David Miliband

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• Signing Off

  Posted: 2010-04-06 12:17:05 UTC+01:00

  The British General Election is being called today. While it is going on I cannot post blogs for the Foreign Office website.  So for now, thank you for all your comments.  I hope we'll continue the conversation soon!

• Governance in Afghanistan

  Posted: 2010-04-01 16:00:27 UTC+01:00

  Following on from the decree launching the High Office of Oversight , the Afghan government announced last week the approval of a new sub-national governance policy.
  
  This is another significant achievement against the London Conference commitments. As I have mentioned in the past, the experience of government for most Afghans takes place predominantly at the village level. Getting governance right locally is crucial to showing the Afghan people that their government can deliver the services they need.
  
  This has been a major weakness – as I highlighted in my recent MIT speech  But this announcement is an important step forward, which shows real commitment and leadership from the Afghan government. The new policy defines the responsibilities and authority of local administrations, strengthens local governance structures and will improve the delivery of services. The test now is to ensure that this is followed through– with the full support of the international community.

• Beyond Copenhagen

  Posted: 2010-04-01 13:26:49 UTC+01:00

  Yesterday, Ed Miliband and DECC launched “Beyond Copenhagen: The UK Government’s International Climate Change Action Plan”. It explains how the UK is pushing to build on December's Copenhagen Accord, and move towards securing a global deal.
  
  At the launch was President Jagdeo of Guyana - in London for  yesterday's meeting of the UN Secretary General’s High Level Advisory Group on Climate Finance , co-chaired by the Prime Minister and Prime Minister Meles of Ethiopia.  President Jagdeo spoke about the UK's continued leadership in the fight to combat global climate change and secure a legally binding deal.  Our advocacy of such action makes a difference – and we will continue to work with partners in the international community,  like President Jagdeo. to achieve the outcome we all want: the avoidance of dangerous climate change, and all the risks and threats that come with it.  

• Somalia: Tide Turning Against Extremism?

  Posted: 2010-03-31 11:06:41 UTC+01:00

  In Somalia there are signs that opinion is building against the extremist group Al-Shabaab, who threaten attempts to restore stability. A recent conference of major Islamic scholars in Dubai, including the Egyptian televangelist Amr Khaled and the Saudi-based Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, issued a declaration condemning Al Shabaab's interpretation of Islam. The declaration  denies that fighting the transitional government in Somalia can be justified as a legitimate jihad, examines the constructive role Islam can play in resolving the country’s 20-year long civil war, and calls for all Somalis to support President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed.  
  
  Separately, citizens in Mogadishu – fed up with Al Shabaab’s brutality and cultural intolerance - marched on Monday to protest against the desecration of the graves of revered Sufi saints.
  
  I don't underestimate the difficulties or the complexities, but the growth of opposition to extremism in Somalia is encouraging.  Al Shabaab’s interpretation of Islam is alien to Somalis who traditionally practise a moderate Sufi-led form of the religion.  This intervention from internationally renowned Islamic scholars supports isolation of the extremists, who work to their own agenda, and against the interests and traditions of Somalia and its people.

• Iran

  Posted: 2010-03-30 17:40:04 UTC+01:00

  One of the problems we face in dealing with Iran is the constant confusion about who is wielding power. This has implications for our policy on the country’s nuclear programme. I wrote about this in the International Herald Tribune last weekend.
  
  

• Cluster Munitions

  Posted: 2010-03-30 17:26:32 UTC+01:00

  On Thursday, parliament passed a bill banning the use, production and stockpiling of cluster munitions in the UK. This step brings us a bit closer to an eventual global ban on these devastating weapons.
  
  104 countries have already signed up. Our priority now is to get others to join them. This is an important issue - cluster munitions can cause high rates of civilian casualties whenever they are used, and unexploded ordinance can present a hazard for decades to come - cluster bombs are still causing casualties in Vietnam 40 years after they were used.
  
  

• Afghanistan: A Step Forward in Fighting Corruption

  Posted: 2010-03-30 12:23:08 UTC+01:00

  Last week President Karzai issued a decree boosting the Afghan High Office of Oversight (HOO) – a key anti-corruption body in Afghanistan. The issue is vital, as I mentioned in my recent speech at MIT in Boston.   In some regions the average Afghan is paying $100 in bribes to officials  every year. Action against corruption was- rightly - high on the agenda at the London Conference in January.
  
  The decree empowers the HOO to investigate allegations of corruption and forward cases for prosecution. It also creates a Monitoring and Evaluation Committee which will report on the government's fight against corruption.
  
  The move provides the basis for a strong anti-corruption framework in Afghanistan – leadership by President Karzai will be important

• Earth Hour

  Posted: 2010-03-29 11:20:27 UTC+01:00

  The FCO switched its lights off for an hour on Saturday night in support of WWF’s Earth Hour campaign.  And we weren't the only ones. Businesses, homes, schools, community groups, government departments, local authorities, and major landmarks all went dark for an hour. And the same thing happened in over 100 other countries around the world. 
  
  As with last year, a number of our overseas Embassies and High Commissions also used the occasion to organise or participate in local climate change events.
  
  Initiatives such as WWF’s Earth Hour campaign and the 10:10 campaign are important in helping to maintain attention on the global challenge climate change presents. I've blogged previously about the impacts of climate change and the science behind it.  Moments like this are there to remind us that, working together, governments and people can make a difference as we all work towards the goal of preventing dangerous climate change.
   

• Women in Saudi Arabia

  Posted: 2010-03-26 16:38:31 UTC

  This article by Ian Bremner in the New York Times  is an interesting read, particularly in the context of the recent FCO Human Rights Report . Saudi Arabia remains a country where our HR Report sets out concerns about human rights - particularly for women. They are 130th out of 134 countries for gender equality according to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Index
  
  But Hissa Hilal's success shows that the picture isn't quite as monochrome as these facts suggest. We should applaud those women who continue to puncture stereotypes in Saudi Arabia, and the progress Bremner points to - however localised and limited - should be welcomed. Ultimately, demographics, education and globalisation are changing the role of Saudi women - 50% of university graduates are female. When I was in Riyadh last year I met some remarkable young women who were leaving education and entering the work force. The challenge for Saudi society will be extending such opportunities beyond the very few who currently enjoy them. The UK will continue to provide support in any way we can.
  
  

• Foreign policy and the internet

  Posted: 2010-03-25 10:16:45 UTC

  I’ve spoken before about foreign policy and the internet. We’re still only beginning to explore the impact it will have – on states, and on individuals. But the debate is definitely starting. This piece by Misha Glenny in the Financial Times gives an interesting view on the different ways online developments are being viewed by policy makers.
  
  For the FCO, it’s something we’ve been engaged on for a while. This think-piece by Shane Dillon on Stephen Hale’s Digital Diplomacy blog gives an insight into some of the areas we need to consider. Ultimately, the internet is already changing the way we conduct diplomacy – in my opinion for the better. It can increase openness and empower individuals. But things happen fast in cyberspace – we need to keep working hard to make sure we stay ahead of the curve.

  
  
  

  

• The UK and Japan

  Posted: 2010-03-24 13:59:42 UTC

  Last week Nissan announced that they will produce their LEAF electric car at their plant in Sunderland.  This is good for the car industry, and a further sign of how central low-carbon technologies are to future economic growth.  It's another great UK-Japan success story and a chance to reflect on the depth and breadth of our work together. 
  
  On climate change there was good news last week that Japan is preparing to debate a new bill which will put its ambitious targets - to cut emissions 25% by 2020, and 80% by 2050 - into law. 
  
  In Afghanistan, Japan has made a huge financial commitment – pledging to spend $5bn over the next five years, and we worked closely with Japan in the run-up to the London Conference. 
  
  And we'll be in close touch as we approach the NPT RevCon in May. Nuclear disarmament and counter proliferation have a high public profile in Japan.  With memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and with North Korea not far away, that is no surprise.

  
  

  

• Elections in Sudan

  Posted: 2010-03-23 10:01:33 UTC

  Next month's multi-party elections in Sudan would be an incredible achievement, if they pass successfully. This article by Simon Tisdall in the Guardian underlines their importance and some of the difficulties involved.
   
  I met the Foreign Minister of Sudan last week. Elections next month would certainly be a remarkable achievement if they promote a national dialogue about the future. After all, we are less than year from a referendum that will decide whether Sudan exists as a single country.
  

• Khamenei doesn't get Obama

  Posted: 2010-03-22 17:50:06 UTC

  Iran's leaders don't yet get what is on the table from the international community. See this article from New York Times . 

  But their people do.

  

• EU and Afghanistan

  Posted: 2010-03-22 16:28:38 UTC

  The Foreign Ministers of Europe are discussing Afghanistan.  I have said today there are 3 roles for the new EU representative in Kabul: to be a voice for the collective  view of EU member states, to be a catalyst for building high capacity in areas like policing and governance, and to deliver aid in a coherent way.
  
  

• External Action Service

  Posted: 2010-03-22 15:34:33 UTC

  I am in Brussels for the monthly meeting of Foreign Ministers from around the European Union, chaired by the High Representative Cathy Ashton.  High on our agenda is the External Action Service.  This is an important innovation as part of the Lisbon Treaty - it will be a network of officials advising Cathy and others in Brussels, and heading EU delegations around the world.  I strongly support Cathy's vision for the EAS.
  
  As I said to the International Institute for Strategic Studies back in October I want to see the EU playing a stronger role round the world, making more impact, and pursuing our shared aims more effectively.  I have three top priorities - Europe's neighbourhood, making a difference in conflict and crisis areas, and the EU's relationships with the big powers.  The Chinese leaders I met in China last week wanted a more strategic relationship between the EU and China.  So do I.  The External Action Service is one of our best vehicles to achieve this and those other priorities.  
  
  So we need the EAS to be strong and effective.  That doesn't mean weakening either  the Commission or the member states.  The Service will work for them.  But it does mean the institutions working coherently together, so that the total European effort really does add up to more than the sum of its parts.  To achieve this, the EAS should be a modern foreign policy machine, able to add value on issues like climate and energy security as well as on the traditional foreign policy issues.  The member states should be represented in the EAS from the start with secondees chosen, ultimately, by Cathy Ashton.

• Burma Election Laws

  Posted: 2010-03-19 16:05:56 UTC

  The election laws published last week by the Burmese regime are a wake up call for the international community. No-one can now be in any doubt about the Burmese junta’s intentions. Despite promises to the UN and to their ASEAN neighbours, the regime have shown that free and fair elections are not on their agenda.  
  
  The further targeting and repression of ASSK and the NLD is shocking but telling. It betrays the Generals' lack of confidence in their own legitimacy. By annulling the 1990 election results, which the NLD won with an overwhelming majority, the regime is acknowledging that it has ignored the legitimate will of its people for 20 years.
  
  The further marginalisation of other opposition and ethnic groups in these laws can only result in more misery for Burma's people. Only an inclusive political process stands any chance of achieving national reconciliation and of solving Burma's many problems.
  
  It is critically important that the regime hears a consistent message from the international community. While these laws stand, elections cannot be considered legitimate or as progress. 
  

• Norouz

  Posted: 2010-03-19 12:44:47 UTC

  I would like to send my best wishes to all those who are celebrating the ancient festival of Norouz.  At this time of year millions of people in Iran and around the world will be coming together to welcome the coming of the new year.  Many British-Iranians will also be celebrating the occasion, spending the holidays with their families here in the UK or Iran. The personal ties between our countries are strong and undiminished.
  
  Norouz is a festival which has been celebrated for more than 3000 years. It is a time when people mark the advent of spring and contemplate the changes in nature. The past year has been a difficult one for many in Iran but Norouz is a time of new beginnings. I hope that in 1389  the Iranian people will be able to enjoy a year that fulfils their hopes and ambitions, and allows them to express freely their own aspirations for the future. Noh-rooz eh hoob dashteh basheed.

• 25 years after Gorbachev's appointment

  Posted: 2010-03-19 11:43:39 UTC

  This article by Archie Brown is a good reminder of what a hurricane Mikhail Gorbachev represented.

  His intervention was genuinely historic.

  

• Human Rights Report

  Posted: 2010-03-18 16:11:51 UTC

  Yesterday we launched the 12th FCO Human Rights Report . I re-read it on the plane from China. It's in some ways a depressing read; lots of abuse in lots of places.
  
  But it is also a testimony to huge amounts of commitment from FCO staff, and of the enormous bravery from people in countries that do not enjoy the freedoms we take for granted. My speech to launch the report is here 

• China Trip

  Posted: 2010-03-18 14:48:56 UTC

  Blog Blackout

   

  It's my fault that there's been a blog blackout during my trip to China. These are written - sorry - on the plane.

   

  Shanghai Expo

   

  The UK pavilion, also known as the Dandelion (so named by China's netizens), is a remarkable creation, covered by 60,000 rods / spikes / prickles. The landscaping is still to be done - still 45 days to opening. I think it will be far better than a traditional trade fair.

   

  Chinese Peacekeepers

   

  China has recently lost eight of its police peacekeepers in the Haiti earthquake. They were professional and committed colleagues of the people I met at the Training Academy on Monday. The partnership with the UK is valuable to both of us.

   

  Iran

   

  This was the issue that took more time than any other in my meetings. I argued that China should not leave itself isolated. The dual track process - engagement and pressure - is the right one. Sanctions are not a wonder-cure but neither are they a deviation from a negotiated settlement. In fact they are the basis of one.

  

• Climate Science

  Posted: 2010-03-11 11:07:31 UTC

  Climate scientists from the Met Office hit back at the sceptics last week with new research  revealing the clear fingerprints of man-made global warming.  Advances in observational data and the way it is analysed are giving scientists a better insight into the climate system than ever before.  The study concluded there is an "increasingly remote possibility" of human influence not being the chief driver of climate change.  
  
  Peter Stott, Head of Climate Monitoring and Attribution at the Met Office discussed the new study. One quote stood out:
  
   “The science reveals a consistent picture of global change that clearly bears the fingerprint of man-made greenhouse gas emissions. This shows the evidence of climate change has gone beyond temperature increases — it is now visible across our climate system and all regions of the planet. Our climate is changing now and it’s very likely human activity is to blame."

  
  
  

  

• The War in Afghanistan: How to End It

  Posted: 2010-03-11 15:51:47 UTC

  Later today I am delivering the Compton Lecture at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), I will be talking about Afghanistan.
  
  The core of my argument is simple – only politics will end the War in Afghanistan. The immense effort of UK, ISAF and Afghan troops is vital, as is the development and capacity building work that now runs alongside it. But – as with the vast majority of conflicts - the key is a genuine political settlement.
  
  This involves three things. First, the reintegration into Afghan society of low-level insurgents prepared to lay down their arms and accept the writ of the government. Second, political engagement with those disaffected by the current settlement, but prepared to renounce violence, split from Al Qaeda and accept the constitutional framework. Third, a wider regional political settlement that sees all Afghanistan’s neighbours and near neighbours supportive of an independent Afghan state.
  
  One crucial step towards this is President Karzai’s recent announcement of the date for the peace Jirga 

   

  

• The Perils of Poverty Statistics

  Posted: 2010-03-10 12:18:16 UTC

  We often hear a lot about unreliable statistics. But the problem isn’t exclusive to domestic issues. This Aid Watch blog from New York University's Development Research Institute muses on the pitfalls of applying various indicators to measure poverty .
  
  Since the days of Rowntree, measuring poverty has never been simple, and bilateral and multinational donors need to continually keep refining their measures. But that doesn’t make working towards targeted aims like the Millennium Development Goals any less worthwhile. And some figures are beyond dispute: the UK’s commitment to a development spend of o.7% of GDP for example. As the PM stressed last month, the UK “has led the world and will continue to lead the world on protecting our planet and securing justice for its poor”.

• Iceland referendum

  Posted: 2010-03-09 17:16:12 UTC

  The people of Iceland have had their say on the Icesave Agreement that their Parliament ratified in December. Their decision to reject it comes as no surprise, given recent polling. But for Iceland much rides on resolving the Icesave issue and settling the debt owed to UK and Dutch tax-payers. The Icelandic Government fully realises this.

  I very much welcome the statement they made on Saturday underlining their commitment to repayment of the full amount owed, and their desire to draw a line under the issue.  Doing so will allow them to focus on delivering economic recovery and pursuing their application to join the European Union, where the UK is amongst their most vigorous supporters.
  
  

  

• Iraq decides

  Posted: 2010-03-09 10:28:41 UTC

  Sunday’s Iraqi national election was a moving example of a people’s willingness to exercise their democratic rights despite the threat of violence.  The vote followed a vibrant election campaign, during which there was real debate about the issues that matter to the Iraqi electorate, including security, Iraq's economic future and government accountability - Jon Wilks, Deputy Head of the British Embassy in Baghdad, has blogged about the election campaign.  
  
  I extend my sympathies to the families of Sunday’s casualties. However, the terrorists failed to stop the Iraqi people from voting in their millions and from taking the future of their country into their own hands.  Once the election results are confirmed, I hope that Iraq's political leaders will come together and form an accountable, inclusive and effective government.  Iraq's people deserve it.  The UK stands ready to continue its partnership with Iraq and work with its new government towards a better future for all Iraqis.

• International Women's Day

  Posted: 2010-03-09 09:50:07 UTC

  Yesterday was International Women’s Day – a cause for celebration around the world. But there’s always been a political edge – in 1917, Women’s Day celebrations in St Petersburg turned into the demonstrations that began the Russian Revolution. And the day’s significance continues. In India, a new bill was today tabled in the upper house of parliament which would raise the number of female lawmakers in the 545-seat lower house from 59 to 181 and quadruple the number of women in the 250-seat upper house. In Saudi Arabia, female lawyers are being allowed to argue cases in court for the first time.
  
  But there is still much more to do. Improving conditions and opportunities for women remains a key focus of the UK’s human rights work worldwide – as shown in yesterday’s appointment of Glenys Kinnock to lead our work in tackling violence against women around the world.

• Chilean Earthquake

  Posted: 2010-03-04 13:04:33 UTC

  With the world still recovering from the shocking images of destruction in Haiti, it’s hard to take the terrible pictures now coming out of Chile. 803 people have died, but with the earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale, subsequent aftershocks, and the threat of tsunamis, it’s amazing that this figure is not higher. This is a testament to Chile's disaster contingency planning.
  
  Chile now needs the international community’s support as it helps those dispossessed by the quake and reinstates vital services. Already the electricity is back on in 90% of the capital, Santiago.
  
  The UK government is helping - through the EU, which has pledged €3m and through DFID, which has so far pledged £250k to the Red Cross in Chile.
  
  And Consular staff are on the ground – including near the epicentre in Concepcion.  Over 470 British nationals in Chile have already been traced, and there are no confirmed reports of any British casualties.
  
  

• The Prophet’s Birthday – in Walthamstow

  Posted: 2010-02-28 19:32:30 UTC

  Today I was greatly honoured to be invited to a celebration in London of Eid al Milad-e-Nabi, the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. I am told it was the first time a British Foreign Secretary has addressed such an event.
  
  Around 20,000 Muslims from across the UK and Europe gathered together to celebrate their faith and the message of peace it embodies for them. Such scenes were replicated all over the world- the Mawlid is an official holiday in over 50 countries. The fact that such a large event was taking place on the streets of London speaks to the interconnectedness of of modern global society, and to the rich diversity of Britain in particular.
  
  During my speech I spoke about the values of Islam as reflected in the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Themes such as compassion, charity and understanding are relevant to all of us, Muslim and non-Muslim alike.

• Civilian Surge

  Posted: 2010-02-26 16:53:42 UTC

  I’ve blogged and spoken before about how new technologies are empowering citizens around the world to put pressure on their governments, from demonstrators in Iran to blogging Burmese monks – what I call the ‘civilian surge’. But these technologies are also powerful tools for lifting people out of poverty.
  
  A recent quiz on Foreign Policy’s blog  revealed that 75% of the world’s mobile phone subscriptions were held in developing countries at the start of 2009, compared to just 25% in 2000 – an impressive statistic, particularly when an additional 10 cell phones per 100 people in a developing country raises per capita GDP 0.8 percentage points.
  
  This Economist article  highlights how new technologies empower the poorest: text services telling farmers the market price of the commodity they are selling on any given day ensure they can ask a fair price, even across remote areas, while GPS devices in the Democratic Republic of Congo have enabled Mbdendjele Pygmy communities to work with international logging companies to protect their forests 

• Jerusalem tinderbox

  Posted: 2010-02-26 11:34:53 UTC

  For obvious reasons of history, Jerusalem has extra potential as a flashpoint. The removal of Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem, and the demolition of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem, is dangerous and wrong. This article shows the dangers. 
  

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