Month: October 2017

Minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, said:

I call on all parties to maintain calm and take steps to de-escalate tensions in Kirkuk, avoiding any provocative statements or actions. It is essential that efforts in Iraq are focused on the defeat of Daesh, stabilisation of liberated areas and on enabling those displaced to return to their homes.

The UK supports the development of sustainable governance arrangements for Kirkuk and all disputed areas which are representative of, and responsive to, all Iraq’s communities, in line with the Iraqi Constitution. We believe in a stable, democratic and unified Iraq, one that is able to provide the security, jobs and services that all Iraqis want and deserve. We stand ready to assist Iraq as it works to deliver this future for its people.

Further information

• Follow Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt @AlistairBurtUK

• Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter @foreignoffice and Facebook

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The Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill has been introduced in Parliament today (Wednesday 18 October). This is the first Bill relating to Brexit to be introduced in the House of Lords, following a public consultation on the new measures earlier this year.

The new legislation will give the UK the necessary legal powers to continue to implement sanctions and introduce tough new measures post-Brexit against states such as North Korea and terrorist organisations including Daesh. This will enable us to maintain existing sanctions regimes currently imposed through EU law, while providing the necessary legal underpinning for the UK to decide when and how to take action against new threats.

This is an important step in ensuring that the UK continues to meet its international obligations and work with allies in tackling shared threats once the UK has left the European Union.

Minister for Europe Sir Alan Duncan MP said:

Sanctions are a vital part of our response to countries, organisations and individuals who threaten our security or undermine international law. We are taking sensible steps to make sure that we have legislation in place for when we leave the EU so our existing sanctions can continue and we have the freedom to take further action when necessary.

As a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council the UK has long championed a rules-based international system and this will continue after we leave the EU. Sanctions are most effective when delivered by a coalition of countries acting together and we expect to continue working closely with our partners in the EU and the rest of the world to take decisive action when needed. This Bill will ensure we retain the powers we need to remain a responsible and reliable security partner.

The Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill will be taken through the House of Lords by Foreign Office Minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon and is expected to move onto Second Reading later this autumn.

Further information

• Follow Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan on Twitter @AlanDuncanMP

• Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter @foreignoffice and Facebook

• Follow the Foreign Office on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn