David Miliband

Iraq Defence Agreement

Iraq will always be divisive in British politics but I hope the announcement today of a new defence agreement will be widely welcomed. UK troops are leaving but we will maintain support for the Iraqi military .  Today our Baghdad embassy representative signed an agreement with the Iraqi Defence Minister on future defence cooperation with Iraq. Once the agreement is ratified by both countries - hopefully later this month - the UK will provide training for the Iraqi navy around the port of Umm Qasr, as well as helping the Iraqis to protect the nearby oil platforms. We will also increase our defence section at the embassy in Baghdad, and provide training in the UK for Iraqi officers.

Engagement at economic level is growing. So is cultural and educational engagement. Now the military relationship can be put on a stable basis.

Posted at 20:57 06 June 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[4]

Obama's Cairo speech

There has been a lot of comment on President Obama's outstanding Cairo speech.  But one of the most interesting aspects was the contrast between what he had to say and the speeches this week of Iran's Supreme Leader and President. Obama talked about looking to the future rather than living in the past, and making sure that the West and Islam recognise their shared common principles. 

By contrast, Khamenei used his speech to refer to Israel as a 'cancerous tumour', and Ahmadinejad called the Holocaust a 'deception'.  

The US, not just a superpower but a vibrant and diverse democracy, is now led by one of the most eloquent and thoughtful leaders this young century has produced. The US people can be proud, and optimistic.  Iran, which ought to be playing a full role in the community of nations, has leaders who keep it in isolation by endlessly wallowing in hatred. Its people deserve better.

Posted at 15:33 05 June 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[8]

Latest START talks finish

Today the latest round of talks on a successor to START finish in Geneva. Last week former US Ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, argued in the New York Times that START negotiations with Russia are no more than "a fast way" for the US to "lose the arms race"

This zero-sum Cold War mentality, that sees US cooperation as a win for Russia, misses the point - cooperation brings gains for both the US and Russia, and it allows them to draw closer together on meeting the real, shared threats they face.

Today's major threats to the US and its allies come not from Russia but from states like North Korea and Iran, and from asymmetric warfare carried out by groups like AQ. Our resources and energy should go into combating these far greater threats. START is right for the new, more joined-up world.

Posted at 18:08 03 June 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[1]

US/Pakistan - a reply to Alex Evans

Last week Global Dashboard's Alex Evans asked me in a comment on this blog what I thought of Australian analyst David Kilcullen's argument on US use of drone attacks in Pakistan - see this post: 

I don't recognise the statistics but the overall point is important. From our point of view this is first and foremost an issue that calls for US-Pakistan cooperation.  The threat to US and Pakistani (and UK) interests is real, the danger and damage of civilian casualties serious, and the range of options limited. 

US technology is vitally important, but Pakistan is fighting its own struggle against violent extremism.  The drone attacks have undoubtedly hurt the core of AQ, but I see the dangers.  The first best solution is obviously to build up Pakistan's capacity, but first best solutions are not always immediately available.

Posted at 17:52 02 June 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[0]

Morocco: cultural meeting point

Today I discussed the Middle East and the challenge of greater understanding between Europe and its Muslim neighbours with the Moroccan Foreign Minister Mr Taieb Fassi Fihri.  In preparation, I was told about the University of Al-Karaouine in Fez. 

Set up in 859 AD, it is one of the leading spiritual centres of the Muslim world.   In the Middle Ages Al-Karaouine University played a leading role in cultural and academic relations between the Islamic world and Europe.  It continues to be a meeting point of diversity today, actively celebrating and encompassing different cultures.  In January this year a group of British Muslim leaders, supported by the Embassy in Rabat, visited the University to further understanding of Islam in the UK, break down some of the misconceptions about life as a British Muslim and learn about Morocco' s spiritualist and open interpretation of Islam.

As I said in my speech in Oxford last week, in order to widen the relationship between the west and the Muslim world that has been narrowed by terrorism we need to rebuild relations and forge broader coalitions.  Morocco's approach to cultural and religious diversity provides an opening to share ideas and efforts based on mutual respect and understanding

Posted at 17:29 02 June 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[1]

Tian'anmen

4th June will mark the twentieth anniversary of the tragic events that took place in Tiananmen Square and across China in 1989. Many of us will remember clearly the images of that time as we mark the anniversary. And some of those detained then remain in prison now.
 
Promoting respect for human rights is a key part of our foreign policy. China has made big improvements in economic and social rights since 1989. But progress on civil and political rights has been far slower. Respect for human rights helps create stability and growth. And China's stability and growth is in our own interests.

So promoting human rights remains a key part of our policy towards China - this year and every year.

Posted at 12:25 02 June 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[6]

Cutting off fissile material

After 12 years in which the Conference on Disarmament has been paralysed over the fissile material cut - off treaty there was a breakthrough last week. The treaty would ban the production of nuclear material for nuclear weapons. Now the negotiations start in earnest. The prominence of North Korea's nuclear and missile tests shows the urgency.

Together with the nuclear test ban treaty - the CTBT - a fissile material cut - off treaty would be one of the key steps on the path to our long term goal of a nuclear weapons free world. Our Ambassador for Multilateral Arms Control & Disarmament in Geneva, John Duncan, blogged  and updated his Twitter site on this recently. 

Posted at 18:16 01 June 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[3]

64 for Suu

Aung San Suu Kyi will be 64 on 19 June. Later this week we expect the verdict in her current "trial". The trial for the people of Burma is long and deep - a tunnel of darkness.  Around the world people are recording messages: mine was 64 words long (as long as you count 2000 as one word) and is here: www.64forsuu.org

Posted at 16:14 01 June 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[0]