Tag: Press Release

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 7 June 2024.

Statement by Australia, the UK and the US about AUKUS safeguards under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Chair,

I take the floor on behalf of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States to respond to comments made regarding Australia’s acquisition of a naval nuclear propulsion capability. We expressed our position on this agenda item in our Note Verbale, dated May 30, 2024, and I will not repeat it here other than to reiterate that this item has never enjoyed consensus support and is not a standing agenda item. However, we feel compelled – once again – to invoke our Right of Reply to respond to the remarks made today.

In response to a request in March and last November from my distinguished colleague who requested this agenda item, I and my counterparts from the United Kingdom and Australia have, indeed, sat and attentively listened to the remarks made today, just as we have done for two-and-a-half years. Unfortunately, much of what I have heard today, and what I have in fact heard under this item for the last two-and-a-half years, are serious mischaracterizations and misleading assertions from certain countries.

These assertions continue to ignore or misrepresent the information we have provided in good faith, and to disregard the answers which the Director General has already provided in response to the questions asked. We express our deep concern about these mischaracterizations. We, and the large majority of Board members who have spoken in previous meetings on this topic, have expressed confidence in Director General Grossi’s handling and prerogative on this issue. Indeed, we note many member states expressed confidence in the Agency’s engagement with relevant parties on naval nuclear propulsion under Agenda item 6b at this Board. We have been clear that this agenda item is unnecessary.

Chair,

The People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation have spoken multiple times over the last two days of the need to avoid politicization of the Board, particularly on issues that the Board and the Director General have deemed to be of significant concern such as Iran, the DPRK, and Syria’s failure to meet obligations in their Safeguards Agreements as well as on the nuclear safety, security, and safeguards implications of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. It is difficult to understand why these states do not apply their own logic to this issue. Why, when the Director General has expressed his satisfaction and a majority of the Board has expressed no desire for quarterly discussion on one country’s naval nuclear propulsion program, do we continue to have this item added to the agenda?

The Director General has repeatedly stated that the Agency has “the necessary experience to develop the arrangements related to the use of nuclear material for naval nuclear propulsion in accordance with the Statute and relevant safeguards agreements.” The Director General has also made clear that Australia’s Article 14 arrangement will allow the Agency to continue to meet the technical safeguards objectives established for Australia, and that, once developed, it will be transmitted to the Board for appropriate action. Despite these statements, it remains deeply concerning that some states continue to call into question the Director General’s ability to perform the functions vested in him by the Statute, by the relevant safeguards agreements, and by decisions of the Board.

One country has called for referring the matter to the Standing Advisory Group on Safeguards Implementation, known as SAGSI. Obviously, we fully support the Director General’s use of SAGSI as he sees fit and on technical matters within its remit. We defer to the Director General to determine whether to seek SAGSI’s input on naval nuclear propulsion, or, for that matter, any other technical issue relating to safeguards implementation. It is not this Board’s responsibility to dictate whether or how the Director General receives input from his own advisory group.

Chair,

The AUKUS partners have and will continue to engage consistently, openly, and transparently with Member States and the Secretariat on genuine questions. We welcome that the Agency has repeatedly reported its satisfaction with Australia’s engagement.

Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States have provided updates on relevant progress at all Board meetings since the initial AUKUS announcement in September 2021, and will do so again at this meeting under Any Other Business. We will continue to keep the Board updated on our engagement, as appropriate. Our three countries – along with the majority of the Board – continue to oppose any proposal for this item to be a standing agenda item or to establish any efforts that undermine and politicize the independent technical mandate of the IAEA. We reject any suggestion that the Agency does not have a mandate to engage bilaterally with Member States on issues relevant to the implementation of their safeguards commitments. We urge colleagues to continue to reject deliberate efforts to challenge the Agency’s independence and integrity. And we welcome the Director General’s commitment to continuing to provide updates to the Board as and when he deems appropriate.

Thank you, Chair.

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

Ambassador Holland voices support for Moldova, as it pursues a bold reform agenda and builds its future in Europe, in line with the wishes of the Moldovan people – all while defending against increased attention from hostile actors.

Thank you, Chair.

The UK supports Moldova in its considered rejection of the claims made by the Russian delegation at the Permanent Council meeting on 23 May. The Moldovan delegation’s comments speak for themselves, but I would nonetheless like to voice the UK’s support for Moldova. This is a country which is pursuing a bold reform agenda and building its future in Europe, in line with the wishes of the Moldovan people – all while defending against increased attention from hostile actors.

Firstly, the measured and proportional steps taken by Moldova in recent years have been necessary to address unprecedented levels of Russian disinformation, in an attempt to undermine Moldova’s democratic process. All Moldovans are entitled to credible and transparent journalism, free from propaganda and foreign interference. And as noted by my Moldovan colleague, Reporters without Borders placed Moldova 31st on the World Press Freedom Index. A well-earned position which demonstrates Moldova’s clear commitment to a free and independent media.

Moldova’s commitment to OSCE principles on election integrity and election observation is similarly welcome, building on the commitments agreed by all participating States at Copenhagen. We commend Moldova’s longstanding and close cooperation with ODIHR, including Moldova’s recent request for a legal opinion on postal voting and their other work to follow up on ODIHR’s election recommendations.

Regarding the Transnistrian settlement process, Russia’s request to resume the 5+2 format makes no sense. We would dearly have liked the 5+2 to continue but, as Russia well knows, it is on hold because Russia has chosen to pursue its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, and will continue to be on hold until all sides agree to resume. The UK continues to support a peaceful settlement under the 1+1 format, and we are grateful to the parties on both sides of the Nistru for their persistence in seeking constructive dialogue despite Russia’s repeated attempts to instrumentalise the process.

Madam Chair, it is ironic that many of the accusations made by the Russian delegation are a thinly veiled attempt to criticise them for taking the steps necessary to protect its democracy and territorial integrity from the very hybrid threats that Russia alone is responsible for. The UK stands resolutely with Moldova as it seeks to safeguard the democratic choices of its people.

Thank you.

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

Ambassador Holland calls out Russia’s failure to live up to the commitments it signed up to in the OSCE’s Decalogue with its illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Thank you, Madam Chair.  Each week in this Council, we confront the reality of what is taking place on the ground in Ukraine as a result of Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion.  And that is right. As long as it continues to fight this war, we should never stop confronting the Russian Federation with what their so-called Special Military Operation means for the people on the ground; the heroically brave Ukrainian Armed Forces, the first responders to Russian attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure or the innocent civilian victims of Russia’s aggression. We should express our opposition and disgust at what is happening in the name of Russia in Ukraine – and hold Russia accountable.

However, occasionally, it is also worth taking a step back to remind ourselves of what the Russian Federation has done to comprehensive security overall in our region by their violation in Ukraine of the principles, agreed at Helsinki, that sit at the heart of this organisation: specifically, the Decalogue. The Decalogue was adopted, by consensus – and that means all of us – nearly half a century ago.

Looking at the Decalogue again, it is striking what a good job our predecessors did. If we were starting from scratch today to design a set of principles that should govern relations between the states of our region, I think and hope we would come out in a similar place.

Take for example the first principle:

“The participating States will respect each other’s sovereign equality and individuality as well as all the rights inherent in and encompassed by its sovereignty, including in particular the right of every State to juridical equality, to territorial integrity and to freedom and political independence. They will also respect each other’s right freely to choose and develop its political, social, economic and cultural systems as well as its right to determine its laws and regulations.

“Within the framework of international law, all the participating States have equal rights and duties. They will respect each other’s right to define and conduct as it wishes its relations with other States in accordance with international law and in the spirit of the present Declaration. They consider that their frontiers can be changed, in accordance with international law, by peaceful means and by agreement.  They also have the right to belong or not to belong to international organizations, to be or not to be a party to bilateral or multilateral treaties including the right to be or not to be a party to treaties of alliance; they also have the right to neutrality.”

Who among us would not want that principle applied to our own country?  None, I imagine.  Then why should that principle apply to 56 of us but not to Ukraine? The standards should apply to all of us. But that is clearly not the view of the Russian Federation who in invading Ukraine has driven a coach and horses through the principle of territorial integrity that they signed up to.

So, Madam Chair, I would like to ask a direct question of the Russian delegation as to whether they consider Russia’s actions in Ukraine to be in conformity with this first Helsinki principle.  If so, could they please explain how?

Thank you.

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

Special sitting on the situation of workers of the occupied Arab territories. Statement by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

Thank you Chair.

The UK, like others in this room today, wants to bring the Gaza conflict to a sustainable end as quickly as possible. We are shocked by the sheer scale of the loss of lives and livelihoods of both Israelis and Palestinians.

On 7 October, Israel suffered the deadliest terrorist attack in its history. Almost 250 days on and Hamas continues to hold hostages.

In Gaza, the situation is desperate. Palestinian civilians face a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis. We again urge Israel to let humanitarian aid enter Gaza through all relevant crossings, including Rafah.

The UK is grateful to the Director General and the ILO for their vital engagement. In particular, we commend the ILO’s staff who have been working tirelessly to implement the emergency response programme under immensely challenging circumstances. We of course regret that the annual mission could not take place in its usual format.

Both Palestinian and Israeli labour markets have been affected by this crisis. The absence of a functioning labour market in Gaza; rising rates of unemployment; and the effects on vulnerable workers including women and those with disabilities is particularly concerning. This has only been compounded by the destruction of businesses.

If we are to stop the loss of life, and allow the rebuilding of the labour market in both the West Bank and Gaza, the fighting needs to stop now. The fastest way to end the conflict is to secure a deal which gets the hostages out and allows for a pause in the fighting in Gaza. We must then work together to turn that pause into a sustainable, permanent ceasefire.

The UK supports an irreversible two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people. The UK has offered support to the Palestinian Authority to implement much-needed reforms, and we encourage labour and social policy reforms to be resumed at the appropriate time. An effective PA is vital for lasting peace and progress towards a two-state solution.

Just as the PA must act, so must Israel. This means releasing frozen funds, halting settlement expansion, and holding to account those responsible for extremist settler violence.

The UK has already moved to ban those responsible for violence in the West Bank from entering the UK, and announced new sanctions designations against four extremist Israeli settlers.

So, in closing, let us join together today to renew our collective commitment to end the suffering and reach a long-term solution to this crisis. It is time for it to end.

Thank you, Chair.

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

Statement from the leaders of the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and France on Gaza.

In the margins of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, the Leaders of Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and France reaffirmed their full support for the comprehensive deal outlined by President Biden that would lead to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all the hostages, a significant and sustained increase in humanitarian assistance at scale for distribution throughout Gaza, to include temporary shelters, and an enduring end to the crisis with Israel’s security and Gazan civilian safety assured. They emphasized that the deal further calls for the immediate refurbishment of essential services, including medical facilities, bakeries, electricity and water lines, clearing rubble, and setting conditions for a long-term reconstruction program. They reiterated their demand for Hamas to express its full acceptance of this comprehensive proposal, which has been presented and agreed to by Israel, and called on the parties to implement the plan without further delay, so to ultimately bring an end to this war. They committed to work in support of the mediation efforts to that end.

The four Heads of State and Government reiterated their commitment to a negotiated two-state solution, which remains the only viable solution to respond to the legitimate aspirations of the two peoples for peace and security. They reaffirmed the legitimacy of the Palestinian aspirations for an independent State living in peace and security alongside Israel, and the need to mark out a clear path in the direction. The Leaders stressed their unwavering commitment to Israel’s security.

They reaffirmed their support to the Palestinian Authority and for the reform program of Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, and called for greater regional and international backing of his government, including the transfer of revenues by the Israeli government. In this regard, they underlined the need to restore a legitimate Palestinian governance in Gaza, with the appropriate international support, while answering Israel’s security needs. To that end, they stressed their determination to contribute to an international support effort to stabilization in Gaza, with a view to a long-term regional security for all, and ensuring that a crisis like this can never again recur.

The Leaders also underlined the utmost importance of preserving the stability of Lebanon and their determination to combine their efforts in supporting de-escalation on the Blue Line consistent with UNSCR 1701. They called on all parties to exert maximum restraint to avoid further regional escalation.

The Leaders stressed their determination to continue working together in support of the implementation of the deal as outlined by President Biden and towards regional peace and stability.

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

Leaders of the United States, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement on Gaza.

As leaders of countries deeply concerned for the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, including many of our own citizens, we fully support the movement towards a ceasefire and hostage release deal now on the table and as outlined by President Biden on May 31, 2024. There is no time to lose. We call on Hamas to close this agreement, that Israel is ready to move forward with, and begin the process of releasing our citizens.

We note that this agreement would lead to an immediate ceasefire and rehabilitation of Gaza together with security assurances for Israelis, and Palestinians, and opportunities for a more enduring long-term peace and a two-state solution. At this decisive moment, we call on the leaders of Israel as well as Hamas to make whatever final compromises are necessary to close this deal and bring relief to the families of our hostages, as well as those on both sides of this terrible conflict, including the civilian populations. It is time for the war to end and this deal is the necessary starting point.

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

France, Germany and the UK (the E3) welcome the adoption of an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors resolution on Iran.

We, the Governments of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, welcome the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors’ adoption of a resolution on Iran this afternoon. The resolution responds to Iran’s persistent refusal to cooperate in good faith with the IAEA to clarify outstanding issues relating to undeclared nuclear material detected at multiple locations in Iran. Iran is legally obligated under its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement to cooperate with the IAEA and account for all nuclear material and activities.

18 months ago, the IAEA Board stated that it was essential and urgent for Iran to act without delay to fulfil its NPT-required safeguards obligations to ensure the IAEA is able to verify that no nuclear material is diverted. Since then, Iran has consistently failed to meaningfully cooperate with the Agency, further restricted Agency access by de-designating experienced inspectors, and accumulated provocative statements on its technical capability to build nuclear weapons that are contrary to Iran’s NPT obligations. Despite the repeated efforts by the IAEA Director General to engage in a substantial dialogue with Iran, Iran has made no progress to resolve the issues.

With this new resolution, the IAEA Board sends a strong and renewed message of support for the IAEA and its Director-General’s relentless efforts to address the issue. The Board will not sit idly by when Iran challenges the foundations of the non-proliferation system and undermines the credibility of the international safeguards regime. Iran must cooperate with the Agency and provide technically credible explanations which satisfy the Agency’s questions. This resolution supports the Agency to pursue its dialogue with Iran to clarify all outstanding safeguards issues, while setting the stage for further steps to hold Iran to account if it fails to make concrete progress.

If Iran meaningfully cooperates with the Agency, and the Director General is able to report that the unresolved safeguards issues are no longer outstanding, the Board could then close its consideration of this matter.  We hope Iran takes this opportunity to resolve these outstanding matters so that no further Board action is necessary.

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

On behalf of France, Germany, the UK, the UK Ambassador to the IAEA Corinne Kitsell introduced a resolution on Iran’s insufficient cooperation with the IAEA.

Thank you, Chair.

I have the honour to speak now on behalf of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. We would like to thank the Director General for his report on safeguards in Iran. We commend the Agency for its continued efforts to engage Iran to clarify and resolve the outstanding safeguards issues.

Chair,

It has been five years since the Agency first detected nuclear material at Turquzabad, and four years since nuclear material was detected at Varamin. In that time, the Board has, on numerous occasions, expressed its concern about these issues. We recall the last resolution adopted by this Board in November 2022, when the Board decided it was essential and urgent that Iran clarify all outstanding safeguards issues. One and a half years later, the Director General’s latest report shows that once again, Iran has made no progress to resolve these issues. Instead of implementing this resolution and resolving outstanding issues, Iran has taken further negative steps, including announcing the development of new facilities without providing design information to the Agency, in clear violation of its legal obligations under Modified Code 3.1.; and de-designating several experienced Agency inspectors essential to the Agency’s verification work. These actions show Iran’s flagrant disregard for its safeguards obligations and the work of the IAEA.

Chair,

Over a year has passed since Iran and the IAEA signed their Joint Statement in March 2023. Iran has not implemented the commitments it signed up to in this statement, despite ample time and space to do so. Nor has Iran implemented the agreements it made with the IAEA in March 2022, December 2021, September 2021, and August 2020. Indeed, Iran has made repeatedly clear that it does not feel bound to implement any voluntary commitments with the Agency that were agreed in good faith.

Chair,

Over five years, Iran has been given unprecedented opportunities to clarify and resolve the open safeguards questions – issues which call into question the credibility of Iran’s safeguards declarations and the possibility of undeclared nuclear material in Iran today. No other Member State has been afforded such time and patience by this Board to resolve issues critical to the correctness and completeness of its safeguards declarations. Whilst these issues remain unresolved, the Agency has made clear that it is unable to assure that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful. At a time when Iran’s nuclear programme has never been more advanced, this is of grave concern to us all. This is especially the case when Iran has made several public statements on its technical capability to build a nuclear weapon, and possible changes to its nuclear doctrine – in contradiction with Iran’s obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Chair, colleagues,

We believe it is now necessary that the Board take action to send a clear message to Iran that it cannot continue on its path, and that it must urgently co-operate with the Agency to resolve these issues, as it is legally obliged to do under its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement under the NPT. We therefore propose to the Board a resolution on this issue. We must demonstrate our resolve and our collective responsibility as Board members to renew our support to the DG and the Agency’s efforts to ensure that safeguards are implemented in a fair and objective manner.

For the sake of the integrity of the international non-proliferation architecture and ultimately, global security, we cannot allow Iran to evade its obligations any longer. Our utmost objective is to provide full support to the Agency and the Director-General and call upon Iran to provide the substantive cooperation required to clarify and resolve all outstanding safeguards issues.

Our draft resolution submitted for the Board’s consideration contains the following main points:

1. First, the Board would express continued, strong support for the Agency’s professional and impartial efforts in carrying out its mandate to verify the implementation of Iran’s safeguards obligations.
2. Second, the Board would reiterate its decision that it is essential and urgent, in accordance with Article 18 of Iran’s NPT Safeguards Agreement, that Iran fulfil its legal obligations and take the specific actions called for by the Director General without delay. The Board would also call on Iran to implement without delay the Joint Statement between the IAEA and Iran of 4 March 2023, reverse its withdrawal of the designations of several experienced Agency inspectors and implement Modified Code 3.1, the application of which Iran has no right to unilaterally suspend in the first place.
3. Third, following years of Iran’s failure to co-operate to resolve these issues, this resolution also recognises that continued failure by Iran to resolve these issues may necessitate the production, by the Director General, of a comprehensive and updated assessment on the presence or use of undeclared nuclear material in connection with past and present outstanding issues regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.

Chair,

We have been repeatedly clear that once Iran co-operates fully and the DG confirms that all questions have received technically credible answers, and that Iran fulfils its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement obligations, this Board will no longer need to consider this item. But this can only take place when Iran demonstrates full, unambiguous and sustained co-operation with the Agency. We believe the renewed call in this resolution is essential to support the Director General’s efforts. We sincerely hope that Iran recognises the seriousness of these issues and takes the opportunity to resolve them. As we have expressed before, reaching this outcome would be a significant success for Iran, for the IAEA, and for the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Chair,

We are fully aware of the current political context in Iran. However, it remains vital that Iran does not continue on the path of escalation while delaying urgently needed co-operation with the IAEA. This is why we see the need for the Board to act now – 18 months after the last resolution and 15 months after the last Joint Statement.

Chair,

Our delegations have engaged broadly with Board members to explain our thinking, to solicit their feedback, and to listen to their views on these matters. We thank the many states that contributed to this process for this resolution and request the resolution be derestricted and made public once it is adopted.

Thank you, Chair.