I make this intervention on behalf of 59 countries, the full list of which will be available on the extranet.

We share the High Commissioner’s concerns on Nicaragua, including persistent impunity for human rights violations since April 2018 and continued reports of arbitrary detentions. The Government must ensure the protection of human rights and bring to account those responsible.

We urge the Government to cease harassment of journalists and human rights defenders and to allow civil society organizations to operate in safe and enabling environments, without fear of reprisal.

We are troubled by the Government’s failure to implement meaningful electoral reforms by the Organization of American States’ May 2021 deadline, backed by this Council in March.

We are deeply concerned that recently enacted laws unduly restrict political participation, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. The arbitrary dissolution of political parties and the criminal proceedings against multiple presidential contenders and dissidents are especially worrisome. We call for their immediate release.

These measures are likely to impede the holding of free and fair elections in Nicaragua this November.

We urge Nicaragua to engage with the international community, to avail itself of technical assistance, to allow international election observers, and to re-establish dialogue and renew trust in democracy.

Nicaraguans deserve free and fair elections through a transparent and credible process, and a peaceful solution to the country’s socio-political crisis.

Thank you.

List of countries: 1.Albania, 2.Australia, 3.Austria, 4.Belgium, 5.Brazil, 6.Bulgaria, 7.Canada, 8.Chile, 9.Colombia, 10.Costa Rica 11.Croatia, 12.Cyprus, 13.Czechia, 14.Denmark, 15.Dominican Republic, 16.Ecuador, 17.El Salvador, 18.Estonia, 19.Finland, 20.France, 21.Georgia, 22.Germany, 23.Greece, 24.Guatemala, 25.Guyana, 26.Haiti, 27.Hungary, 28.Iceland, 29.Ireland, 30.Italy, 31.Japan, 32.Latvia, 33.Liechtenstein, 34.Lithuania, 35.Luxembourg, 36.Malta, 37.Marshall Islands, 38.Monaco, 39.Montenegro, 40.Morocco 41.Netherlands, 42.New Zealand, 43.North Macedonia, 44.Norway, 45.Panama, 46.Palau, 47.Paraguay, 48.Peru, 49.Poland, 50.Portugal, 51.Republic of Korea, 52.Romania, 53.Slovakia, 54.Slovenia, 55.Spain, 56.Sweden, 57.Switzerland, 58.United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 59.United States of America.

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you for convening this very important and timely meeting. May I, as others have done, extend my thanks to Special Representative SRSG Lyons for her expert briefing and also add my thanks to Executive Director Waly and Executive Director Akrami. And it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the presence of my dear friend, Hanif Atmar, the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan.

On 12 September, Madam President, Afghanistan took a significant first step on the road to peace, with the start of the peace negotiations in Doha.

However, progress has been desperately slow, and Afghanistan continues to suffer from debilitating levels of violence, against a backdrop of humanitarian needs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As NATO’s Resolute Support Mission comes to an end, I want to make it clear from the outset that the United Kingdom remains fully committed to Afghanistan and its people.

We will continue our enduring partnership with the Government of Afghanistan through our diplomacy and our development support, and we will continue to back its efforts to counter terrorism, with support for the security sector.

As we’ve already heard from colleagues at the UN Security Council, it is without a doubt true that if Afghanistan is to become the peaceful, prosperous and stable country that the Afghan people want and truly deserve, it is vital that the entire international community, including this UN Security Council, intensifies our support for the country.

Madam President, today I want to emphasise three key points.

Firstly, the United Kingdom condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the unacceptable levels of violence that innocent Afghans continue to suffer.

We are truly sickened by the ongoing spate of targeted assassinations – terror attacks on state officials, on civil society activists, on journalists, on humanitarian and healthcare workers, as well as women in prominent positions and yes, tragically, recently, on the HALO Trust, who were going about clearing mines from the lands of Afghanistan. They are heinous attacks and they undermine efforts to build peace.

Let us also be clear. The Taliban are responsible for most of the violence across Afghanistan, and it is therefore vital that we continue to leave them in no doubt: if the Taliban want a part in Afghanistan’s future and the international community, then they must end violence and end violence now, whilst respecting the rights of the people of Afghanistan – girls and boys, men and women, of all communities of Afghanistan.

Secondly, the United Kingdom wants to work with our partners, with all of you, to energise the Afghan peace negotiations. As we’ve already heard in the call of SRSG Lyons, only a negotiated and inclusive settlement will ultimately bring about sustainable peace. And let us also be equally clear that the direct involvement of women in the peace process is not a choice. It is a must.

So the Taliban must engage meaningfully in peace talks and work towards a political settlement that protects the progress made in the country, including protections for women and minority groups. There can be no return to the intolerant and barbaric Emirate of the 1990’s.

And in this respect, the UN has a pivotal and important role to play. The United Kingdom would welcome an enhanced UN role in the peace process, including in facilitating talks if all parties agree. And we are pleased to see Jean Arnault take up his role as the Secretary General’s Personal Envoy. We are confident that the Special Envoy can build on the strong foundations laid by SRSG Lyons, and that together you can both help create the space and the opportunity for negotiations to progress.

Finally, we look forward to working with Council members on UNAMA’s mandate renewal in September. The UK will support the continuation of UNAMA’s role leading and coordinating international civilian efforts in Afghanistan.

The mandate must also give full scope to continue to support the Government and the people of Afghanistan on the road to peace.

Madam President, we are in no doubt about the immense challenges that continue to lie ahead for Afghanistan and the citizens of Afghanistan, but we remain hopeful that, inshallah, Afghanistan can become a more stable, peaceful and prosperous nation – a nation that respects the rights of all Afghans, a nation that respects the rights of all women, of all minorities, of all communities of Afghanistan.

This is a noble goal, but the right ambition to have. And I pledge, on behalf of the United Kingdom, that we stand ready to work with all of you towards the achievement of that goal.

Thank you, Madam President.

UK International Trade Secretary Liz Truss will speak with Minister for TPP Yasutoshi Nishimura from Japan, this year’s chair of CPTPP, on Tuesday morning (Tuesday 22 June) to formally begin negotiations on the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Britain’s accession would make CPTPP a truly global free trading area. Accession strengthens Britain’s relationship with these dynamic economies, as the world economy increasingly centres on the Pacific region. UK membership sends a powerful signal about the importance placed on free trade by this dynamic group of countries at this critical time in our history and help to reinforce the rules-based international system.

Trade between the UK and Canada was already worth £22.2 billion in 2019. UK accession to CPTPP will complement our trade deal with Canada and help us go further in our future modernised bilateral trade agreement. We will be able to work together on our shared priorities, such as protecting the environment, tackling climate change and supporting free and fair trade. The UK will continue to work closely with Canada to boost trade and support jobs.

CPTPP is one of the largest free trade areas in the world, accounting for 13% of global GDP in 2019. This would rise to 16% with the UK’s accession, adding substantial value to this huge free trade area.

Combined GDP amongst CPTPP members would also increase GDP from almost £9 trillion to £11 trillion with the UK’s accession and would send a powerful signal about the importance of free and fair trade helping to reinforce the rules-based international system at a critical time in our history.

UK membership would demonstrate that CPTPP is an expanding partnership, which is open to growing and strengthening with economies that support the ambitions of the high-standard agreement.

The UK looks forward to working with Japan, as chair of CPTPP, when formal talks begin shortly, alongside the wider membership who have all welcomed the UK’s application and supported our accession ambitions.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

Membership of the CPTPP free-trade partnership would open up unparalleled opportunities for British businesses and consumers in the fast-growing Indo-Pacific.

It’s an exciting opportunity to build on this country’s entrepreneurial spirit and free- trading history to bring economic benefits across the whole of the UK.

UK International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said

CPTPP already has significant global presence, and our accession would send a powerful signal to the rest of the world that the UK, as an independent trading nation, will continue to champion free and fair trade, fight protectionism and slash tariffs at every opportunity.

It will mean stronger trading links with the Indo-Pacific, which is vital to our goals for trade, investment, supply chains as well as supporting green growth, women’s economic empowerment and high standards for British workers.

The launch of negotiations marks a huge milestone in our accession process, and I look forward to talks starting in the coming weeks.

British High Commissioner to Canada Susan Le Jeune d’Allegeershecque said

Today as we launch our negotiations with CPTPP nations, we welcome the new opportunities that our accession creates for working with Canada on rules based trade, and for enhanced collaboration between UK and Canadian businesses in global supply chains. Our accession builds on strong existing trade terms with Canada, which will be complemented by the bilateral negotiations we look forward to launching later this year.

Notes to Editors

• UK exports to CPTPP nations are set to increase by 65% (£37bn) until 2030 and, in addition to this growth, comparative static analysis shows an additional increase in trade by £3.3bn as a result of UK accession. The comparative static analysis is not a forecast. reflects the world as it is now and does not take into account future changes such as the projected shift in economic activity to the east of the world or the impact of technology and innovation.
• CPTPP countries accounted for £110 billion worth of UK trade in 2019 and UK trade with CPTPP member countries has grown by 8% annually between 2016-19.
• Accession could also see 99.9% of UK exports being eligible for tariff-free trade with CPTPP countries. British manufacturers will also benefit from greater choice and lower prices on inputs from CPTPP countries.
• CPTPP holds its members to high standards – they are expected to protect firms and consumers, eliminate forced and child labour, and enforce their own laws in these areas, with members holding each other accountable for meeting these rules.
• We will not sign trade deals that compromise our high environmental protections and food standards. We are a world leader in these areas and that will not change.
• Sources: IMF World Economic Outlook: April 2021, ONS UK Trade, all countries, non-seasonally adjusted: Q4 2020

A vital upgrade to improve journeys for hundreds of thousands of drivers on one of the busiest junctions of the M2 at junction 5 has been given the formal ‘go-ahead’ by Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps.

The £92 million major improvements at junction 5 on the M2, the interchange with the A249 at Stocksbury in Kent, will lead to smoother and safer journeys for hundreds of thousands of drivers every day.

The junction is one of the busiest in the region and experiences large queues and heavy congestion on a daily basis. It also has one of the highest collision rates across England’s motorway and major A roads nationally; this project will reduce collisions by around a third.

Chris Welby-Everard, Highways England’s regional delivery director in the South East, said:

Improving the Stockbury Interchange will bring real benefits to the drivers who use this junction daily, and it will improve the flow of traffic to provide a safer and more integrated network for everyone.

I’d like to thank everyone for their engagement and contribution to the development of this scheme to date. We will now progress to the next phase, ready for work to begin in September 2021.

The existing roundabout will be replaced with a new interchange, which is a flyover, to provide free-flowing movement on the A249.

Two new dedicated free-flowing slip roads would be created with a left turn for traffic travelling from the A249 southbound to the M2 westbound and a left turn from the A249 northbound to the M2 eastbound.

Maidstone Road to the A249 Stockbury Roundabout would be closed, and Maidstone Road would be re-routed to link with Oad Street. The existing junction of Oad Street with the A249 would be closed with a new link provided south of the existing Oad Street to connect with the A249 Stockbury Roundabout.

The main construction work is expected to start in September 2021, with preparation works taking place off network beforehand.

To find out more about the scheme, visit our M2 junction 5 improvements web page.

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