Tag: Foreign Office

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 August 2024.

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry Maria Eagle met with Ukrainian counterparts and UK defence industry leaders in Ukraine.

• UK government and defence industry leaders visit Ukraine.
• Leaders initiate negotiations for contracts under the Defence Export Support Treaty.
• This will enable Ukraine to access UK Export Finance to acquire military equipment from UK companies.

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry Maria Eagle met with Ukrainian counterparts and UK defence industry leaders in Ukraine in recent days to initiate negotiations for contracts under the Defence Export Support Treaty, signed during President Zelenskyy’s visit to the UK two weeks ago.

The treaty, signed by Defence Secretary John Healey and Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov on 19 July, will enable Ukraine to draw on £3.5 billion of export finance to acquire military equipment from UK companies. This will help to boost both the UK’s and Ukraine’s defence industrial bases and support investment in further military capabilities.

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry Maria Eagle said:

“The UK stands united with Ukraine. Our government has already pledged to step up support, confirming £3bn a year to support Ukraine and a new package of crucial ammunition, anti-armour missiles and artillery guns.

“My visit is another demonstration of our commitment to work in partnership with industry to boost production of essential military kit, both for Ukraine and to replenish UK stocks.”

The Minister met with Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Strategic Industries for European Integration, Serhiy Boyev, and the Ukrainian National Armaments Director, Oleksandr Serhii, and toured UK industrial facilities in Ukraine, seeing first-hand how the UK is enhancing Ukraine’s industrial capacity.

The Minister’s visit comes just weeks after she and the Defence and Business Secretaries met with President Zelenskyy and industry leaders in London. From industrial sites at home, to facilities in Ukraine, the UK defence industry has been providing critical equipment to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Working with local partners, UK firms are providing maintenance and repair for UK-supplied weapons and helping to get vehicles and equipment back onto operations from facilities in Ukraine.

From recommitting to spending £3 billion a year of military support to the Government’s recent commitment to fast-track deliveries, the UK continues to stand with Ukraine.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 August 2024.

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

There is only one possible conclusion from the Famine Review Committee’s data: there is famine in Sudan, and that famine is entirely man-made.

Today, one hundred Sudanese civilians, men, women and children will die from starvation.

Tomorrow, one hundred more.

This appalling loss of life will continue until the warring parties put the Sudanese people before power.

President, the level of suffering in Sudan is unimaginable. It exists far beyond Zamzam camp, and it is a direct consequence of the actions of the warring parties.

The Sudanese Armed Forces are obstructing aid delivery into Darfur, including by shutting the Adre crossing, the most direct route to deliver assistance at scale.

The Rapid Support Forces’ ongoing assault on Darfur has forced thousands to flee and created the conditions for starvation to spread. It does not need to be this way. The warring parties and those with influence can take immediate action to prevent further suffering.

First, we call on the warring parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access. This includes opening the Adre crossing, lifting bureaucratic obstacles and taking measures to protect aid workers, so they can deliver food to starving communities.

Second, there is no military solution to this crisis. We call on the warring parties to join talks in Geneva and engage in good faith, to agree steps to a durable ceasefire, full humanitarian access and the protection of civilians.

And third, in March, the Secretary General released a White Note under Security Council resolution 2417 to warn this Council of the risk of famine in Sudan. The UN’s warnings and calls for action have been ignored by the warring parties just as they have ignored international calls for a ceasefire, including by this Council.

In the face of such blatant disregard for human life, this Council should consider all necessary tools to end this man-made crisis.

President, it is not too late to prevent further suffering. The time to act is now.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 August 2024.

Statement by Legal Adviser Colin McIntyre at the UN Security Council briefing on ICC Sudan.

Mr. President, the UK is alarmed by the escalation of violence inside Sudan, including in Darfur. The ongoing fighting in El Fasher has caused significant civilian loss of life and has forced thousands to flee their homes. There are also a growing number of reports alleging that serious international crimes are being committed in Darfur as well as elsewhere in Sudan. This includes the recruitment of child soldiers, conflict-related sexual violence, and violence targeted at specific ethnic groups. We are gravely concerned by such reports.

In this context, we particularly welcome the progress that the Office of the Prosecutor has made in advancing accountability as outlined in the 39th report including through continued engagement with Sudanese civil society organisations and through the extensive deployment of investigators to Chad to collect further testimonial evidence.

The UK also welcomes some signs of improved cooperation from those in power in Sudan, including through the provision of visas, the facilitation of a field visit to Port Sudan and engagement in relation to certain priority Requests for Assistance. It is essential that this cooperation continues to improve.

The UK is also pleased to note the continuing progress in the trial of the former Janjaweed commander, Mr Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb. As this landmark case moves forward towards its final stages we pay tribute to the more than 100 victims and witnesses who have participated in the trial. Such trials are critical to ensuring accountability and justice. Indeed the progress in this trial serves to highlight the crucial importance of ensuring that the other individuals subject to outstanding arrest warrants are surrendered to the Court. We call upon the Sudanese authorities to do more to respond substantively to the Office of the Prosecutor’s request for information concerning the whereabouts of Ahmed Harun, Omar Al-Bashir and Abdel Raheem Hussein.

Finally, we note that in October last year, the Human Rights Council adopted the ‘Sudan Core Group’ resolution to establish an independent and international Fact-Finding Mission. We believe that this represents a further important contribution to ensuring impartial investigations of human rights violations and abuses.

Mr. President, the UK reiterates its continued support for the International Criminal Court and for its important work in this situation. This conflict must not be forgotten and we remind all parties to the conflict that the Prosecutor’s mandate is ongoing.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 5 August 2024.

The Government announced that the 2024 edition of the UK-France Local Government Forum will take place in Leeds on 12 and 13 December, co-hosted by Leeds and Bradford City Councils and supported by the West Yorkshire Mayor. This will be the third edition of the forum, following on from the successful 2022 event in Nancy.

The forum is an opportunity for mayors, leaders, cabinet members, councillors and officers from sub-national government – be that district, borough, city, unitary or county councils, as well as combined authorities – to meet and exchange with French counterparts on subjects of common interest, as well as be part of a dialogue with national government representation. This year’s forum will focus specifically on social inclusion and placemaking and will be extra special in this 120th anniversary year of the Entente Cordiale, which ushered in a new era of cooperation between Britain and France. The ties between the UK and France are deep, historic and vital, and it is the partnerships between our communities that sustain and enrich those ties.

The Government welcomes interest to attend or participate in the forum, in particular from leaders of councils or combined authorities with active partnership projects and or twinning arrangements with their equivalents in France and those who might be interested in establishing or re-invigorating such links.

The Government will share further details of the programme and how to register in due course. If you require further information or have any questions, please contact: UKFRLocalGovForum@fcdo.gov.uk

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 August 2024.

Lebanon travel advice has been updated to reflect the fact that dependants of British Embassy Beirut staff have been temporarily withdrawn.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson, said:

We are deeply concerned with the highly volatile security situation in Lebanon. The safety of British nationals is our top priority, which is why we have deployed additional consular officials, Border Force and UK military personnel to the region.

We have also temporarily withdrawn the families of officials working at the British Embassy Beirut. The embassy continues to provide support to British nationals. The situation will continue to be monitored closely.

All British nationals should leave Lebanon now, while commercial routes are still available.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 August 2024.

Statement by G7 foreign ministers and the High Representative of the EU:

We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the EU, express our deep concern at the heightened level of tension in the Middle East which threatens to ignite a broader conflict in the region.

We urge all involved parties once again to refrain from perpetuating the current destructive cycle of retaliatory violence, to lower tensions and engage constructively toward de-escalation. No country or nation stands to gain from a further escalation in the Middle East.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 August 2024.

The Foreign Secretary called for de-escalation along the Blue Line and the need for a diplomatic solution based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, accompanied by Defence Secretary John Healey, ended a one-day visit to Lebanon yesterday.

This was David Lammy’s first official visit to Lebanon as Foreign Secretary, following his call with Lebanese Prime Minister Mikati in his first week of office.

The Foreign Secretary called for de-escalation along the Blue Line and the need for a diplomatic solution based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

The visit comes following the Foreign Secretary’s condemnation of the strike in Golan Heights which tragically claimed at least 12 lives and raised deep concerns over the risk of further escalation and destabilisation.

The Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary met with Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib, and Lebanese Armed Forces Commander (LAF) General Joseph Aoun.

Their discussions focused on tensions across the Lebanese southern border with Israel and the wider situation in the region.

The visit is part of the Foreign Secretary’s regional visits over the past month, in which he reiterated the British government’s call for de-escalation in the region, an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages and getting humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

This is a worrying time for people in Lebanon: they have been through a lot in the past 5 years, including the terrible port explosion that claimed so many lives.

I’m here on the ground meeting with influential figures to call for immediate de-escalation in the region.

I’ve raised my concerns about the on-going tensions between Lebanon and Israel and have highlighted the UK’s determination to avoid miscalculation.

Defence Secretary John Healey said:

De-escalation must be our primary focus as this region stands at a crossroads. The loss of innocent life in recent weeks and months is unbearable. This has to end.

All sides must step back from conflict and step-up diplomacy. We will work with important partners like Qatar as our government leads a renewed push for peace.

British Ambassador to Lebanon Hamish Cowell said:

This is a very important visit by Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Defence Secretary John Healey, their first joint visit overseas since their appointments last month.

The situation across the Blue Line remains fragile and escalation is in no one’s interest.  In his meetings, the Foreign Secretary stressed the need for de-escalation and a diplomatic solution based on UNSCR 1701.

The joint visit reaffirms the UK’s long-standing commitment and support for Lebanon’s security and stability, including as a steadfast partner to the Lebanese Armed Forces.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 31 July 2024.

Statement by UK Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East.

The UK is deeply concerned by the escalation of tensions in the Middle East and the impact this may have on regional security and stability. I will make three points.

First, escalation and a cycle of endless violence is in no-one’s interests. We do not want to see further bloodshed. We urge calm and call for immediate restraint.

Our Foreign Secretary is in the region as we speak, reiterating this call and encouraging de-escalation.

The path to peace must be through diplomatic negotiations. Long-term peace will not be secured by bombs and bullets.

Second, in recent weeks we have seen reckless attacks launched by the Houthis against Tel Aviv killing one person and Hezbollah rockets fired on innocent children in Majdal Shams resulting in at least 12 deaths and many more injured.

We have repeatedly been clear in this Council of Iran’s role in destabilising the region through its use of proxies including Lebanese Hezbollah and the Houthis. These attacks are enabled by the continued supply of advanced weaponry by Iran, especially missiles, to proxy groups. This must cease.

The UK is resolute in our commitment to Israel’s security. We support Israel’s right to defend itself in the face of such aggression, in line with international humanitarian law.

Third, since October 7 last year, we have seen the terrible toll on Israelis, Palestinians and many others in the region. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is truly appalling with nearly 40,000 Palestinians killed. The impact of this devastation is particularly acute for women and children.

The attempts by Iran and their proxies to use the suffering of those in Gaza as justification for further violence is perverse and we reject them entirely. We support all ongoing efforts to bring stability to the region and an end to the suffering. We reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, to protect civilians, get all the hostages out, get more aid in and open a pathway towards long-term peace. This will require the parties to commit to a renewed peace process resulting in a two-state solution with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian State.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 31 July 2024.

In a joint statement, G7 Foreign Ministers call on Venezuela to publish transparent election results.

Statement from the G7 Foreign Ministers:

We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the EU, express our solidarity with the people of Venezuela, who peacefully exercised their right to vote in large numbers on July 28 to shape the future of their country.

Independent domestic and international observers’ reports have raised serious concerns about the announced results of Venezuela’s Presidential elections and about the way the electoral process was conducted, especially regarding the irregularities and lack of transparency in the final tabulation of the votes. It is of paramount importance that the result reflects the will of the Venezuelan people.

We call on relevant representatives to publish the detailed electoral results in full transparency and we ask electoral representatives to immediately share all information with the opposition and independent observers.

As the process unfolds, we call for maximum restraint in the country and for a peaceful, democratic and Venezuelan-led solution.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 31 July 2024.

The Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary have travelled to the Middle East to call for an end to conflict in Gaza and de-escalation in the wider region.

• Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary use their first official joint visit to the Gulf to progress efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and call for de-escalation in the wider region
• they will meet UK personnel working in the region to showcase the strength of the UK-Qatar defence relationship
• David Lammy and John Healey will commit to strengthening and expanding UK-Qatar cooperation on growth and security

The Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary have arrived in Qatar to drive forward efforts to bring the conflict in Gaza to an end and to press for de-escalation in the region.

In a joint visit, the Foreign Secretary David Lammy – in what will be his second trip to the Middle East since becoming Foreign Secretary – and the Defence Secretary John Healey will reiterate the UK’s support to Qatar for the country’s role in mediating and end to the war in Gaza – including efforts to deliver an immediate ceasefire agreed by both sides.

They will reiterate the UK’s calls for de-escalation in the wider region, warning that rising tensions and destabilisation would be in no one’s interests. This follows the Foreign Secretary’s condemnation of the strikes in the occupied Golan Heights at the weekend which tragically claimed at least 12 lives.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

Escalation and destabilisation are in no one’s interests.

It is absolutely vital that we engage closely with partners like Qatar, who play a key role in mediating the conflict in Gaza, so that we can bring this devastating war to an end.

The UK and Qatar have a long-standing and close partnership, and we will also look to build lasting stability and security in the region, and advance our shared priorities, like deepening economic ties, to drive UK growth and seize the opportunities of the clean energy transition.

Defence Secretary John Healey said:

De-escalation must be our primary focus as this region stands at a crossroads. The loss of innocent life in recent weeks and months is unbearable. This has to end.

All sides must step back from conflict and step-up diplomacy. We will work with important partners like Qatar as our government leads a renewed push for peace.

During their time in Qatar, the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary will meet with UK Armed Forces personnel who are helping to protect UK security interests and support regional stability.

They are expected to meet with the Emir of Qatar, HH Sheikh Amir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, HE Dr Khalid Al Attiyah, where the ministers will recommit to building upon the strong UK-Qatar relationship, including growth and security.