David Lidington: ...skill, and ensure that we get the right people with the right skills in the right jobs to deliver our objectives. As a priority, we will allocate new funds to improve Mandarin, Russian and Arabic language skills. In 2015, we trained 34 staff in Arabic, 14 in Mandarin and 24 in Russian, as well as 35 in French and 28 in Spanish. I completely accept that more needs to be done, but we are...
David Lidington: ...ODA and non-ODA countries. The Magna Carta fund has 47 priority countries, the overwhelming majority of which are ODA countries—developing countries. There are four non-ODA countries: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Russia and Israel. Those four, as well as being eligible for support from the Magna Carta fund, are eligible for funding streams such as the Arab partnership fund and the CSSF. I...
David Lidington: ...joined EU Ministers for a session on migration. Gymnich discussion Middle East Peace Process Ms. Mogherini used her opening remarks at the Gymnich to announce a meeting of the Quartet with key Arab countries in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly. Her statement can be found at: http://eeas.europa.eu/statements-eeas/2015/150904_01_en.htm Ms. Mogherini provided a sobering...
David Lidington: ...capability, including those involving the middle east and Russia, which, as my hon. Friend suggests, are particularly important. About 170 of our officers are now registered as having ability in Arabic, and a similar number are registered as having ability in Russian.
David Lidington: ...on the source and spread of radicalisation in the region. Many Ministers agreed on the need for better EU communications and the need for enhanced co-operation, including with Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Algeria. A recommendation was made for a broader approach encompassing Boko Haram and other groups in the Sahel to be discussed at the February FAC. Ministers also agreed on the need...
David Lidington: ...– in both private and public. We regularly raise the importance of freedom of speech with counterparts in government across the Middle East and North Africa. Through our Arab Partnership Initiative, we are working to support the development of legitimate and inclusive institutions to improve governance, enable inclusive reform and protect fundamental freedoms such as freedom of speech....
David Lidington: ...to demonstrate leadership in the pursuit of an ambitious global climate deal in 2015. Libya Discussions on Libya will focus on the deteriorating security situation. The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Nabil Elaraby, may join Ministers for part of this discussion. The UK remains deeply concerned by increasing violence and political polarisation in Libya and its impact on the wider...
David Lidington: ...UN partners to provide life-saving assistance to 150,000 people. We have also provided more than £600 million in Syria since the crisis began. Secondly, we are working with our American, European, Arab and other partners to ensure a united front to stem the expansion and activities of this exceptionally dangerous movement. In Syria, we continue to support a negotiated political transition...
David Lidington: ...faces. The question of attendance at the Paris meeting is, for self-evident reasons, primarily a matter for the French Government rather than for us. I can tell the right hon. Gentleman that 10 Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, have now publicly announced their support for the United States and international efforts so this is by no means an enterprise confined to what one might...
David Lidington: ...-based coalition. What is now happening and will continue at the Paris meeting is detailed consideration of the part that each country can play. We saw in Libya that a number of allies from the Arab world were prepared to play a very active role indeed.
David Lidington: ...(FCO) has 17 corporate twitter accounts, including a central @foreignoffice account. The other accounts are for support to British nationals overseas, work on forced marriage, communications in Arabic and Urdu, and a range of other priorities such as recruitment, ending sexual violence in conflict and our policy on Europe. Six Ministers and the Permanent Under-Secretary are also on twitter...
David Lidington: ...the humanitarian situation. On the political track, the UK strongly believes that the Geneva principles and process are the only viable, internationally agreed mechanism, endorsed by the P5 and Arab League, for a settlement to end the conflict. We will urge member states to hold to the principles of the Geneva process while making a practical effort to change the regime’s calculations,...
David Lidington: ...democratic and economic reform in the middle east through political advocacy, by working with multilateral organisations, and by supporting reform programmes, including through our £110 million Arab Partnership Fund. The UK will lead a series of initiatives in the transition countries aimed at promoting investment, encouraging the development of a vibrant private sector (especially small...
David Lidington: ...Jordan Jordan Amman New Visa Office Plot at Front, Embassy Compound Damascus St Amman Kuwait Kuwait British Embassy Offices The Old Building (Chancery) Ground Floor, Main Building Arabian Gulf Street. Kuwait City Kuwait Kuwait The Management Building Arabian Gulf Street Kuwait City Morocco Rabat British Embassy 28Avenue S. A. R. Sidi Mohammed Souissi Rabat...
David Lidington: ...EU’s commitment to strengthening civilian policing in Afghanistan, including beyond the transition period. Southern Neighbourhood In Baroness Ashton’s view, overall, the EU had responded to the Arab spring in a comprehensive way that underlined the strategic importance of the region, including through taskforces, enhanced financial support and close contact with civil society. I...
David Lidington: ...sanctions under UN Security Council resolution 2094. Southern neighbourhood Baroness Ashton set out recent EU activity on Syria, including intensified contacts with Russia; discussions with UN and Arab League Special Representative Brahimi on how to build on the Geneva communique; additional humanitarian support to the opposition, plus amendments to sanctions; and a permanent EU presence...
David Lidington: ...society that individuals should be able to visit their places of worship safely and peacefully, and that security forces must act effectively to protect them. In the long-term, I believe that the Arab Spring presents an historic opportunity for a more democratic, inclusive middle east and north Africa, based on respect for the rights of all. Through the Arab Partnership Initiative we are...
David Lidington: ...), Georgieva (international co-operation, humanitarian aid and crisis response) and Fule (enlargement) were in attendance for some of the discussions. The United Nations and the League of Arab States Joint Special Representative for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, attended lunch with the Foreign Ministers. The GAC was chaired by the Irish presidency, namely the Foreign Minister for Ireland, Eamon...
David Lidington: ...will support an EU observer mission for the Egyptian parliamentary elections. Ministers will also discuss the current situation in Syria and will be joined over lunch by the United Nations and the Arab League Joint Special Representative for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi. Japan The EU-Japan summit will take place on 25 March in Tokyo and Ministers will discuss the EU’s priorities for that...
David Lidington: ...institutions named as follows: Iran: We frequently condemn Iran's excessive use of the death penalty. Most recently on 18 January, we condemned the death sentences of five members of Iran's Ahwazi Arab minority in a statement on the Foreign and Commonwealth website, UK for Iranians at: http://ukforiranians.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=851520 682# The UK was a co-sponsor of the annual...