Contributions
3,506 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDMinisters: Overseas TravelMy Lords, foreign travel is a vital part of diplomacy. The work that Ministers do overseas ultimately delivers for the British people. We have three government planes for…01 Feb 2022HANSARDUkraine: Minsk II ProtocolThe right reverend Prelate is of course correct that it is important to recognise the diversity of different communities, and indeed different people, within Ukraine. Ukraine is a…26 Jan 2022HANSARDUkraine: Minsk II ProtocolMy Lords, the Government support the Minsk protocols to deliver peaceful resolution to the conflict in full respect of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity. We have…26 Jan 2022HANSARDUkraine: Minsk II ProtocolMy Lords, no one wants to see body bags. But it is for Russia—Russia is the aggressor here. A key point is Crimea: Russia is occupying, under international law, sovereign…26 Jan 2022HANSARDUkraine: Minsk II ProtocolMy Lords, first, I acknowledge from our side, and indeed from across the House, the valuable services of my noble friend Lord Agnew, who served this House well. I recognise the…26 Jan 2022HANSARDUkraine: Minsk II ProtocolMy Lords, I agree with my noble friend that what we have seen from Russia is pure aggression. We should not forget that it is an occupying power in Crimea. We have come together;…26 Jan 2022HANSARDUkraine: Minsk II ProtocolMy Lords, on sanctions, let me assure the noble Lord—I know this is of interest to all noble Lords—that we are working very closely with all our allies and partners, particularly…26 Jan 2022HANSARDUkraine: Minsk II ProtocolMy Lords, as the noble and learned Lord will know from his own experience, insight and expertise, it is for a country to make an application to NATO. NATO is a defensive alliance,…26 Jan 2022HANSARDUkraine: Minsk II ProtocolMy Lords, on the noble Baroness’s second point, the FCDO has established language skills training for diplomats, and we engage directly, through those language skills, with…26 Jan 2022HANSARDUkraine: Minsk II ProtocolMy Lords, as the noble Lord will be aware, NATO is a defensive alliance. It was interesting to hear in the recent Statement of my right honourable friend the Defence…26 Jan 2022HANSARDAfghanistan (International Relations and Defence Committee Report)My Lords, I join others in recording my special thanks to my noble friend Lady Anelay. I have known her for my full stint of what is now approaching 10 years on the Front Bench of…24 Jan 2022HANSARDAfghanistan (International Relations and Defence Committee Report)Indeed, my noble friend was my first mentor and remains not just a noble friend but a friend in its true essence. In joining others, I pay tribute to her and all members of the…24 Jan 2022HANSARDMikheil SaakashviliI assure the noble Lord that we remind Georgia in our bilateral discussions of its international obligations. Let us not forget that Georgia itself, in the breakaway republics of…13 Jan 2022HANSARDAfghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisMy Lords, first, I thank the noble Lord for acknowledging the work that the UK Government are doing with international partners in what is, as the noble Lord rightly described it,…13 Jan 2022HANSARDAfghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisMy Lords, I am working directly and very closely with key agencies on the ground in this respect. Just before Christmas, I had a number of meetings, including with the likes of…13 Jan 2022HANSARDMikheil SaakashviliI can certainly assure the noble Lord that that is exactly our approach. We will continue to raise this directly and with key partners, including in international fora such as the…13 Jan 2022HANSARDMikheil SaakashviliMy Lords, I thank the noble and right reverend Lord for providing that additional information. I will of course take that forward and pass it to both our team here in London and…13 Jan 2022HANSARDAfghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisMy Lords, there are often challenges to the multilateral agencies working on the ground, particularly the United Nations. It is crises such as the Afghanistan crisis which really…13 Jan 2022HANSARDMikheil SaakashviliMy Lords, I agree with the noble Lord and as I have said to him previously, I look forward to working with him directly on this agenda and I pay tribute to his valuable work…13 Jan 2022HANSARDAfghanistan: Humanitarian CrisisMy Lords, as the noble Lord will be aware, there are various strands. The Taliban themselves are not a homogenous group, and there are various factions within the Taliban which…13 Jan 2022