Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 December 2024.

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

Colleagues, Iran continues to develop its nuclear programme to levels that lack any credible civilian justification.

Iran is not only failing to uphold its JCPoA commitments, it is peddling dangerous and escalatory rhetoric around its nuclear capability and doctrine.

And Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium is already more than 32 times JCPoA limits.

On 6 December the IAEA reported that Iran had significantly increased its production rate of 60% high enriched uranium, which is now approximately five times higher than a month ago.

There is no justification for Iran’s stockpiling of high enriched uranium, which gives it the capability to rapidly produce enough fissile material for multiple nuclear weapons.

Iran is the only state without nuclear weapons to enrich uranium at this level.

We should be under no illusions as to Iran’s growing capabilities.

Iran’s nuclear programme has never been so advanced. And the IAEA can no longer assure us that its purposes are exclusively peaceful.

We should all be worried about what this means for global non-proliferation.

President, Iran has a choice: it can continue to escalate over the coming months, or it can choose diplomacy.

It must choose the latter. The UK and our E3 partners are determined to reach a diplomatic solution. We will continue to engage Iran to find a constructive way forward.

But let us be clear. With UNSCR 2231 set to expire next October, we are reaching a critical juncture. We will take every diplomatic step to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, including the triggering of snapback if necessary.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 December 2024.

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

Colleagues, this is a moment of hope and a new chapter for the Syrian people. They have suffered enormously under the Assad regime’s cruel grip.

It is a moment to mourn and seek accountability for those that have been lost and a chance to ensure that the nation handed down to future generations is one built on democracy, stability and peaceful co-existence.

I will focus on three points addressing the transitional period, humanitarian support and accountability.

First, the transition period.

We cannot underestimate the challenge ahead. The UK, alongside the UN and our Arab, US and EU partners has been clear that the Syrian people have our full support as they proceed with the momentous task of building their future.

We call on the new interim authorities to support an inclusive political dialogue on Syria’s future governance, protect the rights of all individuals, respect international humanitarian law and develop a process of equitable justice and accountability. We will judge them by their actions. The world is watching.

Of course, the fall of Assad does not mean that security in Syria will automatically improve. We must remain seized of the threat of a Daesh resurgence, and the UK is fully committed to supporting Syria’s fight against terrorism.

Respect for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is crucial for the peace and security of the region. We call on all parties to cease hostilities in Syria.

Second, humanitarian support.

This is an opportunity to end the suffering that Syrians have endured for far too long. We welcome the positive engagement that the Emergency Relief Coordinator has had in Syria with the new interim authorities.

We have seen millions of Syrians displaced from their homes, without proper access to food, medicine, basic services or an education for their children.

For those returning home and seeking to rebuild their lives, the international community must stand together to support their immediate needs.

In the past week the UK has announced an additional $78 million aid package to support the most vulnerable Syrians, including Syrian refugees across the region.

Third, accountability.

We stand with the hundreds of thousands of Syrians who were arbitrarily detained, tortured and murdered at the hands of the regime. We also remember the men, women and children of Ghouta, Douma and Khan Shaykhun, victims of Assad’s horrific use of chemical weapons.

We, the international community, must continue to pursue accountability for these atrocities, including the preservation of records, alongside full implementation of Resolution 2118.

The UK has provided a further $150,000 to the OPCW Syria missions to help rid Syria of its chemical weapons stockpile once and for all.

President, as we look to 2025 and beyond, we call on the international community to come together and support Syria as it seeks the future it has waited for. The future it has fought for. And the future it deserves.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 December 2024.

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

President, it is a tragedy and an outrage that once again we are having to address the appalling impacts of Russia’s illegal invasion. I would like to make three points.

First, the humanitarian cost of Russia’s barbaric war has been immense. This year, 14.6 million people, 40 per cent of Ukraine’s population, required humanitarian assistance.

At least 10,000 civilians have been killed and over 18,500 injured. 6 million Ukrainian refugees are registered across Europe and 3.6 million people are internally displaced in Ukraine.

This winter, following a total of 12 major strikes on their energy system in 2024, Ukrainians face limited access to power, water and heating. The most recent of these came last Friday.

Over the course of these attacks, all three of Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants have been forced to reduce generation and millions have been left without power.

The targeting of substations providing electricity to nuclear plants directly threatens the safety of Ukraine and the wider region.

In this regard, we welcome the resolution adopted by the IAEA’s Board of Governors last week.

Russia’s suggestion to the IAEA that the solution to the threat, that Russia itself is causing, is to put the affected power stations into cold shut down.

This cynically ignores the further humanitarian impact this would have on the civilian population.

The solution is simpler. Russia should cease these reckless attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and adhere to the IAEA DG’s “Seven Pillars for Nuclear Safety and Security.”

Second, President, recent Russian operations have triggered significant displacement in the east including of the elderly and less mobile, and people with disabilities requiring specialised assistance. People are hiding in basements, with no access to services.

The humanitarian operating environment remains increasingly difficult. Russia continues to block meaningful access for humanitarian organisations to occupied areas.

Over the past two months, the number of security incidents directly impacting aid delivery has significantly increased.

Third, the UK is providing $126 million in humanitarian aid this year, bringing our total contribution to over $576 million.

We have also contributed over $80 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund since the start of the full-scale invasion and committed nearly $467 million in grants and loans overall to the energy sector.

Continued provision of air defence to defend Ukraine against Russian strikes remains vital.

In conclusion, we call on the Russian Federation to uphold its commitments under the UN Charter by withdrawing its troops from Ukraine and ending this brutal war.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 December 2024.

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

Colleagues, the briefers have given us a stark assessment of the fragile stalemate in Libya. The current situation is unsustainable, with some Libyan actors pursuing their own interests, only benefiting a handful of Libya’s elites. The Libyan people deserve political stability in a unified country with peace, security and prosperity.

I would like to make three points today.

First, we welcome the successful first phase of municipal elections in Libya, marking the first time Libyans have gone to the polls in over a decade. We must build on this success, and we call on Libyan authorities to provide the necessary resources and leadership for the second phase.

Second, we welcome the plan DSRSG Koury has outlined today for a new, inclusive, Libyan-led effort to lead the country towards elections and a sustainable, secure, prosperous future.

The UN plan provides a framework, but the solutions can only come from Libyans themselves. We encourage Libya’s leaders to engage with the UN process in good faith and with the spirit of compromise, for the benefit of all Libyans.

We stress our continued support to UNSMIL and DSRSG Koury in the implementation of her plan to achieve a long-term political solution and to enable elections.

Third, we welcome the Panel of Experts recent report and recommendations. We share their concerns around the continued ineffectiveness of the arms embargo, the increasing smuggling of diesel, and the violations and abuses of human rights.

We look forward to working with Council members to renew the sanctions regime and panel of expert’s mandate next month.

Finally, President, we encourage the UN to appoint a new Special Representative as soon as possible.

President, with international unity and the engagement of Libya’s leaders, we can work together to find political solutions and enable a better future for the Libyan people. The UK fully supports the efforts of the UN and DSRSG Koury in achieving this.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 December 2024.

International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Chair Lord Pickles spoke about the impact of artificial intelligence on Holocaust education and remembrance.

Welcome to Lancaster House. It may seem very familiar to those who have watched the Crown or Sherlock Holmes. Lancaster House is often used to portray Buckingham Palace. Personally, I think Lancaster House is a much nicer, more comfy house. I am pleased you could all come today. I know it is a Sunday, but I think you will find it worthwhile.

Within the IHRA, we have been very aware of the impact of AI on Holocaust Education and Remembrance. And that should not come as a surprise to anyone. After all, we are a global community of governments and experts who focus on promoting, strengthening, and advancing Holocaust education, remembrance, and research.

Over the past 2 and a half decades, IHRA has safeguarded sites and challenged distortive narratives. Our experts are the backbone of everything we do. They fearlessly tackle complacency and warped misinformation. Coming to terms with AI should be no different.

One of the most graphic examples of this false narrative is the use of AI tools to create deepfakes.

As this decade progresses, the number of survivors who witnessed the Holocaust as children will move from contemporary memory into history. In anticipation of this, much effort is being made to secure testimony and protect archives. The very depth of this knowledge might be our Achilles’ heel.

You don’t need programming skills to create a deepfake. You can make it for free in less than 30 seconds using many free deepfake applications. We live in an era in which “seeing is no longer believing”.

The consequences of cheap, widespread fakery are likely to be profound. It is possible to imagine Holocaust survivor testimony being manipulated.

We may see Holocaust survivors with false words put into their mouths: the concentration camps were “not that bad”, “we had plenty of food”, and such like.

How do we meet this challenge?

The first thing we need to understand is that AI is here to stay and that governments will always be playing catch up to cheap, widely used AI.

The second thing is: we ourselves will use AI. We will use it to improve our archives, and to find links and connections. We will use it to improve training and teaching.

There are perhaps as many opportunities for us to embrace, as there are pitfalls. But we need to enhance AI literacy and research skills so that users know how to verify AI-produced texts. Today provides a valuable opportunity to deepen our understanding.

We have gathered a range of experts in their field to discuss AI. While some of the speakers will speak of the dangers and the need for caution, others will focus on ethics. There will also be those that say AI is here to stay and we need to embrace it. That AI can be a force for good.

There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion. I hope this conference will kickstart a discussion on AI within the working groups and committees.

Let today mark a new chapter in our efforts – one where we confront the realities of AI with the same resolve and collaboration that define IHRA’s work.

I wish you all the very best.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 December 2024.

The UK has issued a statement in response to the suspension of the BBC in Niger.

An FCDO spokesperson said:

We are deeply concerned about the temporary suspension of the BBC, and other media outlets, and restrictions placed on journalists in Niger.

Freedom of expression and the media are essential qualities of any society. Societies are strengthened by well-informed publics and expressions of opinion, informed by a free media.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 December 2024.

Ms Rebecca Terzeon has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Zambia in succession to Mr Nicholas Woolley. Ms Terzeon will take up her appointment during January 2025.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Rebecca Terzeon

Year	Role
2021 to present	FCDO, Deputy Director, West Africa Department
2020 to 2021	FCO, Deputy Director, Africa Directorate (Africa Strategy)
2019 to 2020	DFID, Head of Director General’s Office (Policy, Research and Humanitarian)
2015 to 2019	DFID, Head of Gender Equality Team
2011 to 2015	Mogadishu, Deputy Head of DFID Office
2008 to 2011	HMG Stabilisation Unit, Head of Stabilisation Planning Team
2006 to 2008	DFID, Head of Humanitarian Policy Team
2005 to 2006	Addis Ababa, DFID Programme Manager
2004 to 2005	DFID, Deputy Head of Director’s Office (Asia)
2003 to 2004	Kinshasa, Deputy Head of DFID Office
2003	Brussels, European Commission, Stagiaire
2002 to 2003	DFID, EU Coordinator (Western Balkans)
2001 to 2002	DEFRA, Policy Manager

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 16 December 2024.

A statement by the Foreign Ministers of the G7 and Australia, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea, on continued military cooperation between DPRK and Russia.

We, the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the High Representative of the European Union condemn in the strongest possible terms the increasing military cooperation between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Russian Federation, including the deployment of DPRK troops to Russia for use on the battlefield against Ukraine. In a continued show of support and unity, we recall and reinforce our May 2024 coordinated sanctions action and joint statement on DPRK-Russia cooperation.

Direct DPRK support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine marks a dangerous expansion of the conflict, with serious consequences for European and Indo-Pacific security. The DPRK’s export of ballistic missiles, artillery shells, and other military materiel to Russia for use against Ukraine and Russia’s training of DPRK soldiers involving arms or related materiel represent flagrant violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), and 2270 (2016). We are deeply concerned about any political, military, or economic support that Russia may be providing to the DPRK’s illegal weapons programs, including weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, which would exacerbate the already tense environment on the Korean Peninsula.

Together, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to support Ukraine as it defends its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. We urge the DPRK to cease immediately all assistance for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, including by withdrawing its troops. We urge Russia to immediately end its war of aggression against Ukraine and cease its military cooperation with the DPRK.  We encourage members of the broader international community to join our call and we will continue to act in concert, including through imposition of economic sanctions, to respond to the danger posed by the DPRK-Russia partnership.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 December 2024.

• UK announces £50 million package of international aid to help the most vulnerable Syrians, including refugees across the region
• £120,000 of UK funding has also​ been made available to the Organisation of the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
• UK agrees to a set of core principles with inclusion and the protection of human rights ​as key considerations

The UK has today (Sunday 15 December) committed £50 million of humanitarian aid to support the Syrian people in their hour of need as part of efforts to build long-term security and stability across the Middle East.

Following the welcome fall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime, the Foreign Secretary ​has announced new emergency aid that will be delivered through UN and NGO agencies to help the most vulnerable Syrians, both in Syria, and in Lebanon and Jordan.

The UK joined talks in Aqaba yesterday, hosted by Jordan and attended by ministers and representatives of the Arab Contact Group, Bahrain, Qatar, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the European Union, United Nations, France, Germany and the US, where participants expressed commitment to principles that they believe are in the best interests of the Syrian people, the region and the world at this critical time.

This includes the need for an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government formed through a process based on the principles of UN Security Council resolution 2254 and support for the UN Special Envoy mandate. Participants stressed the need for protection of human rights, unfettered access for humanitarian aid, safe destruction of chemical weapons stockpiles and importance of combatting terrorism and extremism. The UK urges the transitional government to adhere to these principles to build a more hopeful, secure and peaceful Syria.

UK funding will enable an urgent scale-up of humanitarian assistance when needs are at their highest, and support delivery of essential public services in Syria. In addition, urgent humanitarian support to Lebanon and Jordan will reduce the likelihood of vulnerable Syrians having to make perilous journeys to leave Syria and the region.

In Syria, where over 16 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, £30 million of UK support will help provide immediate help to more than a million people including food, shelter, emergency healthcare, and protection for the most vulnerable, as well as support emerging needs including the rehabilitation of essential services such as water, hospitals and schools.

Alongside the humanitarian announcement, the Foreign Secretary has also set out new funding to support the OPCW’s work in Syria. The use of chemical weapons in Syria under the Assad regime exacted a horrendous human toll and must never be repeated. A £120,000 package for the OPCW will support its missions to rid Syria of chemical weapons and help the interim Syrian Government fulfil its commitment to protect chemical weapons sites and never use these weapons under any circumstances.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

The fall of the horrific Assad Regime provides a once-in-a-generation chance for the people of Syria.

We’re committed to supporting the Syrian people as they chart a new course. First, by providing £50 million in new food, healthcare and aid to support the humanitarian needs of vulnerable Syrians. Second, by working diplomatically to help secure better governance in Syria’s future.

This weekend the UK and its partners came together to agree the principles required to support a Syrian-led transitional political process. It is vital that the future Syrian government brings together all groups to establish the stability and respect the Syrian people deserve.

Anneliese Dodds, Minister for Development, said:

The humanitarian situation in parts of Syria is dire, and there are large numbers of Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries.

This speedy aid will support Syrians in immediate need including with emergency healthcare and food, and will provide psychosocial and educational support for displaced Syrian children.

The remaining money in the package will be split between £10 million for the World Food Programme (WFP) in Lebanon and £10 million in Jordan through WFP and the UN’s Refugee Agency, UNHCR, to help Syrian refugees hosted in those countries.

Since 2012, the UK has provided over £4.3 billion in aid to assist Syrians across the region (Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, and Egypt).

This weekend’s talks in Jordan follow a week of intensive engagement with regional partners following the fall of the regime. The Prime Minister met counterparts in the region on a visit to the Gulf this week and has spoken with G7 partners; and the Foreign Secretary has held a range of calls with the Turkish, Qatari, Israeli, Iraqi and Jordanian Foreign Ministers as well as the UN Special Representative for Syria.

Background

Within the £30 million of humanitarian aid in Syria, up to £24 million will be provided to the UN including supporting:

• 2 UN OCHA-led Syria Pooled Funds (multi sector emergency needs),
• UNICEF (Education, Health, Nutrition, Water and Sanitation and Child Protection)
• UNFPA (SGBV Prevention, Protection of Women and Girls, Mental Health & Psychosocial support)

The remaining funds – up to £6 million – will be provided to:

• the UK-supported emergency Health NGO (emergency trauma and healthcare, mobile health clinics)
• another Multi-Donor Pooled Fund, The Aid Fund for Northern Syria (multi-sector emergency needs)

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 15 December 2024.

The UK and Australia will reinforce their economic and defence partnership and bolster co-operation on shared global challenges at this year’s AUKMIN meeting.

• Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary host Australian counterparts in London to address shared security challenges and deliver growth and put more money in people’s pockets
• ministers will reaffirm steadfast commitment to AUKUS, one of the most strategically important collaborations for decades
• government sets out a range of major initiatives set out to boost security at home and around the world

The UK and Australia will reinforce their economic and defence partnership and bolster co-operation on shared global challenges at an annual ministerial meeting – known as AUKMIN – today (16 December).

The Foreign Secretary and the Defence Secretary will host Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles in London. They will discuss cooperation on issues including Ukraine, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific. They are expected to announce a series of major initiatives:

• the deployment of the UK Carrier Strike Group to Australia in 2025
• extended Australian support for training Ukrainian Armed Forces
• new submarine programme office in Bristol

In a turbulent world, the UK-Australia friendship matters even more. Both countries must work together on shared security in Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic, boosting our security at home and abroad.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

The UK and Australia have a long and enduring friendship underpinned by close trade ties that are benefiting Brits and Aussies alike.

The growth mission is the central mission of the government. We want to go further to deepen our cooperation with countries like Australia to boost economic growth, build supply chain resilience and transition to net zero.

Together, we are modernising our partnership, working to tackle the biggest challenges around the world and furthering our co-operation on defence, security and foreign policy matters.

Defence Secretary John Healey said:

Our unique and historic partnership with Australia is more important than ever in the face of increasing global threats.

Today’s announcements demonstrate how our two nations, working in lockstep, can help drive jobs and growth while reinforcing our collective security.

Through our joint support to Ukraine, AUKUS partnership and high-end military exercises, we are proving the value of cooperation in delivering security and prosperity in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific.

A key pillar of AUKMIN is cooperation with Australia on defence, working together to make the UK and Australia more secure. The UK is committed to AUKUS, our defence and security partnership with Australia, and the US, and the jobs and growth it can deliver for Britain. AUKUS will transform UK-Australia defence industrial cooperation. The ministers are determined to make it the floor, not the ceiling, of the security partnership, using it to ensure strategic stability as well as driving growth and jobs.

The AUKUS submarine programme is set to generate 7,000 additional British jobs and at its peak, there will be over 21,000 people working on the SSN-AUKUS programmes in the UK supply chain. This will support the government’s plan to kickstart economic growth, and drive forward economic stability and investment.

Today, ministers will announce the creation of a new office in Bristol – ‘Programme Interface Office’ – to coordinate and integrate the UK and Australian AUKUS programmes and supply chains. Through the growth mission, the government is restoring economic stability, increasing investment and reforming the economy to drive up prosperity and living standards across the UK.

The UK and Australia are also developing strategic undersea warfare cooperation. Australia will equip its Hunter Class frigates with Thales’ world-leading 2087 sonar. This will see both the UK and Australia working together to develop underwater capability and share information. This will contribute around £45 million to the UK economy, supporting economic growth.

The UK Carrier Strike Group will also sail to Australia in 2025, in a further demonstration of the UK’s commitment Indo-Pacific security. HMS Prince of Wales will be the first Queen Elizabeth-class carrier to conduct a port visit to Australia. She will also participate in Exercise Talisman Sabre, a multinational exercise hosted by Australia involving nineteen nations.

Together, the UK and Australia are putting pressure on countries around the world to deter military cooperation with Russia. This includes the deployment of troops by North Korea to Russia and their supply of munitions, arms and other materiel. Both countries recognise Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security are indivisible.

As one of the biggest financial supporters of Ukraine, the UK is pleased Australia will extend their training contribution to Operation Interflex to the end of 2025. The UK-led training scheme has now prepared more than 50,000 Ukrainian recruits for combat.

The UK supports Australia’s bid to host COP31 in partnership with the Pacific with climate change being one of the most pressing challenges of our time. This government is committed to making Britain a clean energy super-power, and Australia shares the same ambition to lead the world on clean energy. Both the UK and Australia will commit to further enhanced co-operation to ensure climate finance reaches those on the frontline of the climate crisis, particularly Pacific island countries.

Australia recently joined the Global Clean Power Alliance Finance Mission, which will help to unlock clean energy finance at scale. At CHOGM, the Prime Minister and Prime Minister Albanese agreed to a new UK-Australia Climate and Energy Partnership, which will focus on the accelerated deployment of renewable energy technologies, such as green hydrogen and offshore wind, to support the economic resilience and decarbonisation goals of both countries.

Background

• AUKMIN is a set-piece meeting which has taken place since 2006. It is an important moment for the UK and Australia in agreeing collaboration in defence, security and foreign policy matters. It is also an opportunity to highlight joint work in maintaining geo-political stability, which is key to underpinning growth and prosperity in the UK and beyond, including through the joint work between both countries’ defence industries
• during AUKMIN, the UK and Australia will commit to a consolidated hydrography partnership which will include greater cooperation to improve Pacific Islands hydrography capability, including launching a programme funded by FCDO which will see a new Hydrography Leaders Programme for the South West Pacific and a UKHO secondee to Fiji