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Tag: William Hague

  • Hammond replaces Hague as UK foreign secretary in reshuffle

    Hammond replaces Hague as UK foreign secretary in reshuffle

    William Hague has stood down as foreign secretary, but will stay in the cabinet as Leader of the Commons, Downing Street has said.

    At least 12 men will leave their posts in the significant reshuffle, including Ken Clarke who is standing down.

    Environment Secretary Owen Paterson is leaving the cabinet and is expected to be replaced by education minister Liz Truss.

    Philip Hammond has accepted the role of foreign secretary.

    Labour described the reshuffle as “the massacre of the moderates”.

    Mr Hague is to leave Parliament at the 2015 general election after 26 years as MP for Richmond, North Yorkshire.

    Senior ministers have told the BBC that the current defence secretary, Philip Hammond, will replace Mr Hague.

    Prime Minister David Cameron said: “William Hague has been one of the leading lights of the Conservative Party for a generation, leading the party and serving in two cabinets.

    “Not only has he been a first-class foreign secretary – he has also been a close confidant, a wise counsellor and a great friend.

    “He will remain as first secretary of state and my de facto political deputy in the run up to the election – and it is great to know that he will be a core part of the team working to ensure an outright Conservative victory.”

    Ken Clarke told Radio 4’s Today programme that he felt it was “time to step down”.

    He said: “If you do work beyond the normal retirement age, I think actually you should prepare to decide you’re going to go before people are starting to scratch their head and think of reasons to get rid of you.”

    Speaking on Mr Cameron’s latest changes, he said: “He doesn’t have many reshuffles which is a very good thing so ministers find out what their job is and then he wants a reshuffle, which looks like the sort of government he wants in the next Parliament.

    “That’s what he’s done and guys like me who have done a few decades in government took the opportunity to retire.”

    He added it was “superficial” for people to become obsessed with the gender balance of the cabinet and that Mr Cameron had made “enormous efforts” to get women in.

     

  • UK to re-open Iran embassy

    UK to re-open Iran embassy

    Britain said yesterday it would re-open its embassy in Iran “within months,” after a hiatus of more than two and a half years, a diplomatic breakthrough that underscores the West’s desire to secure Tehran’s help in Iraq and elsewhere.

    The move came after the United States, a close British ally, said it may launch air strikes and act jointly with arch-enemy Iran to shore up the Iraqi government, after a rampage by Sunni Islamist insurgents that has scrambled alliances in the Middle East.

    The announcement, by British Foreign Secretary William Hague, is likely to raise hopes of a breakthrough in talks with world powers about Iran’s disputed nuclear programme. It coincided with negotiations aimed at securing such a agreement.

    Britain severed direct diplomatic relations with Iran after activists stormed its embassy in Tehran in late 2011. The 2013 election in Iran of a relative moderate, President Hassan Rouhani, who replaced hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, paved the way for a thaw in ties.

    Hague said that Britain would move quickly to re-establish a small initial presence at the Tehran embassy but said it wouldn’t be able to offer visa services to Iranians at first.

     

  • UK to reopen embassy in Iran

    Britain’s Foreign Secretary, William Hague, has said he intends to reopen the country’s embassy in the Iranian capital Tehran.

    Mr. Hague said the “circumstances were right” following an improvement in bilateral relations in recent months.

    Full diplomatic relations with Iran were suspended after attacks on the British embassy in Iran in 2011.

    The election of a new Iranian president and agreement on how to deal with Iran’s nuclear programme has warmed diplomatic relations, the BBC reports.

    The move also comes as Iraqi forces are engaged in heavy clashes with Sunni Islamist militants in the country and amid reports that Iran is providing military assistance to its historic rival.

    In a written statement, Mr. Hague said the United Kingdom Embassy will re-open “as soon as practical arrangements are made” as a result of “increasing confidence” in the state of relations between the two countries.

    “There has never been any doubt in my mind that we should have an embassy in Tehran if the circumstances allowed,” he said.

    “Iran is an important country in a volatile region, and maintaining embassies around the world, even under difficult conditions, is a central pillar of the UK’s global diplomatic approach.”

    Mr. Hague will give further details to MPs at 11:30 BST.

    The shared interest in confronting militants led by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) has accelerated contacts between the West and Iran.

     

  • Terrorism: UK boosts Nigeria military aid

    Terrorism: UK boosts Nigeria military aid

    The United Kingdom will increase its military and educational aid to help Nigeria tackle Boko Haram, Foreign Secretary William Hague has announced.

    He said Nigeria’s army would receive extra training, especially in counter-insurgency, and a million more children would be given schooling.

    This is the latest promise of Western help since Boko Haram abducted some 200 schoolgirls in April.

    Since then, the sect has stepped up its attacks.

    Mr. Hague stressed that human rights must be respected in the operation against the militant group.

    Human rights groups have accused Nigeria’s army of killing hundreds of civilians in crackdowns following Boko Haram attacks.

    The British foreign secretary also insisted that the extra aid must be spent effectively. There have been reports of corruption in the military.

    Mr. Hague said the extra assistance would be provided in conjunction with France and the United States.

    He also said that Nigeria, Chad, Benin, Niger, Cameroon had confirmed they will put into operation a regional intelligence fusion unit – to “tighten the net around Boko Haram.”

    The BBC reports that the meeting took place on the sidelines of the London summit on ending sexual violence in conflict, co-hosted by Mr. Hague and United Nations special envoy and actress Angelina Jolie.

    It follows last month’s summit in Paris where regional powers pledged to co-ordinate action against the group.

     

  • Nigeria’s neighbours have roles to play – UK Secretary

    Nigeria’s neighbours have roles to play – UK Secretary

    Nigeria’s neighbours, such as Chad and Cameroon, have “very important role” to play in the battle against the Islamist group, Boko Haram in Africa, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague, has said.

    His comments came as talks on the threat from Boko Haram – hosted by the French president – got underway yesterday in Paris.

    Militants abducted more than 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State in April and released a video last Monday showing more than 100 of the girls and offering an exchange for prisoners.

  • Britain offers Nigeria military advisers

    Britain offers Nigeria military advisers

    Britain is offering to send advisers to help Nigeria’s military structure its efforts to fight Boko Haram, Foreign Minister William Hague said yesterday shortly before the Paris summit to hammer out a strategy to tackle  Boko Haram.

    West African leaders met in the French capital   to try to improve cooperation in their fight against the group which last month kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls and threatens to destabilize the wider region.

    Outrage over the girls has prompted President Goodluck Jonathan, criticised at home for his government’s slow response, to accept U.S., British and French intelligence help in the hunt for the girls.

    “Nigerian security forces have not been well structured for this kind of thing and that has been shown by the problem getting worse,” Hague told reporters ahead of the meeting.

    “We can help with that which is why we are offering to embed military advisers within the Nigerian headquarters.”

    U.S. officials have said the effort to retrieve the girls is now a top priority, but has been complicated by Nigeria’s early reluctance to accept assistance, and U.S. rules banning aid to foreign forces that have committed human rights abuses.

    “It is very important (Nigeria) upholds high standards of human rights and are well coordinated in their actions,” Hague said. “Nigeria has the main responsibility and must be the leading nation in tackling this and that includes to mount an effective security response and improve development.”

    France, itself a target of Islamist militants for its military intervention against rebels in Mali, is bringing together Nigeria’s neighbours Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin, and Western officials.

    With about 6,000 troops operating in either Mali to the northwest or the Central African Republic to the east, Paris has a major interest in preventing Nigeria’s security deteriorating.

    It fears Boko Haram could spread north into the Sahel, and beyond Cameroon into the Central African Republic.

    French diplomats have ruled out any Western military operation but said they expected a regional plan to take shape for countering Boko Haram.

    Nigeria has complained the far north of Cameroon is being used by Boko Haram militants to shelter from a Nigerian military offensive and to transport weapons, and has urged Cameroon to tighten border security.

    “The first focus is about the girls, but that requires these countries work together particularly Cameroon and Nigeria who have not enjoyed strong, positive relations in recent years,” Hague said.

  • Boko Haram: Britain offers military advisers to Nigeria

    Boko Haram: Britain offers military advisers to Nigeria

    Britain has offered to send advisers to help Nigeria’s military structure its efforts to fight Boko Haram, Foreign Minister William Hague said on Saturday, ahead of a meeting to hammer out a strategy to tackle the sect.

    West African leaders are meeting in Paris to try to improve cooperation in their fight against the group which last month kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls and threatens to destabilise the wider region.

    Outrage over the girls has prompted President Goodluck Jonathan, criticised at home for his government’s slow response, to accept United States, British and French intelligence help in the hunt for the girls.

    “Nigerian security forces have not been well structured for this kind of thing and that has been shown by the problem getting worse,” Reuters quoted Hague as saying to reporters ahead of the meeting.

    “We can help with that which is why we are offering to embed military advisers within the Nigerian headquarters.”

    U.S. officials have said the effort to retrieve the girls is now a top priority, but has been complicated by Nigeria’s early reluctance to accept assistance, and U.S. rules banning aid to foreign forces that have committed human rights abuses.

    “It is very important (Nigeria) upholds high standards of human rights and are well coordinated in their actions,” Hague said. “Nigeria has the main responsibility and must be the leading nation in tackling this and that includes to mount an effective security response and improve development.”

    France, itself a target of Islamist militants for its military intervention against rebels in Mali, is bringing together Nigeria’s neighbours  – Chad, Cameroon, Niger,  Benin, and Western officials to the summit.

  • Summit on Boko Haram opens in Paris

    Summit on Boko Haram opens in Paris

    A security summit to discuss strategies to tackle the threat from Boko Haram has opened in Paris, France.

    The meeting was called by French President, Francois Hollande, after the sect abducted more than 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, last month.

    President Goodluck Jonathan, who is attending the talks, had to call off a visit to the town where the girls were seized for security reasons.

    As West African leaders arrived, reports emerged of suspected Boko Haram attack in Cameroon.

    Ten people are reported missing.

    One person was hurt when militants attacked a Chinese camp near Cameroon’s porous border with north-eastern Nigeria.

    Those missing had been working for Chinese company Sinohydro, China’s state news agency Xinhua said.

    The BBC reports that militants have staged several attacks in Cameroon; last year they kidnapped several members of a French family, who were later released.

    Boko Haram released a video earlier this week showing more than 100 of the girls and offering an exchange for prisoners. Their relatives have called for their unconditional release.

    The girls, a mixture of Christians and Muslims, were seized on April 14 from their hostels at the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibook.

    President Jonathan has ruled out negotiations over their possible release, government officials say.

    President  Hollande will open the Saturday’s summit, and the leaders of Nigeria’s neighbours – Benin, Cameroon, Niger and Chad – were scheduled to attend the talks. Representatives from the United Kingdom, United States and European Union were also taking part.

    A statement before the summit said delegates at the meeting will “discuss fresh strategies for dealing with the security threat posed by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in West and Central Africa.”

    UK Foreign Secretary William Hague told the BBC from Paris that Cameroon and Nigeria in particular had an important role to play in pooling their intelligence.

    “There are many borders here and they are porous. The first focus of everything we’re doing is about the girls now, but that requires these countries to work together. Cameroon and Nigeria… have not enjoyed strong positive relations in recent years.”

    Mr. Hollande discussed the issue on Friday in a phone call with US President Barack Obama.

    The safe return of the 223 girls was now one of America’s main priorities, with US specialist teams and drones being involved in the rescue operation, the White House said.

     

     

  • UK to help Nigeria rescue abducted students

    British Foreign Minister William Hague offered on Tuesday to help Nigeria secure the release of more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by the Boko Haram sect last month.
    “We are offering practical help,” Hague told reporters as he arrived for a Council of Europe meeting in Vienna to discuss ways to defuse the situation in Ukraine, where the government is trying to quell an insurrection by pro-Russian activists.
    “What has happened there… the actions of Boko Haram to use girls as the spoils of war, the spoils of terrorism, is disgusting. It is immoral,” he said.
    Hague said he did not want to discuss the details of what help Britain was offering.
    Reuters reports that the leader of Boko Haram has threatened to sell the abducted schoolgirls.

  • EU, US impose sanctions over Crimea

    EU, US impose sanctions over Crimea

    The EU and US have announced travel bans and asset freezes against a number of officials from Russia and Ukraine.

    The moves follow Sunday’s referendum in Crimea, in which officials say 97% of voters backed breaking away from Ukraine and joining Russia.

    The individuals targeted by the sanctions are seen as having played a key role in the referendum, which Kiev, the US and EU deem illegal.

    Pro-Russian forces have been in control of Crimea since late February.

    Moscow says the troops are pro-Russian self-defence forces and not under its direct control.

    US President Barack Obama said in a press conference that Washington stood “ready to impose further sanctions” depending on whether Russia escalated or de-escalated the situation in Ukraine.

    If Moscow continued to intervene in Ukraine, he warned, it would “achieve nothing except to further isolate Russia and diminish its place in the world”.

    The EU published a list of sanctions against 21 Russian and Ukrainian officials after a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels. The list includes the acting prime minister of Crimea, the speaker of Crimea’s parliament, three senior Russian commanders and several senior Russian parliamentary officials.

    “We regret that Russia has so far not engaged in negotiations with Ukraine,” EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said after the sanctions were announced.

    UK Foreign Secretary William Hague told reporters the list was not “set in stone”.

    He said this depends on “how Russia reacts to the referendum in Crimea which has been a mockery of any real democracy, and how they are reacting to the possibility of discussions and direct negotiations with Ukraine over the coming days”.

    The US said it had targeted seven top Russian government officials and lawmakers and four Crimea-based separatist leaders with financial sanctions for undermining “democratic processes and institutions in Ukraine”.

    The US list included Dmitry Rogozin, a Russian deputy prime minister, Valentina Matviyenko, head of the upper house of the Russian parliament and the ousted Ukrainian leader, Viktor Yanukovych.

    “Today’s actions send a strong message to the Russian government that there are consequences for their actions that violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, including their actions supporting the illegal referendum for Crimean separation,” the White House said in a statement.

    The EU has also shown its support for Ukraine by announcing it will temporarily remove customs duties on Ukrainian exports to the EU.

    Ukraine’s acting President Oleksander Turchinov said Kiev was ready for negotiations with Russia, but it would never accept the annexation of Crimea.