Tag: Press Release

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

Jonathan Powell has been appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for negotiations between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) / Chagos Archipelago.

The Government has agreed to continue the talks, which began in 2022 under the previous government. Resolving this long-standing issue with a close Commonwealth partner is in the interest of both parties.

Mr Powell has extensive experience in negotiations affecting the UK’s national interests in sensitive domestic and international contexts, including playing a central role in securing the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and previously serving as Prime Minister David Cameron’s Special Envoy to Libya between 2014 and 2016.

He will begin his role immediately and his work will involve engaging the most senior Mauritian and US interlocutors and advising Ministers and HMG negotiators on how to conclude a robust agreement.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:

Negotiations with Mauritius over the BIOT/Chagos Archipelago are critical to the UK’s security. We are determined to protect the long-term, secure and effective operation of the joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia.

Jonathan Powell’s experience working with governments of all colours in the most sensitive international negotiations makes him uniquely qualified to serve as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy.

I look forward to working with him as we endeavour to reach a settlement that protects UK interests and those of our partners.

The Chagos Archipelago includes the island of Diego Garcia, the location of an important UK-US military base which plays a vital role in regional and global security.

Working in close coordination with the United States, the UK Government will continue the previous government’s policy of aiming to reach an agreement that protects the UK’s security interests, respects Chagossian communities, enhances environmental cooperation and builds a long-term strategic relationship with Mauritius as a close Commonwealth partner.

The UK-Mauritius negotiations began in November 2022. To date, 12 rounds of talks have taken place.

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

Statement by Jess Jambert-Gray, Deputy Political Coordinator, at the UN Security Council meeting on chemical weapons in Syria.

It is eleven years this month since Syria ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention, and since this Council unanimously agreed resolution 2118, calling on Syria to immediately cease its production, storage and use of chemical weapons.

In 2013, Bashar Assad’s forces used sarin against the people of Ghouta, killing over 1400 people. In 2018, a chemical weapon attack in Douma killed 43 men, women and children and affected dozens more.

Yet the Syria chemical weapon issue has still not been confined to history. The Syrian authorities have failed to account for thousands of munitions and hundreds of tonnes of chemical agent, despite the diligent efforts of the OPCW and its Declaration Assessment Team.

We have had 150 technical meetings yet outstanding issues still remain with Syria’s declaration. Nineteen outstanding issues remain unresolved regarding the Syrian declaration to the Chemical Weapons Convention.

And two were added in July 2024, opened – set out in the OPCW Director General’s report to the Council – because of Syria’s failure to sufficiently explain traces of undeclared chemical warfare agents or their indicators in samples previously collected by the Declaration Assessments Team.

This suggests potentially undeclared full-scale development and production of chemical weapons at two formally declared chemical weapons sites. This is deeply concerning.

Colleagues, Syria’s ongoing non-compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention has grave implications for both regional and international security.

Since Bashir Assad first used chemical weapons against Syrian civilians in 2013, chemical weapons have been used again and again. In Iraq, Malaysia, in my own country, the UK, and now in Ukraine.

All of us have a responsibility to hold up the global taboo against the use of chemical weapons. Chemical weapons use cannot become normalised. I urge Syria to comply with the OPCW and its Declaration Assessment Team.

And I urge all members of this Council to make clear their opposition to the use of chemical weapons anywhere, and to support the efforts of the OPCW. The UK applauds the continued diligent efforts by the OPCW under DG Ambassador Fernando Arias’ leadership.

We will continue to work tirelessly to support the OPCW and to uphold the Chemical Weapons Convention, and to one day finally achieve the total elimination of chemical weapons.

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

Stephen Doughty makes first visit to Canada as North America Minister to formally open the most environmentally friendly building in the UK’s diplomatic estate.

• UK’s greenest diplomatic building formally opened at gala reception in Ottawa by newly-appointed North America Minister Stephen Doughty
• unveiling of new British High Commission building highlights the UK’s commitment to tackling climate change and global Net Zero leadership
• minister also using first visit to Canada since the UK General Election to meet federal and provincial leaders as key allies refresh the UK-Canada partnership

The UK has underlined its commitment to be a global leader in tackling climate change by formally unveiling its most environmentally friendly diplomatic building in Ottawa.

Stephen Doughty is making his first visit to Canada since becoming the UK’s North America Minister following the General Election in July and has officially opened the new British High Commission building on Sussex Drive.

The building is the most environmentally sustainable building in the UK’s diplomatic network – including using reclaimed materials for the construction, having an energy efficient design, and targeting reduced water consumption – underlining the UK’s commitment to delivering on its 2050 Net Zero goal.

Minister Doughty, who has strong personal and family ties with Canada, was joined at a reception by High Commissioner Susannah Goshko, the Chief of the Air Staff, senior figures from the Canadian Armed Forces and senior representatives of the Government of Canada to mark the official opening.

Minister for Europe, North America and the Overseas Territories Stephen Doughty said:

The UK and Canada are the closest of partners across the most pressing global challenges, from standing united with Ukraine to our relations as NATO allies and key partners in the Commonwealth. Our partnership is also crucial in the fight to tackle climate change, and it’s fitting that the greenest building in the UK’s diplomatic estate is here in Ottawa.

The UK continues to show leadership in the green transition and it’s an honour for me to formally unveil a building that lays down an important marker for environmentally friendly design.

Canada is a country with which I have significant personal ties and have such great affection for, and I’m thrilled to be back here for my first trip to the region as the UK’s Minister responsible for our relations.

During the gala reception, there was a fly-past by the Red Arrows over the new High Commission building providing a stunning backdrop to the VIP event as part of an ongoing tour of Canada by the RAF’s world-famous aerial display team.

The location of the new High Commission building is opposite the Global Affairs Canada building, providing a physical demonstration of the strength of the UK-Canada relationship.

Minister Doughty is also travelling to Montreal and over the course of his 2-day visit, meeting with political leaders to discuss UK-Canadian collaboration on global security issues, including Ukraine, the Middle East and as key partners and allies in NATO, and with business leaders to further UK-Canada economic ties.

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

The UK and others mark the four-year anniversary of the fraudulent presidential election in Belarus in 2020.

Thank you, Mr Chair.

I am delivering this statement on behalf of the following participating States, who are members of the Informal Group of Friends of Democratic Belarus:  Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czechia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, and my own country, Iceland.

The following participating States are also joining this statement: Albania, Austria, Liechtenstein and Moldova.

August 9 marked four years since the fraudulent presidential election in Belarus. Despite the lack of a democratic mandate from his country’s citizens, Aleksandr Lukashenko declared himself the winner and ensconced himself for a sixth term in office. Authorities responded to the peaceful protests that sprung up across the country with widespread and brutal crackdowns. Security forces arrested and imprisoned thousands of Belarusians, including mothers and fathers, teachers, students, tradespeople, human rights defenders, journalists, pensioners, and others, many of whom reported being subjected to torture and ill-treatment. Those demanding new, free and fair elections are labelled “extremists” and, according to the amendments to the Criminal Code, may even face the death penalty.

In the four years since that fateful day, Belarusian authorities have only intensified the repression that has accompanied Lukashenko’s complete disregard for democratic principles and the will of the people. Authorities have unjustly detained tens of thousands of Belarusian citizens, simply for exercising their human rights and fundamental freedoms. According to Human Rights Center Viasna, Belarus has convicted at least 5,400 people in politically motivated criminal cases. Despite some recent releases, approximately 1,400 political prisoners remain behind bars, although the real number is likely much higher. Since July 11, when a group of 38 participating States invoked the Vienna Mechanism to inquire about the conditions of detained prisoners, Belarus has refused to provide any response to the questions raised. Belarus has also failed to comply with the recommendations of the 2020 and 2023 Moscow Mechanism expert missions’ reports.

Mr Chair, we call for the immediate and unconditional release of the roughly 1,400 political prisoners and a large-scale reform of existing laws to end systemic political repression in Belarus. We call on the Belarusian authorities to fully implement their international obligations and OSCE commitments, including by taking all necessary steps to create conditions for free, fair, and democratic elections. We also urge them to implement the recommendations in the 2023 Moscow Mechanism report, including but not limited to:

• Bringing criminal and administrative codes into full compliance with international obligations and commitments; and
• Repealing laws targeting independent organizations and media for political purposes.

In the meantime, we will continue to speak out about the horrible repression taking place in Belarus, engage with Belarusian civil society to promote accountability for human rights violations, and support international efforts to hold the perpetrators to account. The Belarusian people’s refusal to be muzzled and their continued call – even at great personal risk – for democratic elections and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are a testament to their strength, bravery, and resilience.

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

Deputy Ambassador Deirdre Brown underlines the UK’s concerns following the recent operation by Kosovo Police against Serbian-run municipal offices in the north of Kosovo.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The United Kingdom shares the concerns of international partners regarding the recent operation by Kosovo Police against Serbian-run municipal offices in the north of Kosovo.

We have been clear, including with Kosovo’s leaders, that actions which fundamentally affect the wellbeing of Kosovo-Serbs and other non-majority communities require careful consultation with Kosovo’s friends and security partners, in order to avoid fuelling tensions and disadvantaging the most vulnerable. We continue to urge the Government of Kosovo to ensure that non-majority communities are fully integrated into a multi-ethnic Kosovo.

We continue to urge the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia to engage constructively and in good faith in the EU-facilitated Dialogue, to implement all their commitments to normalise relations between their two countries, and to deliver the peaceful, stable and prosperous future that their citizens deserve.