Tag: Press Release

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 19 September 2024.

Ambassador Holland condemns the transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia, which will be used to wreak further misery on Ukrainian civilians as part of its illegal war.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Last week the Russian Federation called one of its more hypocritical UN Security Council meetings, this time on ‘western weapons transfers to Ukraine’.  This was the cynical use of the Council to criticise support for a sovereign state to exercise its legitimate and legal right to defend itself against Russia’s illegal war of aggression.

But in making these accusations, Russia succeeded only in highlighting its own double standards and disinformation – the hallmarks of its malign actions on our continent and beyond.  Because just days before the meeting, we learned that Russia had taken delivery of Iranian ballistic missiles.  This transfer poses a direct threat to European security just like those Russia received from DPRK, which took place in violation of UN Security Council Resolutions.

There is a critical difference between the two situations, which Russia neglects to acknowledge. In one, weapons are being supplied to a sovereign State, Ukraine, to give it the means to defend itself in accordance with international law.  In another, weapons are being sent to a state, Russia, which is aggressively waging war against its neighbour which violates the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act.  And what is more, these weapons are being used to wreak misery on Ukrainian civilians.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has reported nearly 12,000 deaths and close to 25,000 injuries among civilians since Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion began.  The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has reported a spike in civilian deaths and injuries over the last two months, making them the deadliest months so far of 2024.

Madam chair, we condemn in the strongest terms the shelling of a frontline aid distribution site on 12 September that resulted in the deaths of three members of staff from the International Committee of the Red Cross.  It is essential that International Humanitarian Law is respected and that aid workers can do their jobs, providing help to the most vulnerable.

The UK also condemns the Russian strike on a civilian cargo ship carrying Ukrainian grain in the Black Sea on 11 September.  Such attacks pose a genuine threat to global food security.

Madam Chair, as my Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary made clear last week, the UK’s ironclad support for Ukraine’s right to self-defence will not waver in the face of Russian threats and hypocrisy.  Russia started this war by illegally invading Ukraine.  It could end it immediately by withdrawing.  Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 September 2024.

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

The UK requested this Council meeting following alarming reports of escalation around El Fasher. I would like to make three points.

First, we strongly condemn the Rapid Support Forces’ assault on El Fasher. We call on the RSF to halt its siege of the area and for an immediate end to the fighting. Aerial bombardments, shelling and other combat activity by the warring parties have resulted in yet further displacement and destruction of critical infrastructure.

We also call on states to refrain from enhancing either side’s fighting capability. All Member States have a responsibility to uphold the arms embargo which this Council renewed just last week.

Second, it is imperative that the warring parties uphold their obligations under international law and that there is accountability for violations. The escalation around El Fasher clearly contravenes resolution 2736 agreed by this Council in June.

We must continue to send a clear message to the warring parties that we are watching closely. We also note the work underway by the Secretary-General to produce recommendations for the protection of civilians. Events in El Fasher emphasise the importance of this work.

Third, President, we underscore our concern at the humanitarian impact of the violence across Sudan and its destabilising effect on the region. Over 10 million people have already been displaced. A new wave of violence, as we’ve heard, will exacerbate this even further.

The recent re-opening of the Adre border crossing is an important step, but humanitarian access still desperately needs to be scaled up – both cross-border and across conflict lines.

We must also ensure that access is not slowed down by bureaucratic impediments. President, we once again call on both warring parties to return to negotiations in good faith and to stop this senseless violence now.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 September 2024.

Explanation of vote by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, on the UN General Assembly resolution on the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories – Wednesday 18 September 2024.

The United Kingdom has abstained on today’s resolution.

The United Kingdom has done so not because we do not support the central findings of the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion but rather because the resolution does not provide sufficient clarity to effectively advance our shared aim of a peace premised on a negotiated two-state solution: a safe and secure Israel alongside a safe and secure Palestinian state.

As a state committed to the international rule of law, we respect the Court and call for states to unite around renewed efforts towards a negotiated settlement, in accordance with international law and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council. We stand ready to work with other Member States on future resolutions before the General Assembly and in the Security Council, seeking to fashion a broad consensus on the way forward, with re-energised determination to accelerate the path to peace.

While our abstention reflects our unwavering determination to focus on efforts to bring about a peaceful and negotiated two-state solution, the United Kingdom aims, by this statement, to indicate our clear view that Israel should bring an end to its presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories as rapidly as possible. And every effort must be made to create the conditions for negotiations which provide for a sovereign, viable and free Palestine, alongside a safe, secure and free Israel, recognising the security concerns and right to self-defence of each one. We must also work towards the reunification of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza in line with 1967 borders and under the effective control of the Palestinian Authority, as a fundamental step towards a two-state solution.

Turning now to address settlements in particular, the United Kingdom is gravely concerned by Israel’s continued actions which undermine prospects for peace. Expansion of settlements, in clear violation of international law, must cease immediately. There have been unprecedented levels of violence by extremist settlers over the past year.

We have witnessed with grave concern how an increasing number of residents of illegal Israeli settlements and outposts have systematically used harassment, intimidation and violence to put pressure on Palestinian communities to leave their land. We call on Israel to hold those responsible to account.

Alongside our partners, the UK has imposed sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for these acts. We continue to track closely these acts of violence and where appropriate the UK will seek to extend sanctions. We are clear. Any efforts to change the geographic or demographic make-up of the Occupied Palestinian Territories through force and outside a negotiated settlement are illegal.

President, the situation in Gaza continues to subject Palestinian civilians to horrendous suffering, and over 100 hostages remain held by Hamas in abhorrent conditions. We need to see an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages.

We will continue to work urgently to help bring peace and galvanise a political process towards a two-state solution which provides long-term peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians alike. I thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 September 2024.

Statement by Jess Jambert-Gray, Deputy Political Coordinator, at the UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan.

First and foremost, the UK unequivocally condemns the so-called “vice and virtue” law issued by the Taliban. As my Foreign Secretary said, this law marks another tragic setback for the country, and for its people.

The international community must speak in one voice in our total opposition to the Taliban’s continued assault on human rights. We call on the Taliban to immediately reverse these abhorrent policies and ensure the fundamental freedoms of all Afghans.

The UK is unwavering in our support to Afghan women, and to providing platforms for their voices to be heard. We are pleased to co-host a UN General Assembly side event later today that will shine a spotlight on Afghan women and girls in the fight against food insecurity.

Second, we call on the UN to drive forward progress on Security Council Resolution 2721. This includes the urgent appointment of a Special Envoy.

But let us be clear, the Taliban cannot expect the international community to move forward on the UN process without first meeting their international obligations on the fundamental freedoms of women and girls, political inclusion, and counter terrorism.

Finally, the international community needs to step up the humanitarian response in Afghanistan, which remains only 30% funded.

As the latest Secretary General report set out, 23.7 million people will require humanitarian assistance in 2024. 12.4 million people are acutely food insecure and 6.6 million people remain internally displaced. The recent Taliban restrictions will only make this appalling situation worse for Afghanistan’s most marginalised and most vulnerable.

Since 2021, the UK has provided over $800 million to address the humanitarian crisis. We urge others to take similar steps to alleviate the suffering of Afghan people.

We remain committed to working constructively with parties inside and outside of Afghanistan for an Afghanistan at peace with itself, its neighbours, and the international community.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 September 2024.

UK military advisor, Nicholas Aucott, says Russia’s illegal war suffers further setbacks as casualties mount, and it loses its first submarine in combat since the second world war.

Thank you, Mr Chair. As we meet for the first regular session of this trimester, I want to reflect on the current military situation regarding Russia’s illegal war of aggression in Ukraine. It is now 2 years and 212 days since Russia conducted its full-scale invasion, a military action which Russia envisaged would be over in a matter of days. In that context, the current predicament can be construed as nothing less than a military disaster for the Kremlin.

Since we last convened in a regular FSC session, Ukraine now controls up to 900 square kilometres of Russian territory in the Kursk Oblast. Ukraine has a clear right of self-defence against Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and barbaric invasion, and its actions are demonstrative of the ability of Ukraine’s armed forces to achieve strategic surprise and expose Russian weaknesses.

At the military level, Ukraine’s effective use of manoeuvre warfare stands in stark contrast to Russia’s ‘meat grinder’ tactics. Russian casualties averaged 1187 a day in August. Contrast this to the daily rate of 544 Russian casualties in August last year, and 236 for the same month in 2022 and it paints a bleak picture for Russia’s military. Even more starkly, Russia has now lost more than 610,000 casualties (killed and wounded) in the prosecution of its illegal campaign.

In the maritime domain, the campaign is faring little better for Russia. Despite having a considerably smaller maritime component, Ukraine has pushed much of the Russian navy eastwards from Crimea. Ukraine has damaged or destroyed a quarter of the Russian black sea fleet. This includes the destruction of the ‘Rostov-on-Don’, a $300M Russian submarine which was lost to Ukrainian action on 3 August, marking the first combat loss of a Russian submarine since the second world war. As in the land domain, this loss is a stunning Russian military failure.

Russia’s illegal campaign was instigated without justification. This forum met repeatedly, prior to the full-scale invasion, in an effort to avert this deliberate act of aggression. As expected, the consequences of these actions have been a tragedy, but perhaps less expected, for none more so than Russia itself.

Russia’s response so far has been to double down. It has turned to Iran and North Korea for the provision of weaponry as its own economy adopts a war footing, increasingly twisting it out of shape. Russia’s continued negotiation of deals for significant quantities of weapons from DPRK violates many UN Security Council resolutions, including ones that Russia itself voted for. Russia has also now procured ballistic missiles from Iran for the first time, representing a significant escalation that will only increase the suffering of Ukrainian civilians. Russia continues to issue threats, constructing a false narrative against NATO and the EU to suggest they are in some way responsible for Russia’s own illegal choices. Nobody compelled Russia to start this war and most participating states in this forum went to extraordinary efforts to try and prevent such a catastrophic course of action.

If Russia wants peace, there is a simple way to end this ongoing pattern of destruction. Russia must cease hostilities in Ukraine and remove its forces from Ukraine’s internationally recognised territory. The United Kingdom, alongside its partners, will continue in its enduring support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Thank you.