'Inequalities between rich and poor are widening both between and within countries' said Douglas Alexander, Minister for Europe, in a speech at the Yale Center for International and Area Studies on 21 September 2005. The Minister explained why the December meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is so important, why agriculture in particular has emerged as such a key issue, and finally the work that must now be undertaken to open up markets, remove trade distorting subsidies, and tackle the unacceptable waste and excess of agricultural protectionism on both sides of the Atlantic. Mr Alexander emphasised that Europe and the US must play a 'vital and constructive role' in reducing global poverty at the forthcoming WTO Ministerial Conference.

The UK Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and United Nations organisations in Vienna, Peter Jenkins, has made a statement regarding Iran's nuclear programme. The Ambassador, speaking at the IAEA Board of Governors on 21 September, said: 'It is clear that Iran has failed to honour its commitments – commitments which made it possible for the Board to hold back from reporting to the Security Council and others, in November 2003, the non-compliance reported to it by the Secretariat. Iran has not engaged in full cooperation with the IAEA to address and resolve through full transparency all requirements and outstanding issues of the Agency. Having taken over a year to get round to suspending all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, Iran has, in defiance of clear Board requests, abandoned that suspension well before the resolution by the Agency of all the issues arising from its non-compliance.'

FCO Minister Ian Pearson has given a speech at the annual Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) meeting on human rights in Poland on 19 September. The meeting focused on the importance of promoting democracy, rule of law and good governance in OSCE participating states. Mr Pearson highlighted the need to meet international standards in both the upcoming parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan and the presidential elections in Kazakhstan later this year. Mr Pearson then travelled to Singapore on 20 September to meet with the Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other senior politicians and will then move on to The Republic of Korea from 22-23 September to promote inward investment and discuss the North Korean nuclear issue. The Minister said: 'My trip to The Republic of Korea comes at an important time, on the table for discussion will be international issues such as the nuclear six party talks with North Korea, and the importance of our bilateral and growing trade relationship.'

A statement was issued following the Core Group Ministerial meeting on Lebanon in New York, which included representatives of the United States, United Kingdom, France, the European Union, United Nations and other countries. The statement read on 19 September: 'We gathered to demonstrate our support for and commitment to the new Government of Lebanon as it works to reaffirm Lebanon's sovereignty, engage in vital reforms, and strengthen Lebanon's democratic institutions. We welcomed the Lebanese government's determination to take advantage of this window of opportunity to implement a comprehensive political and market-oriented economic reform program that will increase investor confidence and reduce interest rates and debt servicing, creating room for investment and private sector-led growth.'