Tag: Press Release

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 July 2024.

Diplomatic Missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah condemn demolitions during visit to Um al Kheir, South Hebron.

Representatives from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK made a joint visit to the village of Um al Kheir in South Hebron following a mass demolition operation on 26 June. This was the largest demolition operation in the West Bank since 7 October.

During their visit, diplomats witnessed the aftermath of the demolition of multiple properties and its distressing impact on the community. This included residential structures, the community centre and an electricity generator which had supplied power to the Um al Kheir community.

The delegation called on Israel to halt demolitions and confiscations in Um al Kheir or Khallet al-Tabe which would be devastating for the local communities and could raise the risk of forcible transfer. The delegation also noted further demolitions had taken place in Beitillu, Silwan, At-Tur, Al Auja, and east of Jericho city, and called on Israel to halt further demolitions throughout Area C and East Jerusalem.

The delegation called on Israel to respect all its obligations under Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, including the prohibition on forcible transfer, and reiterated their opposition to illegal settlements, which fuel violence and impede the two-state solution.

The delegation called on Israel to halt demolitions and confiscations of Palestinian property in accordance with its obligations as an occupying power under international humanitarian law. They also called on Israel to cease the policy of settlement construction and expansion, of designating land for exclusive Israeli use, and of denying Palestinian development. Failure to do so could risk violating international law, undermines a two-state solution and is a major impediment to peace and security.

In addition, the delegation reaffirmed their commitment to upholding Palestinian rights and assisting vulnerable populations in Area C, emphasising the need for Israel, as the occupying power, to ensure the safety of all Palestinian communities living in Area C.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 July 2024.

The British Ambassador to Japan, Julia Longbottom, issued a statement on the State Visit to the UK by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan.

I am delighted that the State Visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan has concluded so successfully. This visit to the UK was made possible after several years of preparation starting in 2019, and I feel extremely honoured to have been involved in such a historic event.

The visit to the UK came at a truly auspicious time for UK-Japan relations. As His Majesty the Emperor said in his speech at the State Banquet, the UK and Japan are ‘friends like no other’ and our relationship has never been stronger. Our partnership spans trade, security, science and technology, sustainable energy and more, all encapsulated in the Hiroshima Accord agreed last year.

We have also witnessed the warm bonds of friendship between our people. This includes the closeness of our royal families, as demonstrated by the shared interest of His Majesty the King and His Majesty the Emperor in biodiversity and environmental protection.

The Guildhall Banquet hosted by the City of London, a pioneering ecosystem for international finance and business services, including innovative research and academic institutions, was attended by guests representing the business communities of both countries. The dinner symbolised the deepening of our cooperation through collaboration between businesses and local governments in both countries.

The official programme also showcased the ground-breaking collaboration between Japanese and British scientists and researchers in the fields of genetics, stem cells and cell regeneration. It was very moving to see the Emperor and Empress smiling as they interacted with the children who will be the next generation of the Japan-UK partnership, and to see how the arts and culture of both countries continue to influence each other across generations and national boundaries.

This visit to the UK has allowed us to send a message to the world that the UK-Japan relationship is moving forward into the future. It has also highlighted the fact that both countries will continue to work together to build a sustainable society and make the world a more peaceful and secure place, while seeking new treatments such as tracking mutated strains of viruses and developing vaccines in preparation for future pandemic crises. From the UK’s contribution to World Expo 2025, which will focus on global collaboration to save lives, to the visit of the Carrier Strike Group next year and beyond, we will continue to write new pages in history together. I also hope that the bonds between people will continue to grow stronger through education and other forms of exchange.

We are now entering a new era in UK-Japan relations. We will build an even stronger relationship of trust and a forward-looking partnership with the people of Japan to write the next 400 years of our history together.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 30 June 2024.

The UK government gave a statement in response to Israel announcing that five outposts are to be legalised in the West Bank.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said:

The UK strongly opposes the announcement that five outposts are to be legalised in the West Bank as well as further punitive measures against the Palestinian Authority.

Israel must halt its illegal settlement expansion and hold to account those responsible for extremist settler violence. We are clear that actions by Israel to weaken the Palestinian Authority must stop. We call for longer-term measures to be put in place to ensure continued correspondent banking relations and assurance that Israel will release frozen funds without delay.

The UK’s priority is to bring the Gaza conflict to a sustainable end as quickly as possible and ensure a lasting peace in the Middle East, through an irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 June 2024.

Minister of State Lord Ahmad spoke during the 54th regular session of the OAS general assembly in Asunción, Paraguay.

Secretary General, Assistant Secretary General, ministers, delegates – friends.

I am glad to join you today.

The UK places huge value on our relationships across the Americas.

Indeed, we are working closely together on the great global issues, including security, climate change and sustainable development.

With so many areas of shared interest and endeavour, this Assembly is an opportunity to forge even stronger ties.

When it comes to Argentina in particular, the Foreign Secretary and President Milei enjoyed a warm and cordial meeting at Davos earlier this year.

They set out their support for a more constructive relationship between our countries, with greater cooperation on areas of shared interest including trade and education.

We particularly welcome efforts to lower tensions in the South Atlantic and have been working` with Argentina to re-establish sensible, practical cooperation in that region to the benefit of all.

However, Lord Cameron and President Milei agreed to disagree – politely – when it comes to the future of the Falkland Islands.

Our resolute support for the Falkland Islanders’ right of self-determination, remains unchanged.

Only they should decide their future – and in the referendum they held in 2013, they overwhelmingly chose to retain their status as a self-governing UK Overseas Territory.

Five of the six international observers of that referendum came from OAS Member States, with their report noting that it was free and fair, reflecting the democratic will of voters.

The Foreign Secretary visited the Falkland Islands in February, and my Ministerial colleague, David Rutley, has twice visited.

They saw for themselves the thriving democracy the community has built with their own constitution, laws and traditions.

Quite rightly, the elected representatives of the Falkland Islands make the decisions that affect their community.

Reference has been made to resolutions and to certain regional statements of support for sovereignty negotiations.

None of these modify or dilute the obligation of nations to respect the legally binding principle of self-determination, enshrined in the UN Charter and UN Covenants on human rights.

The UK has no doubt about its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, and the surrounding maritime areas.

We also have no doubt about the principle and the right of self-determination enshrined in the UN Charter and in article one of the 2 UN Covenants on human rights. A right by virtue of which Falkland Islanders can freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

The UK asks that the General Assembly takes note of the Islanders’ right of self-determination and that this statement is read into the record of this meeting.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 June 2024.

Statement by UK Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on North Korea.

Since 2006, this Council has adopted nine resolutions on the DPRK. All nine condemned the DPRK’s nuclear and ballistic missile activity. They called on the DPRK to cease this activity and imposed sanctions, including prohibiting the transfer of arms and related materiel between the DPRK and any UN Member State. All nine were unanimously adopted by this Council.

Russia has violated these resolutions repeatedly. There is now a continuous flow of cargo between Russia and the DPRK. This includes munitions and ballistic missiles, as reported by UN experts in April and our briefer today. As well as weapons and the flow of goods between Russia and the DPRK, the DPRK is also procuring refined petroleum from Russia, which is likely to exceed the UNSCR-mandated cap.

Russia does not even attempt to hide its behaviour. Russia brazenly vetoed the renewal of the 1718 Panel of Experts, and during President Putin’s visit to Pyongyang this month, Kim Jong-Un praised the active cooperation between the two countries, including in military affairs.

Colleagues, in return for the weapons, and Russia’s protection in the Council, DPRK is seeking trade and military assistance, in further circumvention of UN sanctions and increasing the risks to regional security and stability. These violations have serious consequences for millions of people worldwide.

North Korean missiles are being used, as we’ve heard today, in the destruction of Kharkiv, bringing misery, injury and death to Ukrainian civilians. Ammunition is helping Russia prolong its war, which continues to exact a heavy toll on women and children.

The DPRK built its missile programmes by diverting resources from the North Korean people. It continues to use forced labour. And by damaging the fabric of the non-proliferation regime, and reducing constraints on the DPRK’s military programmes, Russia’s actions are making the world a more dangerous place, for all countries.

The UK will work with all willing countries to identify, expose, and counter Russian attempts to acquire military equipment from DPRK, and to protect the global non-proliferation regime. It is an abuse of this organisation and its principles that Russia so openly and deliberately violates the UN sanctions regime, on top of its flagrant breach of the UN Charter in Ukraine. This is all unacceptable. All of us who believe in this Council must call Russia out clearly and must commit to working together to protect the UN, the non-proliferation system, and global peace and security.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 June 2024.

Annual Discussion on Women’s Rights, Joint Statement on Women’s Economic Empowerment delivered by Kyrgyzstan during the 56th session of the Human Rights Council.

Mr President

This joint statement is on behalf of 83 States.

Gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls are enshrined in several human rights treaties and are key to progress towards implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Yet economic empowerment remains a distant goal for millions of women and girls around the world. One in ten women live in extreme poverty, and more than 2.7 billion women face legal restrictions that prevent them from accessing the same job opportunities as men. In addition, many countries still have laws constraining women’s decision to work.

For women to have full agency, power, and autonomy, and enjoy human rights fully without discrimination of any kind, states should ensure that women have equal access to, control over and ownership of resources. It is also essential to address the structural and non-structural barriers that limit women’s economic empowerment.

As a priority, we should:

1. Address and eliminate institutional and structural discrimination against women and girls.
2. Remove all barriers that prevent or limit the full, equal, and meaningful participation of all women and girls in society.
3. Address harmful social norms and legal constraints that limit women’s agency in the public and private spheres and their economic independence.

We are committed to making further progress on women’s economic empowerment and to achieve gender equality by 2030.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 June 2024.

Joint statement by the embassies of a number of Western countries in the Russian Federation on the occasion of Pride Month.

We, the undersigned Embassies of Australia, Canada, Chile, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States to the Russian Federation, celebrate Pride Month by upholding the human rights of each individual as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Those rights apply to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) community as they do to every other individual.

Throughout the year, but particularly during Pride Month, we celebrate the bravery and successes of LGBTQI+ activists and their allies around the world, who continue in the face of adversity, to advocate for the rights of LGBTQI+ individuals. Everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics, has the right to receive full protection of the law. We stand by the principle that human rights are universal, including the right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 June 2024.

UK statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls.

Thank you Madam Vice President,

We would like to start by thanking the Working Group for their continued research and steadfast efforts to end discrimination against women and girls around the world. Their recent report shines a much-needed light on the challenges we face, particularly the erosion of women’s and girls’ rights, as well as the opportunities for progress.

The UK was particularly pleased to read of the 40 plus constitutional changes to advance women’s and girls’ rights over the past decade. However, we share your concerns around the heightened backlash and recognise the need for concerted collective efforts to counter it.

Until we end all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls, we cannot ensure empowerment. Until we ensure that every girl and woman realise their right to education, we cannot achieve gender equality.

To make this a reality, we must take urgent collective action around the world to ensure that we leave no one behind.

Members of the Working Group,

We would welcome more information on how your report could shape the upcoming Summit of the Future.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 June 2024.

Mr Nick Abbott has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to Albania in succession to Mr Alastair King-Smith.

Mr Nick Abbott has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Albania in succession to Mr Alastair King-Smith who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.  Mr Abbott will take up his appointment during September 2024

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Nicholas Robert John Abbott

Date	Role
2019 to 2024	Pristina, His Majesty’s Ambassador
2018 to 2019	Full-time Albanian language training
2015 to 2018	FCO, Programme Director/Head of MENA Central Operations Department, Middle East North Africa Directorate
2014 to 2015	Algiers, Deputy Head of Mission
May to September 2014	FCO, Deputy Head, Conflict Department
2013 to 2014	FCO, Head, Syria Team, Stabilisation Unit
2012 to 2013	FCO, Deputy Head, Mediterranean Department, Europe Directorate
2010 to 2012	Baghdad, Political Counsellor
2009 to 2010	Department for International Development, Head Afghan Team, Stabilisation Unit
2007 to 2009	FCO, Programme Manager, Human Rights and Democracy Strategic Programme Fund
2004 to 2006	Cairo, Regional Expert – Engaging with the Arab World
2000 to 2003	Riyadh, First Secretary Economic and Press/Public Affairs
1998 to 2000	FCO, Desk Officer, Middle East Peace Process Section, Near East and North Africa Department
1995 to 1998	Doha, Second Secretary, Commercial
1992 to 1995	Paris, Third Secretary, Economic
1988 to 1991	Riyadh, Third Secretary, Political
1986 to 1988	Full-time Arabic language training
1985 to 1986	FCO, Desk Officer, Legal Procedures Section, Nationality and Treaty Department

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 June 2024.

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

First, we welcome the efforts of the Government of the Central African Republic to deliver local elections in the autumn. Local elections will be critical to strengthening democracy in CAR ahead of presidential and legislative elections next year. However, the detention of political opponents threatens the credibility of future elections. And we encourage the full inclusion of women, youth, returnees, IDPs and refugees in elections.

Second, we remain concerned by the activities of armed groups, particularly around border areas, mining regions and “transhumance corridors” who continue to conduct cross-border arms smuggling in violation of the arms embargo, to pursue their military aspirations. In this context, MINUSCA’s mandate remains vital for supporting stability in CAR. We welcome the continued productive cooperation between the CAR authorities and MINUSCA.

The UK also welcomes the Government of CAR’s commitment to implementing the 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation. We encourage the authorities to continue their decentralisation efforts and to continue to support sustainable security through its disarming, demobilisation and rehabilitation programme and local peacebuilding initiatives.

Thirdly, we call on all Council members to support MINUSCA’s ability to deliver its mandate. The UK has information that Russian proxies are likely trying to undermine MINUSCA’s continued presence in CAR, including through disinformation campaigns against the Mission, in violation of the Security Council’s resolutions and CAR’s sovereignty.

Russia’s targeted actions against UN Peacekeeping missions, including MINUSCA, highlight their intent to destabilise states to achieve their own foreign policy objectives. The presence and activities of Russian proxies impact communities, exacerbate existing conflicts and undermine long-term economic development.

Attempts by proxies, acting on behalf of a permanent member of the Security Council, to impede the operations of MINUSCA’s unmanned aerial systems threaten the safety of UN personnel. This is unacceptable. We urgently call on the CAR authorities to lift all restrictions on MINUSCA’s movements and reconsider the involvement of destabilising Russian proxies. President, the UK is committed to working with CAR to provide long-term stability and development that delivers on the aspirations of all Central Africans.