#uk foreign - commonwealth - and development office

[xtruss]

A UK Jewish Group has blockaded the entrance to Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) to demand that the government send aid to the Besieged Gaza Strip instead of sending arms to “Terrorist, Fascist, War Criminal, Apartheid and Genocidal Zionist 🐖 Isra-hell.”

Among other calls, Naamod urged the government to reverse its decision to defund the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa), which supports millions of Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and regional countries.

The UK government announced in late January that it was pausing funding to Unrwa in the wake of Terrorist Zionist 🐖 Isra-helli Allegations that agency staff were involved in the 7 October attacks.

Naamod's actions also come after a Conservative MP admitted that the British government had received legal advice that “Terrorist, Fascist, War Criminal, Apartheid and Genocidal Zionist 🐖 Isra-hell Had Breached International Humanitarian Law.”

[saxafimedianetwork]

Somaliland NEC Hosts UK Delegation, Showcases Election Readiness

The @SLNECHQ of #Somaliland welcomes a #UK delegation, led by @FCDO's Development Director, to discuss support for upcoming elections. Strengthening cooperation & ensuring transparency key to a credible electoral process. #Democracy2024

Continue reading Somaliland NEC Hosts UK Delegation, Showcases Election Readiness

[silicacid]

MEMO Interviews: Will Brits fighting for Israel be charged with war crimes? MEMO speaks to British lawyer Ilora Choudhury about the legality of Britons going to fight with the Israeli army in Gaza, and whether they could be implicated in war crimes on their return to the UK. Choudhury, senior counsel at the International Campaign for Justice for Palestinians, sent a letter to the British Foreign Office requesting information on the numbers of British citizens currently fighting with Israel in Gaza, and whether they plan to issue legal guidance for those travelling to the Middle East to fight, like they did with Ukraine in 2022.

— Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) November 29, 2023

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-67621116

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60522745

Jeremy Corbyn presses Foreign Minister on British troops in Gaza; minister avoids answer In a parliamentary exchange, UK MP Jeremy Corbyn raises a question about the presence of British soldiers on the ground in Gaza. UK Foreign Minister Leo Docherty avoids a direct response, saying Israel's objective is to defend itself against Hamas.

— Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) December 6, 2023

[i-am-aprl]

Former British Consul General to Jerusalem, Sir Vincent Fean, stated that he believes the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) should “heed legal advice” and “suspend arms deliveries to Israel”, expressing concerns that continuing to supply arms to Israel would make the UK complicit in “indiscriminate killing”.

[vague-humanoid]

Britain’s Conservative government has issued notices to the media to suppress reports of the operations of the Special Air Service (SAS) in Gaza.

On Saturday, the Socialist Worker, newspaper of the Socialist Workers Party, revealed it had been sent a “D Notice” Saturday morning from the Defence and Security Media Advisory (DSMA) Committee requesting it not publish information relating to the operations of the SAS.

D Notices are used by the British state to veto the publication of news damaging to its interests. The slavish collusion of the mainstream media ensures that such notices function as gag orders. A high level branch of the state, the DSMA’s chair is Paul Wyatt, Director General Security Policy at the Ministry of Defence. Other committee members include the Deputy National Security Adviser, Cabinet Office; Director National Security at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; Director National Security at the Home Office; and the Director National Security at the Ministry of Defence.

An article by Socialist Worker editor Charlie Kimber notes, “Specifically this ‘D notice’ concerned British special forces operating in the Middle East.” The e-mail to the media was from the DSMA secretary, Brigadier Geoffrey Dodds, he added.

Dodds states, “Reports have started to appear in some publications claiming that UK Special Forces have deployed to sensitive areas of the Middle East and then linking that deployment to hostage rescue/evacuation operations.

“May I take this opportunity to remind editors that publication of such information contravenes the DSMA notice code. I therefore advise that claims of such deployments should not be published nor broadcast without first seeking Defence and Security Media advice”.

He added, “This Notice aims to prevent the inadvertent disclosure of classified information about Special Forces and other MOD units engaged in security, intelligence and counter-terrorist operations, including their methods, techniques and activities.”

[allthegeopolitics]

A British Foreign Office official who worked on counter terrorism has resigned in protest at arms sales to Israel, saying the UK government “may be complicit in war crimes”. Mark Smith   wrote to colleagues on Friday, saying he had raised concerns “at every level” in the Foreign Office, including through an official whistle blowing mechanism. Mr Smith, who was based at the British Embassy in Dublin, added he had received nothing more than basic acknowledgments. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) declined to comment on an individual case but said the government was committed to upholding international law.

Continue Reading.

[aimeedaisies]

HRH THE PRINCESS ROYAL CONCLUDES HER VISIT TO SRI LANKA

Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal and her spouse Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence concluded a three-day official visit to Sri Lanka on Friday, 12 January 2024. The visit marked a momentous occasion celebrating the 75th Anniversary of bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom and was characterized by a series of engagements that reinforced the deep ties between the two countries.

Upon their arrival on 10th January, a vibrant ceremony with a multi-cultural performance welcomed them, with Foreign Minister Ali Sabry extending warm greetings.

Visiting at the invitation of the Government of Sri Lanka, the official engagement kicked off with a welcome dinner hosted by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, reflecting the warm and cordial relations shared by the two countries during which Princess Royal delivered a message from His Majesty the King to the President and the people of Sri Lanka.

Addressing a gathering at the concluding reception hosted by the British High Commissioner, The Princess Royal remarked on the warm and friendly bilateral relations between the two countries and was committed to fostering cultural, economic and social connections. Foreign Minister Ali Sabry who delivered a short speech during this reception, remarked that the visit held profound significance and is a watershed moment in the 75 years of our bilateral relations with the United Kingdom. He also drew attention to the significant transformation Sri Lanka has undergone since The Princess Royal’s last visit in 1995. The Minister thanked the UK for its steadfast support for the pursuit of development and prosperity in Sri Lanka.

In Colombo, as the patron of the Save the Children Foundation, Her Royal Highness visited its office and unveiled a plaque commemorating the 50th Anniversary of ‘Save the Children’ working in Sri Lanka, and undertook a visit to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, showcasing the commitment to social causes.

Additionally, The Princess Royal toured the ‘MAS Holdings’ facility in Katunayake, a leading apparel tech company in South Asia as identified by the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT), of which The Princess Royal is the President. During the tour she witnessed the state of the art technology and capabilities of the Sri Lankan apparel sector, reinforcing its role in Sri Lanka – UK trade relations.

The itinerary extended to Hatch Works, Colombo, an ICT innovation hub supporting start-ups, further highlighting the collaborative efforts in technological advancements and the promotion of entrepreneurial culture through facilitating access to essential infrastructure, knowledge, and capital. At the British Council, HRH was briefed on the ongoing work to build cultural and educational relationships between Sri Lanka and the UK and was privy to ‘The Arches of Awe exhibition’, featuring images of 21 arches built to welcome Queen Elizabeth II to Sri Lanka in 1954. As the President of the ‘Commonwealth War Graves Commission’ Princess Royal also visited the Commonwealth War Graves at Liverament Cemetery and laid a wreath to commemorate the dead in the aftermath of both World Wars I and II, symbolizing shared history and values.

Moving to Kandy, the royal guests were welcomed by the Central Province Governor Lalith U Gamage, and were escorted to the sacred temple of the ‘Tooth Relic’, where she paid her respects.

HRH The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Timothy's visit to Jaffna marked a historic occasion, as the first-ever visit by members of the British Royal Family, where they were received by Northern Governor P. S. M. Charles. In Jaffna, the focus shifted to important aspects of post-conflict recovery visiting the Muhamalai Demining site and meeting communities resettled in mine–cleared areas in Muhamalai, signifying and reiterating the valuable contribution of donor partners, including the UK in creating a mine - free Sri Lanka. The Royals were also taken on a tour of the Jaffna Public Library recognized as a center for knowledge and cultural preservation, and met members of the local community.

During their visit, the Royal Guests also toured the Vajira Pillayar Kovil, and took part in a special pooja blessing conducted by the chief priest. Princes Royal visited the ‘Mission to Seafarers’ as the President of this movement and had an engaging conversation with its Colombo staff reiterating the importance of seafaring to Sri Lanka as a maritime nation.

The Princess Royal first visited Sri Lanka in 1995 and this year marked her second to the Island. Sri Lanka has received members of the Royal family on seven previous occasions since 1948, including , Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who visited the island just five months after her Coronation, and that of His Majesty the King, as the Prince of Wales on three occasions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs worked in close coordination with the British High Commission in Colombo, which played a pivotol role in the execution of the programme assisted by the Sri Lanka High Commission in London and all other local government agencies. This historic visit by HRH The Princess Royal led to a comprehensive exploration of the diverse facets of the relationship between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.

Posted by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Colombo on 13th January 2024

[recreationaldivorce]

UN ceasefire blocked by UK and US as Israel reduces most of Gaza to rubble Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office questions Questions Tuesday December 12th at 11.30 am Rubble is all that remains of densely-populated multi-story apartment buildings in Gaza after heavy bombardment with a record 450 bomb strikes in a single day on Friday and a death toll that has jumped to 17,200 - of whom 12,000 were women and children. (Photo from Wikimedia Commons). The UN 's 15-nation Security Council voted 13-to-one in favour of an immediate ceasefire in Israel's war on Gaza, but the sole vote against - from the US - counts as a veto. The sole abstention came from Barbara Woodward, the UK's ambassador to the UN.

[ID: a screenshot of an article, with the text transcribed above. At the top of the screenshot is a photo of Gaza, turned to rubble, with a few Palestinians walking through the rubble.]

[workersolidarity]

Reuters, BBC, and Bellingcat participated in covert UK Foreign Office-funded programs to "weaken Russia," leaked docs reveal - The Grayzone

This older piece from The Grayzone's Max Blumenthal outlines just one example of how the UK has used mainstream media outlets to discord and division in Russia, well beyond anything Russia has ever done in the West.

Part of this effort was undertaken by shadowy division of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office called Counter Disinformation & Media Development or CDMD.

The purpose of this UK Govt organization was to manipulate Russian journalists into essentially doing the propaganda work of the UK and US inside Russia and its sphere of influence using mainstream media outlets like Reuters, the BBC and Bellingcat.

For years now, we have had countless articles and news segments about supposed Russian influence campaigns to "sow disunity and discord" in the West.

But the reality, as is always the case when discussing the Western Imperialist Powers, is just the opposite, with Western nations like Germany, France and the UK undertaking massive influence campaigns in Russia along with its neighbors and allies like Belarus in 2020.

And the effects of such efforts are continued to be felt for years to come and continues to this day.

Of course this is way beyond anything Russia has done with regards to propaganda efforts in the West, despite the MSM claiming otherwise.

And none of this is anything new! These kinds of operations by the Western Imperialist Powers have been going on since before the fall of the Soviet Union.

As I've mentioned before on my blog, MASSIVE efforts were undertaken during the height of the Cold War to propagate anti-Russian and anti-Communist propaganda inside the Soviet Republics themselves, well beyond anything the Soviet Union ever even thought of attempting against the Capitalist West.

News organizations like Reuters propagandized and trained Russian and Soviet Journalists who were sent back to their home countries to manipulate the public among the Soviet Republics, sowing some of the seeds of discord that contributed to the eventual fall of the USSR.

Reuters, the BBC, and Belingcat are NOT news organizations. They are nothing more than propaganda outlets shilling for Empire, and have been for decades.

But I know how it is. Americans and Westerners generally are so manipulated by these kind of Psyops, that they've largely lost all ability to recognize propaganda or to research and think independently. I'll get countless snarky comments about OH! Red Fascism! Putin is a Nazi! Or whatever garbage these people regurgitate to get the approval of their peers. As though criticizing Western hegemony means you approve of Putin.

And ten years from now, when this proxy-war has lost favor with the propagandists and all kinds of evil shit the US, UK and its allies did is revealed in mainstream publications, then suddenly Americans and Westerners will pretend they were against the proxy war the whole time. Its Iraq all over again.

[indizombie]

This government is complicit in the murder of UK aid workers in Gaza. It has had every opportunity to impose an arms embargo and has refused to do so. Not only is our government complicit in genocide, but it also knows that it is. Time and again Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) ministers have refused to answer direct questions on the legal advice they’ve received. They have misled parliament and made a mockery of both our democracy and international law.

Emily Apple, spokesperson, CAAT

[saxafimedianetwork]

The UK Should Look Less To Somalia But More To Somaliland

@llggeorgia: #UK aid to #Somalia yields little return amidst corruption & instability. Meanwhile, #Somaliland, with its functioning govt, democratic elections & relative stability, deserves more attention & recognition. Time to reevaluate our ties & priorities in the Horn of Africa.

Continue reading The UK Should Look Less To Somalia But More To Somaliland

[silicacid]

UK to conduct surveillance flights over Israel, Gaza to support ‘hostage rescue activity’

The UK has announced that it will conduct surveillance flights in air space over Israel and Gaza to support efforts to secure the release of Hamas’s captives.

“Surveillance aircraft will be unarmed, do not have a combat role, and will be tasked solely to locate hostages,” the Ministry of Defence, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Home Office said in a joint statement on Saturday.

“Only information relating to hostage rescue will be passed to the relevant authorities responsible for hostage rescue.”

[jordanianroyals]

20 September 2023: Crown Prince Hussein met with the United Kingdom's minister of state for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and United Nations at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Lord Tariq Ahmad.

Held on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York, the meeting covered the deep-rooted strategic ties between Jordan and the United Kingdom. (Source: Petra)

He noted that Jordan’s priority in the region is maintaining calm in Jerusalem and the West Bank, highlighting the UK’s important role in this regard.

His Royal Highness underlined Jordan’s efforts to combat illicit smuggling on its borders, calling for international attention to this issue.

The meeting also covered the importance of enhancing economic, military, and cybersecurity cooperation.

Director of the Office of the Crown Prince Zaid Baqain attended the meeting.

[eaglesnick]

Integrity, Professionalism and Accountability.

Way back in November 2022 Rishi Sunak was forced to hold an investigation into complaints concerning the conduct of his good friend, the Deputy Prime Minister of the UK, Dominic Raab.

Since November five other complaints about bullying have been laid at Raab's door.

“Dominic Raab facing five more complaints of bullying, No 10 confirms.” (Guardian:14/12.22)

Fortunately for Raab, the terms of reference for the investigation into formal complaints about the conduct of the Deputy Prime Minister only deal with two incidents of alleged bullying of staff.

“As an independent investigator, Adam Tolley KC has been asked to:

a. establish the specific facts surrounding the formal complaint made on 15 November about Mr Raab’s conduct at the Ministry of Justice

b. establish the specific facts surrounding the formal complaint made on 15 November about Mr Raab’s conduct at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.”  (gov.uk, 23/11/22)

It is interesting to note that the Sue Gray investigation into the conduct of ALL personnel working in Downing Street  and their involvement in illegal parties was started on December 8th 2021 and completed in January 2022 – a matter of mere weeks not months.

The cynical among us might conclude that Rishi Sunak is delaying the report of Adam Tolley, but he really shouldn’t worry too much. The terms of reference do not require Adam Tolley to make any value judgements. He has not been asked to decide whether Raab’s behaviour was bully or not, only to “establish the facts surrounding" the complaints. The final judgement remains with Sunak himself.

“The independent investigator will report to the Prime Minister on his investigation.

As set out in the Ministerial Code, the Prime Minister is the ultimate judge of the standards of behaviour expected of a Minister and the appropriate consequences of a breach of those standards.”  Gov.uk: 23/11/22)

Will Sunak dismiss his friend if the evidence suggests he is a bully? When he came to unelected office Sunak promised all of us:

“This Government will have integrity, professionalism and accountability.”

Lets see if he keeps his word. If he doesn’t, then he is not fit to be Prime Minister.

[allthegeopolitics]

The UK’s ambassador to Mexico has left his post after a video was posted on social media that purportedly shows him pointing an assault rifle at an embassy employee. The Financial Times reported Friday that Jon Benjamin was traveling in Sinaloa and Durango, two states in northern Mexico where drug cartels have a significant presence, when the incident occurred. The video posted on the social media platform X shows a man who looks like Benjamin seated in the front seat of a vehicle, when he picks up the supposed rifle and points it at someone in the back seat. The five-second clip was posted by an anonymous user along with the message, “In a context of daily killings in Mexico by drug dealers, he dares to joke.” While the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office hasn’t officially announced any changes at the embassy in Mexico City, the FCDO website no longer lists Benjamin as ambassador.

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