UK

The United Kingdom…… its Leadership in Europe …..and in the World

The United Kingdom and its deep rooted Western Values….., its long standing Philosophical Ideals…… and its Leadership.  An Empire, whilst it thrived for centuries….. changed the  World with its Alluring touch……. forever……

A Nation with its long history of Leadership, not only in European Territory but in the World,  a Nation that still does not compromise its Sublime visions ……and its Platonic  Philosophical stance,  

……..the Land of Knights…….Poetry ……and Literature…….that its Leaders are, yet, the  Philosophers Kings.

It is the United Kingdom that has to be in the front line of Leading Force for Europe……. and a role model for the World.

(Excerpt  form a Political text ‘The British Empire and its Flourishing Influences on the World’ by Catherine Stella Schmidt 2015)

 

 

                        

  The United Kingdom’s Political and Diplomatic Affairs

 

 

 

June 2016 

The Aftermath of UK Referendum on EU  

UK FCO

24 June 2016 © UK Foreign Office

Statement by President Obama on the outcome of the UK referendum:

“The people of the United Kingdom have spoken, and we respect their decision. The special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is enduring, and the United Kingdom’s membership in NATO remains a vital cornerstone of U.S. foreign, security, and economic policy. So too is our relationship with the European Union,” June 24, 2016 @ The White House

Statement by Prime Minister Rutte of the Netherlands on the outcome of UK referendum:

“The result of the UK referendum is disappointing. We must now look for stable solutions,calmly, and one step at a time. It is important to ensure stability. We are in the process of reforming the European Union. This result is an incentive to carry on with that reform and work hard for more prosperity, more jobs and more security. Particularly for a country like the Netherlands, cooperation is of vital importance.”  June 24,  2016 © MFA of the Netherlands

Statement by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg  on the outcome of the referendum in UK:

“The British people have decided to leave the European Union. As it defines the next chapter in its relationship with the EU, I know that the United Kingdom’s position in NATO will remain unchanged. The UK will remain a strong and committed NATO Ally, and will continue to play its leading role in our Alliance”   June 24, 2016 © NATO  

Dear Readers, from our side we don’t have any words to add except ‘We are devastated by this out come as we see it, how in a broader context it would affect unfortunately– the entire Europe not only the United Kingdom. (the Editor)

 

 

 

 

 

June 2016 

The United Kingdom stay with us ……et …..Pour toujours

EUCOM, UK

View the article 

 

 

 

February 2016

Foreign Minister Philip Hammond-US John Kerry UK Gov. Feb.04.2016Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and  the Secretary of State John Kerry during their meeting in London February 4, 2016 © UK Foreign Office

Remarks by U.K. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and U.S Secretary of State John Kerry

 

 

 

 

27 January 2016

FCO logo Copyright Protected by Law On Holocaust Memorial Day ‘the International Day of Remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust’.

Foreign Secretary marks Holocaust Memorial Day 2016 from UK Foreign Office

 

 

January 14, 2016

The United Kingdom and the Hellenic Republic

The Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond visited Athens and had a regional meeting and discussion with his counterpart Foreign Minister Kotzias of Hellenic Republic Greece.

Foreign Minister Kotzias and UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond January 2016January 14, 2016©The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece

Joint statements of Foreign Minister Kotzias and UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, Athens January 14,2016

The Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond visited Athens on 14th January before travelling to Turkey.

The enduing relations of the United Kingdom and the Hellenic Republic of Greece

 

 

January 2016

The United Kingdom in Europe

An article by The Rt Hon Prime Minister David Cameron for the German Newspaper Bild.
How we are working to secure a better deal for Britain in Europe.

 

 

 

 

10 December 2015

Excerpt of Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond message on Human Rights

FCO logo Copyright Protected by Law “Our British democratic values have developed over time with human rights at their core. We are reminded of this fact this year as we mark the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, sealed at Runnymede in my constituency.

Human Rights Day – chosen by the UN General Assembly to mark the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is a day when Britain, a key promoter of such rights and values, can hold its head high. This Government was elected on a manifesto commitment to protect human rights. We are doing that in three ways.

…..we make most progress on human rights around the world when our approach appeals to others’ enlightened self-interest and is sensitive to their culture and history. In short, we have to persuade countries and governments that respecting human rights will be beneficial to them.

Human Rights expertise is an important part of the training our staff receive. Teams working in countries where we have particular concerns, and their colleagues in London, see Human Rights as an integral part of what we are trying to achieve with that country. This year the Foreign Office is supporting more than 75 Human Rights projects in more than 40 countries and we are continuing to pursue a pioneering approach to preventing sexual violence in conflict.

We were leaders on Human Rights in 1215, as the Magna Carta  was sealed, and we remain Leaders now in 2015.

As we promote and protect those standards across the world, we are approaching Human Rights diplomacy in our own, British way, to ensure we get the right results.”  10 Dec 2015 © UK Foreign Office

Continue to read: Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond on human rights Day 2015

 

 

 

 

November 2015

FCO logo Copyright Protected by Law The United Kingdom presented NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael ad St. George (KCMG) 

 

The award was a recognition for the outstanding achievements of NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen during his term at the office between 2009-2014.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond with NATO Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen Nov. 2015Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Rt Hon Philip Hammond with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in the official award ceremony. 17 Nov. 2015  ©UK Foreign Office

The Foreign Secretary Rt Hon Philip Hammond presented the Honorary KCMG award from the UK Foreign office to former NATO Secretary General,  and elaborated: 

“The 2014 Wales Summit took place at a time of significant geopolitical challenge. Under Mr Rasmussen’s leadership the Alliance set out an ambitious response, whilst maintaining unity throughout. The achievements of the Wales Summit included a new rapid reaction capability to respond to any threat, as well as an unprecedented agreement by Heads of Government to halt the decline in defence investment. His efforts included the modernisation of NATO to ensure an Alliance fit for purpose to counter 21st century threats, including in Cyber and Hybrid Warfare.

Ahead of the Warsaw Summit in July next year, the UK will continue to play a leading role to ensure implementation of Wales Summit commitments, including strengthening collective Defence. With a budget of £34 billion, the UK is the largest European contributor to NATO. Earlier this year, this government announced its commitment to meet the NATO guideline of spending 2% of GDP on Defence for the rest of the decade.” ©UK Foreign Office

The former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, on the occasion of the award ceremony, expressed:  

“I am deeply honoured to be appointed as an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael ad St. George (KCMG). This award will further strengthen my ties to the British people.

Let me take this opportunity to thank the UK for its invaluable contribution to the promotion of Freedom and Peace in the World. The United Kingdom is a staunch NATO ally and a bedrock of the Transatlantic Security Cooperation between Europe and the United States.

I would like to extend a special thanks to the British service men and women in gratitude for their tireless efforts to make the world a safer and better place to live.” 

©UK Foreign Office

 

It is important to note that since the establishment of NATO in April 1949, the United Kingdome has been the most crucial leading partner along with the U.S. in  the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. And as of today is the largest European contributor to the NATO.

Follow more news from the S.G. of NATO Anders Rasmussen  

More news from the UK Foreign 

 

 

 

 

 

The Leadership of UK in Europe and in the World

The United Kingdom in EU

The United Kingdom in NATO

The United Kingdom in UN

UK in OSCE

 

 

UK Statement at the UN Security Council Briefing on Kosovo August 2015

Statement by Ambassador Peter Wilson of the UK Mission to the UN at the UN Security Council Briefing on the Security Sector Reform “Security and justice are critical for stability” 21 August 2015

 

 

 

 

August 2015

Britain’s four-point package for EU Reform

By the  Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs The Rt Hon Philip Hammond

LONDON — Right across the continent, anti-EU parties have made huge gains in recent years — in local, national and European elections. We need to respond by making the EU more democratic and far better equipped to help deliver the growth and jobs its citizens expect.

Since the UK joined, the EU has changed beyond recognition. The fall of the Iron Curtain has seen the EU expand with 16 new countries becoming members; the Euro has been created, and EU rules now regulate our affairs across a huge area stretching from environment to social policy.

There is no doubt that EU membership has brought clear benefits to Britain in some areas. But in others it has led to loss of national sovereignty and an increase in bureaucratic burdens on business that has resulted in the British people’s consent for membership wearing wafer thin.
So what does the UK government want from this negotiation? To restore the confidence of the British people in the EU we need to work with our European partners to agree a package of reform that will ensure the EU is fit for the 21st century; reforms that will benefit not only the UK, but all 28 member states.

First, on jobs and growth, the uncomfortable truth is that the EU’s growth rate is far below that needed to reduce unemployment to acceptable levels and is being challenged not only by Asia, but also by the US. If we are to preserve European living standards, we need to empower our businesses to compete more effectively in the world by enhancing the single market, especially in services, digital, and energy. We have to be open to world trade and complete trade agreements with the US, Japan, and other developed economies, as well as with the fast growing economies of Asia and South America. And we must create a regulatory framework that supports, not hinders, business to create the growth and jobs we need.

Secondly, we seek reforms that will allow those countries that want to integrate further to do so, while respecting the interests of those that do not. This applies most clearly to the Eurozone where the UK does not seek to prevent further euro-integration — indeed supports it — but does need guarantees that the interests of those not in the euro will be protected. This concept of a two-pillar Europe, with a properly defined relationship between the Eurozone and non-Eurozone within a single market, and sharing the same institutions, builds on the existing architecture of Schengen and Banking Union and is good for everyone. It allows Eurozone integration to progress, respecting the interests of the non-Eurozone Member States. And it recognises that, while the concept of ever-closer union appeals to some Member States, it is not right for all.

Thirdly, we think national parliaments must have a greater say, both in connecting citizens to EU decisions and in properly implementing the concept of subsidiarity — the idea that decisions should be made as close as possible to the citizens they affect. All too often the EU has exercised power in areas where decision-making could be done at national, regional, or local government level without interfering with the operation of the single market or the effective functioning of the EU. We want to strengthen the role of national parliaments, for example, by allowing groups of them to be able to block regulations in future. The EU must respect the layers of government that are closest and most accountable to European citizens. We agree with the Dutch Government: “Europe where necessary, national where possible.”

Fourthly, while we accept that the free movement of people to work is one of the four fundamental freedoms of the EU and these negotiations do not seek to curtail this freedom, we do want to protect the UK’s welfare system from abuse and reduce the incentives that encourage highly skilled workers to travel to the UK to do low-skilled jobs. This undermines economic growth in their countries of origin and belief in the fairness of free movement in destination countries. We must also develop the other freedoms, in particular freedom of movement of services and of capital, to ensure that it is not just free movement of people that contributes to convergence of living standards across Europe.

We approach these reforms in a positive and engaged manner, listening to our partners and intending to agree reforms that will help all Member States to thrive in the 21st century.
We will negotiate a package of reform and will then ask the British people their view, in a straightforward “in or out” referendum by the end of 2017, and earlier if we can.

The stakes are high: the UK is a large and open economy with a long history and a significant role on the world stage which can contribute hugely to Europe’s success. If we can resolve the issues that have so troubled the British people and achieve a

“Yes” vote in the referendum, we will settle the question of Britain’s place in Europe and enable the UK to play a fully engaged role in a more competitive, prosperous, outward-looking and confident EU in the future.
That is an outcome that really will be in the best interest of Europeans on both sides of the English Channel.

 

With a special thanks to Politico.EU  (This Article was originally published in Politico.EU on June 2015) : http://www.politico.eu/article/britains-four-point-package-for-eu-reform/

 

 

 

July 2015

Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs The Rt Hon Philip Hammond speaks on the occasion of 14th of July in the Embassy of France in UK

London, 14 July 2015 © The Embassy of la France in UK

 Follow news from The Embassy of France in UK

 

 

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The U.S Diplomatic Mission to the UK

The UK Diplomatic Mission to the USA

The U.S Cultural Center in UK

British Council in USA

 

 

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