Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 December 2024.

Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West, has issued a statement in response to today’s events in South Korea.

Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West said:

We are following events in South Korea closely, including today’s vote in the South Korean National Assembly to impeach President Yoon and put an Acting President in place.

South Korea is a global strategic partner for the UK, and we look forward to close cooperation with the Acting President and administration.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 December 2024.

Statement by the governments of the USA, the Arab Contact Group on Syria, Bahrain, France, Germany, Qatar, Turkey, the UAE, the UK, the EU, and the UN Special Envoy for Syria on the margins of the Aqaba Joint Contact Group ministerial meeting on Syria.

The Arab Contact group on Syria met with Ministers and Representatives of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the French Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, United States of America, the European Union and the UN Special Envoy for Syria, to discuss recent developments in Syria.

The participants:

Affirmed the full support to the Syrian people at this critical point in their history to build a more hopeful, secure and peaceful future.

Expressed commitment to principles that they believe are in the best interests of the Syrian people, the region, and the world in this critical period.  They believe the transitional political process must be Syrian-led and Syrian-owned; produce an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government formed through a transparent process based on the principles of the United Nations Security Council resolution 2254; emphasize their support for the UN Special Envoy mandate; and request the UN Secretary General to scale up the UN’s presence on the ground.

Affirmed the full support for Syria’s unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Stressed on the respect for human rights, including for women and minorities; preserve state institutions that serve the interests of, and provide critical services to, the Syrian people; exist in harmony with its neighbors; provide unfettered access for humanitarian aid and freedom of movement for IDPs and returnees; protect all foreign diplomatic facilities and personnel; secure and safely destroy chemical weapons stockpiles; and facilitate access to regime prisons and facilities for accountability and to determine the fate of missing Syrians and foreign nationals.

Affirmed the full support for Syria’s unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Stressed that the period ahead will serve as a critical test of these above-mentioned principles.  Further, they emphasized the importance of adhering to these principles which will be fundamental in determining their approach going forward.

Underscored that Syria finally has the chance to end decades of isolation. They are committed to supporting and working with the Syrian people as they embark on this unprecedented transition.

Stressed the importance of combating terrorism and extremism, including preventing the reemergence of all terrorist groups. Further, demanded that Syrian territory does not pose a threat to any country, or a shelter to terrorists.

Affirmed their demand to all parties to cease hostilities in Syria.

Demanded respect of the sovereignty of Syria and its unity, and territorial integrity, in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter by all.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 December 2024.

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

The statement underscored the Council’s support to SRSG Abarry and the valuable work of his office in the sub-region.

The United Kingdom also welcomes the SRSG’s close coordination of efforts with his counterparts in the region, namely the SRSG’s of UNOWAS, MONUSCO, MINUSCA and the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes, together that facilitates a coherent approach to common regional challenges.

I will now make three points.

The UK welcomes the continued progress towards Gabon’s political transition, and the SRSG’s efforts in using UNOCA’s good offices to support the recent peaceful referendum.

The UK encourages UNOCA to continue its valuable work as Gabon moves towards presidential elections next year.

Peaceful and credible Presidential elections in 2025 will be an important way for the government of Gabon to continue to deliver for the Gabonese people.

Second, the UK welcomes legislative, provincial and local elections in Chad which will mark the end of the country’s political transition.

Chad has been impacted by the conflict in Sudan, severe flooding and terrorism in recent months.

But even in this challenging time, we urge the government to uphold the principles agreed in the Inclusive Sovereign National Dialogue and to ensure transparent, pluralistic and, above all, peaceful elections.

The end of the transition should mark the beginning, not the end, of Chad’s journey to democracy. The UK will continue to support the government’s resilience and development priorities.

And third, the UK remains concerned by the violence in North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon, and its impact on the lives of civilians. UNOCA is well-placed to support a Cameroonian-led dialogue and ultimately a Cameroonian-led resolution to the conflict.

We are also concerned by the continued threat posed by Islamist groups in Cameroon’s Far North region and across the Lake Chad Basin. We encourage all states in the region to continue coordinating their responses through the Multinational Joint Task Force.

Multinational cooperation remains the most effective way to tackle these groups which pose a common risk to the sub-region.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 December 2024.

UK Explanation of Vote delivered by Jess Jambert-Gray, UK Deputy Political Coordinator, following the vote on the UN Security Council resolution on the 2713 sanctions regime.

Somalia is undergoing a critical period in its security transition.

In October, the Council endorsed UNTMIS taking over responsibilities from UNSOM and beginning its transition to a United Nations Country Team. ATMIS is due to be replaced by its successor mission, AUSSOM, at the start of next year, and we are grateful for the constructive Council negotiations on the mandate yesterday.

We are also grateful for the continued efforts of the Somali authorities to successfully deliver its security transition, with the support of the UN, AU, international partners, and this Council.

In the context of these transitions, the text that we have tabled for adoption today provides stability for the functioning of the Al-Shabaab sanctions regime, maintaining the current provisions until the end of February.

In the meantime, we look forward to consulting stakeholders in the coming weeks to consider the best shape of this vital regime, ensuring it supports our collective effort to degrade the threat posed by Al-Shabaab.

We now turn our attention back to the AUSSOM mandate, where we look forward to maintaining our close collaboration as a Council in support of this next stage in Somalia’s security transition.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 December 2024.

Statement for the Intersessional ID with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Venezuela. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

Over four months have passed since the presidential election, and the Venezuelan authorities have failed to produce any evidence of the purported victory. Instead, they have taken further steps to induce fear, stifle civil society, and clamp down on opposition.

In the last two weeks alone, we have witnessed the approval of the ‘Simón Bolívar’ law, already identified by UN Special Procedures as a method of persecution against activists and civil society, and the entry into force of the ‘anti-NGO’ law.

Despite some conditional releases, over 1,900 Venezuelans remain arbitrarily detained. And reports of more such detentions and enforced disappearances continue to surface. We continue to call for the immediate and unconditional release of all such detainees.

High Commissioner,

We note the limited return of your Office to Venezuela, however, we urge the Venezuelan authorities to provide meaningful collaboration. Your team needs an increased footprint on the ground to monitor and document effectively the dire human rights situation. More importantly, such a presence is vital to fulfil your protection mandate given the ongoing persecution against the opposition, and human rights defenders, many of whom have been forced into hiding or exile.

This repression is unacceptable and it has to stop.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 December 2024.

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

The United Kingdom welcomes the Government of DRC and MONUSCO’s continued collaboration in tackling conflict in eastern DRC. We are working closely with Council colleagues to agree a mandate that sufficiently addresses the need for protection of civilians, facilitation of humanitarian activity and support for wider peacebuilding activities.

The UK is seriously concerned by reports of GPS spoofing and jamming and the presence of surface to air missiles in North Kivu, alongside the restriction of MONUSCO’s movements by M23, preventing troop rotations and the delivery of critical supplies.

We call on all parties to the conflict to cease all obstruction of MONUSCO. This prevents the full implementation of the mandate agreed by this Council.

President, over a quarter of a million people have been displaced since August as a result of M23 illegally expanding its territory in eastern DRC. We reiterate calls for the full respect of DRC’s territorial integrity, and condemn, once again, the actions of all armed groups.

The humanitarian situation remains dire, with over 7 million displaced and unacceptable numbers of civilians affected by disease, food insecurity, sexual violence and a lack of basic services. A lack of access to vulnerable populations has compounded the challenges faced by humanitarian actors.

We call on all parties to the conflict to respect international law, prioritise civilian welfare and permit access for humanitarian actors.

Finally, the United Kingdom is deeply appreciative of Angola’s continued mediation efforts and President Lourenço’s personal commitment to the Launda Process. We are heartened by the recent progress and agreement by the Foreign Ministers of DRC and Rwanda on a Concept of Operations.

We call on all sides to show leadership, engage in good faith, and deliver on their commitments.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 December 2024.

UK statement on the agreement reached between Ethiopia and Somalia.

A FCDO spokesperson said:

The UK welcomes the agreement reached in Ankara on 11 December between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Federal Republic of Somalia, reaffirming their commitment to one another’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

The UK supports all steps to promote cooperation, stability, development, and shared prosperity in the Horn of Africa. We welcome Türkiye’s mediation and the participation from all sides which has led to this agreement.

The UK, as a long-standing partner in the region, will continue to work closely with Ethiopia and Somalia, including Somaliland, in the pursuit of these objectives.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 December 2024.

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

Colleagues, as many before me have already highlighted, the Taliban’s latest announcement to restrict medical education for women is yet another appalling violation of Afghan women’s rights.

The United Kingdom unequivocally condemns this decision. Such a draconian and shortsighted policy will severely undermine the provision of healthcare to Afghan women and children, putting thousands of lives at risk.

It is yet another tragic setback, further adding to the suffering of Afghan women.

Meanwhile, a year since the publication of the Special Coordinator’s independent assessment, the implementation of its recommendations has been stalled.

We call for the swift appointment of a UN Special Envoy, as mandated in resolution 2721, to help bring Afghan stakeholders and the international community together in meaningful dialogue.

Alongside our international partners, the United Kingdom has engaged constructively with the UN-led process, including the establishment of working groups on counternarcotics and the private sector.

But engagement on the Taliban’s priorities requires reciprocity on their part. The Taliban must demonstrate meaningful progress towards Afghanistan’s international obligations on human rights, political inclusion, and counter terrorism.

Finally, we remain deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation as highlighted by USG Fletcher today. The United Kingdom will continue to support the people of Afghanistan through distribution of over $200 million in aid this financial year.

With the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan less than 40% funded, we call on the international community to do everything possible to support vulnerable Afghans, particularly in these winter months.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 December 2024.

Ambassador Holland thanks the Personal Representatives for their collaboration with the UK and work in defence of fundamental freedoms.

Thank you, Mr Chair. Rabbi Baker, Ambassador Akgün and Dr Polak, welcome back to the Permanent Council, and thank you for your reports today.

The UK remains committed to defending freedom of religion or belief for all, and promoting respect between different religious and non-religious communities.  Defending and promoting these principles remains a longstanding human rights priority for the UK’s work in multilateral organisations, including at the OSCE.

Respect for these fundamental freedoms is enshrined in the foundational texts of the OSCE because we recognise that religious intolerance and persecution fuels instability, impeding both conflict prevention and resolution. When freedom of religion or belief is respected, and interreligious dialogue is promoted, we can build trust and understanding between communities. Societies are stronger when they are inclusive – something we also see in understanding and preventing radicalisation and violent extremism, where drivers can be ideological, socio-economic, or personal.

I would like to thank Russia for paying such close attention to interfaith relations in the UK. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to return the favour. The UK is a proud multi-ethnic, multi-faith democracy. We are, however, cognisant of the challenges we face. Domestically, we are seeking to address underlying causes of religious hatred while supporting all victims, including by providing funding for Tell MAMA, the leading national organisation to monitor and support victims of anti-Muslim hatred; our Protective Security for Mosques scheme; and, the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant, which provides funding to the Community Security Trust, and helps keep members of the Jewish community safe.

In other words, we seek to role model the values we raise in this room, which can’t be said for everyone.

As we survey the global landscape, we must be honest with ourselves about the challenges we face in protecting fundamental freedoms and promoting tolerance and non-discrimination. More countries are engaged in conflict than at any time since the Second World War – including in our own region, with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. And since 7 October 2023, we have seen a surge in antisemitism and Islamophobia.

It is a sobering and chilling picture, but one that should lead us to double down on our shared commitments and values and ensure we learn the lessons of the past.

In this spirit, the UK is proud to hold the presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) until February 2025. The theme of our presidency is “in Plain Sight”, drawing attention to the fact that the Holocaust did not happen in a dark corner. During our time leading the IHRA, we have focused on safeguarding remembrance of the Holocaust, tackling distortion and securing the narrative for the future.

In October, we were pleased to work with you Rabbi Baker on the Holocaust Distortion and Education Conference in Bucharest, which we co-hosted with the OSCE, US and host country Romania. This provided a timely opportunity to examine the impact of emerging technologies on Holocaust denial and distortion.

As I said, we are also taking action to support Muslim communities in the UK. Islamophobia is abhorrent and the UK Government is committed to working with police and community partners to monitor and combat it. We are grateful to Ambassador Akgün for her contribution to a roundtable discussion at 10 Downing Street in London last month on anti-Muslim prejudice, the steps needed to combat it, and how we can foster greater inclusion and community cohesion.

Mr Chair, we have all seen the consequences of intolerance, discrimination and hatred and how they poison our societies. We made shared commitments to respect fundamental freedoms and prevent this from happening again. Together we can – and must – tackle this scourge.

Thank you, to all three of you for your important contributions this year.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 December 2024.

Joint Declaration by the Foreign Ministers of Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom as well as the High Representative of the European Union.

We, Foreign Ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom as well as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, have come together with the Foreign Minister of Ukraine today at a watershed moment in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

The goals of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine and durable security for Europe are inseparable. Ukraine must prevail.

This is why after more than 1,000 days of Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine, we remain steadfast in our solidarity. We will continue to support Ukraine in its right of self-defence against Russian aggression.

We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s decision to escalate its war of aggression through brutal and deliberate attacks against Ukraine’s cities and critical civilian infrastructure, by the deployment of DPRK troops and by using intermediate-range ballistic missiles to attack Ukraine.

We will continue to support Ukraine on its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership.

We will continue to support Ukraine on its path towards accession to the European Union.

We reiterate our firm support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter with full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

We will step up military, economic and financial aid to Ukraine, including by mobilizing additional European funding.

We stress that a rapid and collective implementation of the G7 50 billion dollar loan, in which Europeans play an important role, will help Ukraine cover urgent needs, including military ones.

We remain committed to supporting Ukraine’s repair, recovery and reconstruction, in coordination with international partners. URC 2025 will be hosted by Italy.

We will keep constraining the build-up of Russia’s military capabilities. We will pursue additional pressure on the Kremlin’s sources of revenue, including from energy.

We reaffirm our commitment to President Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula, as credible path towards a just and lasting peace.

There can be no negotiations about peace in Ukraine without Ukrainians and without Europeans by their side.

We are committed to providing Ukraine with ironclad security guarantees, including reliable long-term provision of military and financial support.

Convinced that peace in Ukraine and security in Europe are inseparable, we are determined to stand united with our European and transatlantic partners to think and act big on European security.

We therefore reaffirm the Warsaw Declaration of 19 November 2024. As one element, we need to improve European defense industry’s access to public and private finance with a view to closing the European capability gaps.

We consider this an opportunity to renew the foundations of the transatlantic Alliance with the United States of America by strengthening NATO and ensuring fair burden sharing within the Alliance, including through increased EU efforts in security and defence, and to build a more secure and more united Europe.

To that effect, we reiterate our steadfast commitment to a European security architecture based on the principles of the UN Charter and the OSCE.

We also discussed the current situation in Syria. After the downfall of the Assad regime, it is critical to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria and to respect its independence, its sovereignty, as well as state institutions, and to reject all forms of extremism. All stakeholders must uphold international law and protect members of all minorities, while engaging in an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned dialogue on all key issues to ensure an orderly, peaceful and inclusive transition, in the spirit of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and in accordance with the will of the Syrian people. Syria must be looked at also from a broader regional perspective. We welcomed the recent ceasefire in Lebanon and stress the need for a ceasefire, a hostage release deal and provide humanitarian aid at scale also in Gaza.