Foreign Office Minister, Geoff Hoon has welcomed the transfer of Bosnian Serb war crimes indictee Dragan Zelenovic to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague. Mr Hoon said on Monday 12 June: 'Zelenovic's arrival in The Hague is a positive step and I congratulate the Bosnian authorities for ensuring his swift transfer from Sarajevo. I also want to take this opportunity to urge all political leaders in Bosnia-Hercegovina and throughout the region to ensure that this development is followed by further sustained efforts to transfer all remaining fugitive indictees, including Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, to the ICTY to stand trial.'

Around 300 scientists and legal and political advisors from 45 countries will meet in Edinburgh for the start of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. The event, which will run from 12 to 23 June, will provide delegates the opportunity to discuss the continued protection of Antarctica - the world's last great wilderness. In a keynote address, Foreign Office Minister Lord Triesman said: 'The importance of Antarctica as a platform for science cannot be overestimated. As the effects of climate change become more evident, it will be to the Antarctic that we must continue to turn for possible answers...'

The Minister for Europe, Geoff Hoon, will hold bilateral meetings with a number of key Polish Ministers, including Foreign Minister Anna Fotyga, whilst in Warsaw. The visit will highlight the commitment both countries have to building a stronger, more effective Europe that delivers on the issues that matter to its people such as security, energy and enlargement. Mr Hoon, speaking just before departing on 12 June, said: 'I am very much looking forward to visiting Warsaw. Poland and the UK are old friends in the new Europe and links between the two countries have never been stronger.'

The Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett MP said on 9 June: 'We are deeply concerned by reports of the deaths from Israeli shelling of civilians, including children, on a Gaza beach this afternoon. The killing of innocent civilians is utterly unacceptable and we urge the Israelis to undertake an investigation into this incident. I will raise this with my Israeli counterpart when I see her on Monday.'

Foreign Office Minister, Lord Triesman gave a speech about public diplomacy at the Oxford University Foreign Service Programme on Wednesday 7 June. Lord Triesman said: 'The Foreign Service programme is going from strength to strength with a membership 1000 strong in over 140 countries. The programme's alumni have pursued highly successful careers in their respective foreign services, many reaching positions of great distinction.'

Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Lord Triesman, Minister responsible for consular assistance for England supporters in Germany, commented on the opening day of the World Cup: 'Like many others, I am excited that the World Cup starts today. I hope it will be a fantastic festival of football which the whole world will enjoy'.

The Foreign Secretary has approved the appointment of Mr Stewart Eldon CMG, OBE to be the UK Permanent Representative on the North Atlantic Council in succession to Sir Peter Ricketts KCMG, who will be succeeding Sir Michael Jay as Permanent Under Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Head of the Diplomatic Service. Mr Eldon will hold the personal rank of Ambassador and will take up his appointment in late August 2006.

The Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett, on 8 June announced the appointment of John Ashton as a Special Representative for Climate Change. He will support Ministers in delivering a step-change in the international response to climate change – a new strategic priority for the FCO.

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has commented on 8 June on the death of Abu Musab Al Zarqawi. She said, 'I think the thing that is really important is that one of the most damaging and undermining things of recent weeks and months has been the inter-community conflict in Iraq and Zaqawi does seem to have been a prime mover and encourager of that conflict. And so if he's been taken out of the equation that should be helpful to the Iraqi people as well as to the Iraqi government.'
[Arabic translation available]

The Foreign Office on 7 June amended its travel advice for Vanuatu, in the Pacific. The recommendation against travel to Vanuatu following volcanic activity has been lifted.