El Salvador. The project will identify with local communities how to improve environmental resilience to flooding and drought that affects traditional and commercial cropping systems.

The evidence collected will contribute to building capacity in local and national environmental planning processes, and environmental regulations and incentives adapted to the needs of local communities in Guatemala. Lessons from the application of these processes will be shared to inform climate change planning processes in the country and Central America.

Juliana Correa, British Ambassador to Guatemala, said:

A top priority of our Foreign Secretary is to support indigenous peoples’ rights and their role in protecting forests. The UK is committed to provide funding for nature, forests, and forest communities, particularly their livelihoods and their rights to protect that nature.  I’m looking forward to seeing the wider impact of this project in Guatemala.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 February 2025.

Ambassador Holland thanks Minister Bettel for outlining Luxembourg’s priorities at the Council of Europe, and for the close collaboration with the OSCE.

Thank you Chair. And may I express my condolences – and those of my delegation and country – to our Swedish colleagues for the tragic school attack this week. Our thoughts are with you and the families and friends of the victims.

Minister Bettel welcome to the Permanent Council. Thank you for your presentation and for your commitment to the work of the Council of Europe as Chair of the Committee of Ministers. The Council of Europe has been, and will continue to be, hugely important to the UK’s human rights and foreign policy agenda.

The longstanding relationship between the OSCE and the Council of Europe is rooted in the promotion of human rights, democracy and rule of law – values that the UK is firmly committed to uphold. Respect for these common principles defines our shared endeavours in Vienna and in Strasbourg. Values such as the rule of law not only provide the freedoms which allow people to interact with each other in their day-to-day lives but also matter for growth, jobs and people’s livelihoods.

We meet today at a particularly challenging time for European Security, with Russia‘s unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine about to enter a fourth year. We call on all OSCE participating States to uphold our common commitments to shared security on our continent.  We must strengthen Ukraine’s position to keep fighting through 2025 and beyond – for the sake of Ukraine itself, and Euro-Atlantic security.

The UK is proud to be Chair of the Conference of Participants for the Register of Damage for Ukraine. The Register, now with over 14,000 claims, serves as a significant step towards securing justice for the Ukrainian people.

The Council of Europe and the OSCE share much common ground – tackling serious organised crime and human trafficking, counter-terrorism, as well as promoting free and fair elections, media freedom, and gender rights. As both the OSCE and the Council of Europe face up to a series of common challenges this year, including a difficult security environment and – as you rightly say – the challenges of democratic backsliding, it is important that we continue to recognise each organisation’s individual merits and distinctiveness. We need to work in a coordinated way to employ the unique set of instruments and tools which each organisation offers to its States.

Minister Bettel – like your country, the UK is, and will remain, a steadfast supporter of the work of both the Council of Europe and the OSCE. We offer you, and your team, our best wishes for your work throughout your Presidency.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 February 2025.

The Russian Ambassador was summoned for a meeting to revoke the accreditation of a Russian diplomat.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said:

We have summoned the Russian Ambassador for a meeting with a senior British official to revoke the accreditation of a Russian diplomat.

This is in response to Russia’s unprovoked and baseless decision to strip the accreditation of a British diplomat in Moscow in November.

The UK will not stand for intimidation of our staff in this way, and so we are taking reciprocal action.

Any further action taken by Russia will be considered an escalation and responded to accordingly.