Foreign Office views on news

10 Nov: Japan announces enhanced assistance for Afghanistan

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:31:36 +0000

Japan has announced a significantly enhanced financial package of assistance to Afghanistan worth $5bn over five years. The money will be disbursed under three headings: security; reintegration and reconciliation; and development assistance.

This welcome announcement is a further demonstration of the international community’s commitment to Afghanistan.

5 Nov: British Muslim leaders travel to Helmand Province

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:42:59 +0000

A group of British Muslims were joined by Sky News’ Stuart Ramsey on a recent visit to Afghanistan as part of a campaign to promote understanding and co-operation. Watch the footage of their trip here.

The delegation met tribal leaders, religious scholars and saw firsthand Britain’s work in partnership with the Afghan government to reduce poppy cultivation through promoting alternative livelihoods amongst Afghan farmers in the Nad- e- Ali province.

5 Nov: Coverage on the Goldstone Report

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:05:48 +0000

There have been several reports in the Arab media accusing Britain and France of taking action to abort the UN General Assembly’s discussion of the Goldstone report. These are utterly false.

Britain is playing its full part in the debate and - along with its EU partners
- is fully engaged with the Palestinians on the content of a draft resolution.

Britain is continuing these negotiations in earnest and in good faith. The EU will be issuing a statement at the UNGA debate on the Goldstone Report later today.

30 Oct: South Korea announces redeployment of PRT

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:56:00 +0000

South Korea announced today that it will be redeploying its Provisional Reconstruction Team (PRT) to Afghanistan, committing soldiers and police to protect its aid workers.

This welcome announcement is a further demonstration of the international community’s commitment to Afghanistan.

29 Oct: Minister opposed to death

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:18:00 +0000

Congratulations to those eagle-eyed people - including Sky’s Tim Marshall - who spotted the deliberate mistake in a press release that the FCO put out yesterday.

You’ll be glad to hear that the government is not developing a policy of existential opposition towards death itself, or any other inherent reality of the human condition. For the avoidance of doubt, we strongly oppose the death PENALTY in all circumstances.

27 Oct: Hajj Delegation

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:01:00 +0000

As part the Foreign Office’s work to support British nationals abroad, a delegation is sent to Makkah (Mecca) every year to provide medical and consular support to British nationals performing the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The Foreign Secretary launched this year’s delegation today along with HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf (Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the UK), Lord Patel of Blackburn (Head of Delegation) and Dr Syed Mohiud-din (Chief Doctor).

The British Hajj Delegation (BHD) has been functioning for over ten years and has been led by Lord Patel of Blackburn for the last nine of those. The delegation includes a Chief Medical Advisor (CMA), seven other Doctors (including one female Doctor), and three FCO Consular officers. The delegation is based in Makkah and provides clinical services for around 3 weeks. Last year there were approximately 23,000 British pilgrims performing Hajj and over 3,000 of them were supported by the delegation.

The delegation leaves for Jeddah on 11 November and is due to return on 5 December. The medical clinic giving basic treatment to British pilgrims will operate in Makkah before the pilgrimage and for a few days after it. Serious illnesses will be referred to Saudi hospitals, which provide free treatment during the Hajj.

23 Oct: David Miliband's Europe speech

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:05:00 +0100

David Miliband is making a major speech on Monday 26 October at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) where he will make the case for a strong UK presence at the centre of a reinvigorated global Europe.

The speech will be live web streamed from the IISS website from 10:00 am UK time.

Copies of the speech will be available on the FCO website from 11:00 am.

19 Oct: Witness Seminar - German Unification

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:34:27 +0100

19 Oct: Witness Seminar - German Unification

13 Oct: Bletchley Park veterans receive commemorative badges

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:36:41 +0100

13 Oct: Bletchley Park veterans receive commemorative badges

12 Oct: Maldives Cabinet to meet underwater

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:19:00 +0100

In the run up to talks at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Mission in November and the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December, the Maldives government are to hold a special Cabinet meeting underwater on 17 October. They hope the meeting will help raise awareness of the risks posed by rising sea levels caused by Climate Change. More information can be found here.

9 Oct: Chris Bryant summarises his visit to Peru Further...

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:40:50 +0100

9 Oct: Chris Bryant summarises his visit to Peru

Further information is available on our British Embassy website.

8 Oct: Kabul bomb attack

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:02:00 +0100

Today’s bomb attack in Kabul is yet another reminder of the threat from violent extremism, and that terrorists are prepared to target diplomatic premises and official buildings, where innocent people are working and going about their daily lives.

We condemn unreservedly all such acts of terrorism. Our condolences and sympathies go out to all the victims and to all those families that have suffered today.

Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, spoke to the Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna earlier today to express his sympathies.

8 Oct: David Miliband to visit Moscow in November

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:19:52 +0100

The Foreign Secretary will visit Moscow at the beginning of November at the invitation of Foreign Minister Lavrov. He expects to meet a range of politicians, business leaders and representatives of civil society.

The Foreign Secretary welcomes this opportunity to continue to engage with Russia on the major global challenges we all face, in which Russia plays a key role, including: the Middle East, Afghanistan, Iran, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; climate security; tackling the global economic crisis.

More information will be added to the FCO website and our British Embassy website during the visit.

For media inquiries please call our newsdesk: 00 44 (0)20 7008 3100.

6 Oct: Guards take charge in Helmand’s new prison A new $2m...

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:16:55 +0100

Before

After

6 Oct: Guards take charge in Helmand’s new prison

A new $2m prison opened in Lashkar Gah this week, dramatically improving security and conditions for prisoners in Helmand.

For the first time, Afghan authorities will work inside the prison maintaining order, improving security and ensuring that prisoners are treated humanely, inmates will be accommodated in cells and have access to washing facilities and a communal area.

Embedding the rule of law is key to ensuring long term stability in Afghanistan. Projects such as the new Lashkar Gah prison are an essential part of the support UK is providing to help the Afghan government take responsibility for its own affairs.

Full Press Release on UKinAfghanistan.fco.gov.uk

29 Sep: Response to The Times article on Afghan elections

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:54:00 +0100

The Times published a story on 29 September entitled US accepts Hamid Karzai as Afghan leader despite poll fraud claims, which states that ‘Mrs Clinton told Rangin Dadfar Spanta, the Afghan Foreign Minister, that she and her Nato colleagues — including David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary — had reached a consensus that Mr Karzai would remain President even if investigations now under way cut his share of the first-round vote to below 50 per cent’.

This is not our position. As we’ve said all along, it’s for the Afghans to choose their next leader. We support the process, not any one candidate.

We support the ongoing IEC and ECC investigations into the elections. Their work is essential in ensuring that the outcome of the elections is credible and reflects the will of the Afghan people. We look forward to working with whoever is elected to continue building a more stable, secure Afghanistan.

28 Sep: Accreditation for Iran meeting in Geneva this Thursday

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:34:00 +0100

Please go to the website of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs for details of the accreditation requirements for Thursday’s Iran meeting in Geneva.

Please note that there is a very tight deadline - 18:00 today - for accreditation.

25 Sep: Chris Bryant on Pittsburgh, tax and the UK Overseas Territories

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:53:00 +0100

As the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh gets underway, Foreign Office Minister, Chris Bryant, has written on the Overseas Territories and financial regulation on the Guardian’s Comment is Free site.

24 Sep: Zimbabwe diaspora event on 26 September

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:37:00 +0100

The Zimbabwe Diaspora Development Interface is holding a “Zimbabwe Diaspora Investment Conference” at the University of East London on Saturday 26 September.

The FCO, DFID and UKBA will be participating and taking questions along with Gorden Moyo, Minister of State in Prime Minister Tsvangarai’s Office. Subjects for discussion are expected to include migration and returns to Zimbabwe including opportunities available to/risks facing those returning, as well as the political and economic situation in the country.

If you’re interested in covering the event you can contact: Chofamba Innocent Sithole: Mobile 07525164931, Email chofamba@gmail.com.

23 Sep: Why we need an Arms Trade Treaty Foreign Secretary,...

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:25:28 +0100

23 Sep: Why we need an Arms Trade Treaty

Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, today delivered a video message to an Oxfam event in the fringes of the UN General Assembly setting out why a strong Arms Trade Treaty is so important for regulating the flow of conventional arms around the world.

This video comes ahead of the UN First Committee in October. The UK will be pushing for a clear timetable that would see preparatory committee meetings over the next two years and a Diplomatic Conference in 2012 to secure a strong Arms Trade Treaty as soon as possible.

21 Sep: David Miliband and UN Secretary General Foreign...

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:06:22 +0100

21 Sep: David Miliband and UN Secretary General

Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, and Minister for the Middle East, Ivan Lewis, will be joining the Prime Minister and other government ministers for a series of high level meetings in New York this week as part of the United Nations General Assembly.