Tag: Press Release

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 July 2023.

Ambassador Neil Holland thanks Bulgaria for chairing the Forum for Security Cooperation professionally, despite Russia’s destructive behaviour.

Thank you, Madam Chair.  I would like to start by thanking you for your professional stewardship of this Forum over the past trimester.  You and your team have ensured that this Forum has remained relevant and able to fulfil its mandate during challenging times.

This Forum has rightly remained focused on Russia’s unprovoked, full-scale and illegal invasion of Ukraine. Russia continues to challenge the foundations of European security. To violate the UN Charter. And to flagrantly disregard the Helsinki Final Act’s core principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the non-use of force. Under your leadership, we have shown that these principles and this Forum continue to matter.  And that we will keep on defending both.

Madam Chair, the Security Dialogues this trimester focused different thematic lenses on Ukraine.  The Forum discussed the Black Sea, weeks before Russia’s unilateral withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and reprehensible attacks on civilian infrastructure in Odesa. It highlighted the environment-security nexus, in the aftermath of the destruction of the Kakhovka dam – the impacts of which could last for decades.  And to mark the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, this Forum paid tribute to the women of Ukraine, and to our diplomatic colleagues.  It is essential that we continue to champion women’s full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation in political and peace processes.

Madam Chair, it is over 500 days since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.  Since 24 February last year, we have seen the extraordinary determination of the Ukrainian people as they have defended their homeland.  And we have seen a frustrated Russian military unleash horrendous amounts of violence on civilians and critical national infrastructure. Despite the disinformation perpetrated by our Russian colleagues, it is clear to all that Putin made a grave miscalculation when he chose to invade a sovereign neighbour. And it is clear that millions of young Russians will bear the cost for years to come for an invasion they did not choose. Indeed, far too many will have paid the ultimate price.

No one can deny the Belarusian regime is an active supporter of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. We call upon the Belarusian regime to desist from supporting Russia’s attempts to stoke further regional instability.  Any complicity in the invasion itself constitutes a breach of international law.

Russia’s destructive behaviour in Ukraine has been mirrored in the OSCE. It compounded years of non-compliance by triggering the process to permanently leave the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.  This showed Russia’s ongoing disregard for the Euro-Atlantic security architecture and the principles of arms control.  The Russian delegation blocked consensus on holding the Annual Security Review Conference – another unwelcome first for the OSCE.  And the behaviour of the Russian delegation in this Forum has breached and at times gone way beyond diplomatic norms. So I would like, in that light, to pay particular tribute to you, Madam Chair, for standing up to that behaviour.

I would like to conclude by thanking Bosnia-Herzegovina as it leaves the FSC Troika, and to welcome Cyprus.  As the incoming Chair, Canada can count on the UK’s full, continued support next trimester. As can Ukraine – as it fights a war it did not choose and against an enemy who has demonstrated a disregard for international law, sovereignty, and human rights.  Ukraine must remain at the forefront of our minds over the summer and into next trimester.  The UK and the international community will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.  Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 July 2023.

Statement by Ambassador to the General Assembly Richard Croker at UN General Assembly 94th plenary meeting 77th session.

Thank you.

We have been clear in our position: the UK fully rejects intolerance and discrimination. We denounce hatred on the basis of religion or belief, and we condemn the recent incidents of the burning of the Holy Qu’ran. Defending freedom of religion or belief for all is a priority for the UK and we shall continue to stand up for the rights of all individuals and promote mutual respect.

As we stated during the urgent debate at the Human Rights Council in Geneva just weeks ago when combatting religious intolerance, there is a balance to strike – and across different societies, this balance is struck in different ways. Determining at what point freedom of expression becomes unacceptable, and when unacceptable speech or action should be prohibited, is a complex issue.

However, international human rights law provides us with narrowly defined parameters in which freedom of expression can be limited. We do not accept that, by definition, attacks on religion, including on religious texts or symbols, constitute advocacy for hatred. Furthermore, the framework in place already defines what kind of speech must be prohibited, and what must not be restricted.

Whilst we completely reject acts seeking to incite discrimination, hostility or violence, we need to recognise that the primary function of the international human rights framework is to protect individuals from the State. There are too many examples in the world where believers – religious or not – have ben oppressed by those who are meant to guarantee their rights.

The UK has reluctantly joined consensus on this resolution. Whilst we thank our Moroccan colleagues for their engagement on this resolution, we are disappointed that our efforts to find more balanced language were not fully taken on board. We would have preferred to redouble our collective efforts to find a mutually more agreeable position.

We remain concerned with several elements of the text, particularly language which could suggest limitations on freedom of expression beyond what is well established in international human rights law. We do not think it is necessary to agree a new definition of hate speech which may undermine the existing finely balanced position in international human rights law, which already provides a clear framework. We, therefore, oppose any future attempts to agree new definitions of hate speech at UN level, including at the proposed conference in 2025. The UK dissociates itself from PP13 and OP2 of the resolution.

Our hope is that going forwards we can find a way to ensure we work together to protect and defend both freedom of religion or belief, and freedom of expression.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 July 2023.

A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson statement on North Korea’s ballistic missile launches overnight on 24 July.

North Korea’s ballistic missile launches overnight on 24 July are a breach of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. Illegal ballistic missile launches continue to destabilise the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula.

The UK will always call out these violations of UNSCRs. We strongly urge North Korea to return to dialogue and take credible steps towards denuclearisation.