On Monday 26 December, the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, issued a statement in relation to the first anniversary of the Boxing Day tsunami. Mr Straw said: 'At this time, when we all remember the tremendous devastation of last year's Indian Ocean Tsunami, I would like to express the government's - and my own - sympathy to those who have suffered bereavement, injury or trauma due to the terrible events of Boxing Day last year... The prayers and best wishes of people throughout the United Kingdom are with you at this difficult time.'

The families of the British, Canadian and US citizens kidnapped in Iraq on 26 November have jointly issued an appeal for their safe return. The appeal, translated into Arabic, will appear in newspapers in Iraq over the coming days.

The Government of the Lebanese Republic and the Government of the United Kingdom, on Friday 23 December, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate the deportation of persons suspected of activities associated with terrorism. This agreement underlines the growing cooperation between Lebanon and the UK in the field of law enforcement.

Following meetings held in Tripoli on 12 and 18 December between the Association of the Benghazi Families, the Bulgarian Civil Association for Encouraging Bilateral Relations with Libya, the Qadhafi Foundation, and the European Commission, representatives of the British, Libyan, Bulgarian and United States governments, and of the European Commission met in Tripoli on 21-22 December.

The United Kingsdom, as Presidency of the European Union, is pleased to note that the presidential elections in Bolivia have been conducted in a free and fair manner and applauds the people of Bolivia for this achievement. The declaration on 22 December congratulated Evo Morales on the preliminary results and added: 'The EU expresses its confidence that the election results will provide an opportunity for a new understanding amongst Bolivian political and social actors, thus establishing the required consensus to carry out the reform that Bolivia needs.'

The UK Presidency of the EU has welcomed the setting up of a Peacebuilding Commission at the United Nations. The Commission has been established to ensure effective international support for countries affected by conflict. The statement read on 22 December: 'By ensuring that the UN has adequate resources to meet the challenges to lasting peace, shining a spot light on gaps in the system, and extending the period of attention paid to conflicts by the international community, the Peacebuilding Commission has the potential to make a real difference in breaking the cycle of conflict in some of the poorest, war-torn countries of the world, not least in Africa. The European Union stands ready to contribute to this endeavour as the Commission starts its work.'

The UK, as Presidency of the European Union issued the following statement on 21 December. The European Union is closely following the Darfur peace talks in Abuja, the seventh round of which began at the end of November. The EU Special Representative for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, has visited the talks twice during this round, and several member states are represented there.
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On Wednesday 21 December, the Government published the 3rd Annual Report on the UK's programmes to address WMD proliferation threats across the Former Soviet Union. This report details the progress made by the Global Partnership and in particular, the UK. Welcoming the report, Foreign Office Minister, Kim Howells said: 'This has been a year of success for the Global Partnership under the UK Presidency of the G8. The progress made over the year reflects the achievements of our work. I am delighted that the Global Partnership has flourished under the UK G8 Presidency.'

The Foreign Secretary has approved the appointment of John Duncan OBE to be the UK Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva and Ambassador for Multilateral Arms Control and Disarmament, in succession to John Freeman, who will be transferring to another appointment. John Duncan OBE will hold the personal rank of Ambassador and will be taking up his appointment in April 2006.
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Mr Stephen Evans, CMG, OBE has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in succession to Dr Rosalind Marsden who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Evans will take up his appointment in April 2006.
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