Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and other Foreign Ministers have met with senior Burmese representatives to urge an end to the violence against the Rohingya people and allow humanitarian access.
In the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, the Foreign Secretary brought together Burma’s National Security Advisor and Deputy Foreign Minister with ministers from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Turkey, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Denmark and United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley.
Along with securing full and unhindered humanitarian access for international aid agencies, including the UN, and calling for an end to violence, those present at the meeting also urged Burma to implement the Annan Commission recommendations.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said:
“While Burma has undoubtedly made encouraging progress towards democracy in the last few years, the situation in Rakhine, the terrible human rights abuses and violence are a stain on the country’s reputation. For this reason Burma should not be surprised to find itself under international scrutiny and on the Security Council’s agenda.
“As I have repeatedly said no one wants to see a return to military rule, so it is vital that Aung San Suu Kyi and the civilian government make clear these abuses must stop. I was encouraged by our discussion and by the participation of the senior Burmese representatives, but we now need to see action to stop the violence and open up immediate humanitarian access.”
As well as hosting the meeting on Burma, the Foreign Secretary, along with International Development Secretary Priti Patel and Minister for the Caribbean and Overseas Territories Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, also convened a high level discussion on the effects of Hurricane Irma.
The meeting set how out the UK, Netherlands and France are working in close partnership to help those affected by this devastating hurricane. While the focus remains responding to the immediate aftermath, it was also agreed that recovery and reconstruction must include plans to help prevent and mitigate future crises.
Commenting on the meeting on Hurricane Irma the Foreign Secretary said:
“It’s vital that we get better at building automatic recovery systems in the Caribbean, ensuring that we work together with our French, Dutch and US partners, so that when something like this strikes we can all respond even faster.
“The UK is committed to helping those affected recover as quickly as possible and can assure people that once the cameras have left and the world moves on to the next crisis, well will still be there.” The Foreign Secretary is in New York for UNGA where he also represented the UK at President Trump’s event on UN reform.
Notes to editors Last week, the UK confirmed an extra £25 million to help people affected by the violence.
Other attendees at the Hurricane Irma event included: * Minister Bert Koenders, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of the Netherlands * Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of France * Commissioner Christos Stylianides, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management * Sir Rodney Errey Lawrence Williams, Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda * Prime Minister Allen M. Chastanet, Saint Lucia * Mark Lowcock, USG for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Response Coordinator As well as representatives from the affected British Overseas Territories.
Latest information on the UK Government response to Hurricane Irma available here.
Follow this news feed: HM Government