Developing the UK's global reach
Foreign Secretary William Hague talked about working with the Middle East and plans to develop the UK's global role in his speech to the Lord Mayor's banquet.
He described the Arab Spring as the 鈥渕ost significant development so far of the early 21st century.鈥�
鈥淎 Middle East of open and prosperous societies would transform the security of the world and brighten the prospects of millions of people.鈥�
鈥淎nd in the very idea of Arab democracy there is the seed of Al Qaeda鈥檚 long-term defeat and irrelevance.鈥�
鈥淲e remain firmly on the optimistic side of the Arab Spring. It shows that there is no part of the world where people are too cowed or crushed to care about their human rights.鈥�
Turning to the situation in Syria, the Foreign Secretary said that the behaviour of the Assad regime so far is as futile as it is morally indefensible. He said that if they truly mean what they have said about accepting Kofi Annan鈥檚 plan to end the violence then it will be a significant step:
鈥淏ut they have broken their commitments in the past, and they will need to convince a sceptical world and a wounded Syrian people.鈥�
鈥淭oday I have agreed to provide a further half a million pounds of British support to Syria鈥檚 political opposition. It includes agreement in principle for practical non-lethal support to them inside Syria. It will help hard-pressed opposition groups and brave civil society organisations inside and outside the country to document the regime鈥檚 violations and gain the skills and resources they need to help build a democratic future for Syria.鈥�
He warned of more sanctions if there is not a political transition that reflects the will of the Syrian people:
鈥淧resident Assad and his allies 鈥ust be left in no doubt that if there is not a political transition that reflects the will of the people, then they will be shunned by the international community and we will close every door to them. They will face still more sanctions. Their assets will remain frozen. Their travel to Europe and many other nations will always be banned, as will the travel of their families. And they will be pursued by mechanisms of justice and held to account.鈥�
Speaking ahead of the E3+3 talks with Iran on its nuclear programme on 13 April, the Foreign Secretary said that the UK will approach the talks with 鈥渟incerity and genuine desire for a breakthrough鈥�:
鈥淭his can only come if Iran enters the talks in a new spirit.
鈥淲e are not seeking regime change in Iran. We look to the Iranian government to prove to the world that their nuclear programme is for peaceful energy, not for nuclear weapons, and to give up any plans to acquire them.
鈥淚ran鈥檚 isolation is not in the interests of the Iranian people. Iran faces unprecedented sanctions and from 1 July, will no longer be able to export crude oil into the European Union.
鈥淚t is in the Iranian government鈥檚 power to end this isolation, and if they negotiate seriously on the concerns over its nuclear programme we will respond.
鈥淏ut if they do not seize this opportunity, they should not doubt our resolve to prevent nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.鈥�
On Afghanistan the Foreign Secretary said that the UK鈥檚 partnership with the country will endure:
鈥淓very step we have made to build a viable Afghan state, to train their Armed Forces and to drive out Al Qaeda has been a brick in the wall of our common security.鈥�
鈥淎nyone whose loved ones have served in Afghanistan or who has visited our troops there will know the grit, courage and sheer endurance it has taken to reach this point.
The Foreign Secretary also used the speech to set out Britain鈥檚 plans to retain and develop its global role:
鈥淭his reinvigorated and expanded approach will be built on our strong alliances in Europe and with America, building new ones without sacrificing the old.鈥�
鈥淪ome people have argued for a long time and may even believe today that Britain鈥檚 global role will shrink, that British Embassies are bound to close and that one day we will give up our UN Security Council seat or look to others to provide consular services for our nationals.
鈥淏ut in a fast-changing world and as one of the few countries with a global reach we need to dispel this pessimism;
鈥淚n a more competitive world, we need more connections to prosper;
鈥淎nd in a more multi-polar world, we need to be present in more places.
鈥淚n twenty years time we will be a nation with far closer ties in the emerging economies of the world than today.
鈥淥ur diplomatic network will have expanded鈥�.
鈥淲e will be in a position to use skilful diplomacy to work with the new groupings of the 21st century as effectively as we do with Washington and Brussels today.
鈥淲e will be more accustomed to working with new partners in foreign policy alongside our traditional allies to address the shared problems of our time.鈥�
He spoke of 鈥渞eversing Britain鈥檚 decline in Latin America鈥�. A new British Embassy will be opened in El Salvador.
鈥淭his determination to deepen our relations with Latin America is coupled with our steadfast commitment to the right of self determination of the people of the Falkland Islands.鈥�
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