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Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced that the Government intends to open a new Embassy in Bogota, Colombia.

“Colombia is an increasingly important partner for New Zealand, as it is strategically at the top of South America and has one of the strongest performing economies in the region,” Mr McCully says.

“With a population of over 46 million and solid growth there are numerous opportunities for New Zealand businesses in Colombia, particularly in areas such as education and investment.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the upcoming official visit to New Zealand this weekend by Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se.

“Minister Yun’s visit is an important opportunity to strengthen New Zealand’s relationship with South Korea, one of our most valuable partners in the Asian region,” Mr McCully says.

“Korea is New Zealand’s sixth-largest trade partner with total two-way goods trade of $4 billion in 2014.  It is also a significant source of tourists and international students.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced a further $4.5 million to help refugees displaced by fighting in Syria, bringing New Zealand’s total humanitarian contribution to the refugee crisis to $20 million.

“To date New Zealand has provided $15.5 million to support people affected by on-going violence in Syria and Iraq,” Mr McCully says.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee and Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced that this year’s Tropic twilight Exercise will be conducted in the northern Cook Islands atolls of Penrhyn and Manihiki.

“Tropic Twilight is a regular joint exercise in the Pacific involving the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), and other countries with an interest in the region,” Mr Brownlee says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced diplomat Raylene Liufalani as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Argentina.

“Argentina is an important partner for New Zealand in Latin America, and the resumption of direct flights to Buenos Aires later this year will serve to further strengthen ties between our two countries,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has announced that New Zealand will commit $14.5 million over five years to help develop Timor-Leste’s coffee and cocoa industry.

“Coffee is Timor-Leste’s largest export after oil and gas, but productivity issues mean the sector performs significantly below its potential,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the announcement that the Auditor-General will look at the Saudi Food Security Partnership and Agrihub project.

“We have said from the outset that the Auditor-General is entitled to scrutinise any spending of public money, whenever she chooses, and we welcome her decision to carry out an inquiry into the Saudi Food Security Partnership," Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has expressed condolences to the victims and families affected by the explosion at Erawan Shrine in Central Bangkok last night (midnight Monday NZT). 

“There are reports that at least 19 people have been killed and many more injured in what appears to be a deliberate attack on an area frequented by tourists," Mr McCully says.

“Our thoughts are with the people of Thailand as they come to terms with the senseless loss of innocent life, the victims, and the families of those injured or killed in the blast.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully travels to Cambodia and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic this week for a range of meetings to mark the 40th anniversary of New Zealand’s formal partnership with ASEAN.

“New Zealand is developing an increasingly diverse relationship with the Mekong region, including Cambodia and Lao PDR,” Mr McCully says

Foreign Minister Murray McCully today announced that New Zealand has sent a team of 15 earthquake engineers to Nepal to assist with the rebuild following the massive quakes which hit the country earlier this year.

“The specialist engineers departed for Nepal this week and will remain there until November,” Mr McCully says

“They will provide Nepal’s Government with technical support in seismic assessment, design of repair and retro-fit solutions, barricading, shoring, temporary works, deconstruction and demolition.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced that New Zealand will provide an initial $500,000 to support the response to serious flooding in Myanmar.

“Flash floods and landslides in Myanmar have affected more than 500,000 people across the country and there are reports of close to 100 fatalities,” Mr McCully says.

“Our thoughts are with the people and Government of Myanmar as they come to terms with this disaster and our funding will support the immediate humanitarian response to the flooding.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands next week leading a delegation of New Zealand officials and business people.

“Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands are important regional partners and fellow members of the Pacific Islands Forum,” Mr McCully says

Foreign Minister Murray McCully travels to Kuala Lumpur this week to attend the ASEAN-NZ Ministerial Meeting, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the 22nd ASEAN Regional Forum.

“This year we are celebrating the 40^th anniversary of New Zealand’s formal partnership with ASEAN,” Mr McCully says. 

“ASEAN is vitally important to New Zealand.  If ASEAN were a single country, it would be the third most populous in the world, the fourth biggest exporter and the seventh largest in terms of GDP.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says New Zealand is deeply concerned at the announcement by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the immediate construction of 300 housing units in the settlement of Beit El and the additional approval of around 500 new housing units in East Jerusalem.

“Israel’s settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem damage efforts to negotiate a solution to a conflict which has been at the core of Middle East tensions for decades,” Mr McCully says.

Open Debate: Peace and security challenges facing Small Island Developing States, delivered by Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs, July 30, 2015 (New York time).

I thank our distinguished briefers for their informative contributions and the heads of government and Ministers who have come to New York to participate in this debate.

Of 44 small island developing states, only 6 have served on the Security Council.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says the failure of the Security Council to adopt a resolution seeking to establish an international tribunal to provide accountability for the downing of flight MH17 is deeply disappointing.

“New Zealanders were among the 298 people lost over Ukraine in July 2014 on flight MH17 and we strongly support accountability for this tragedy,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says the Security Council’s renewal today of the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus comes at an important time for the island.

“There are strong signs of progress in Cyprus towards resolution of this 50-year-old dispute and this is testament to the leadership being shown by both parties,” Mr McCully says.

“The resumption of talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, facilitated by the United Nations, on reunification of the island is a very promising step on the road to lasting agreement.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully met with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Washington today to discuss issues related to New Zealand’s presidency of the United Nations Security Council and the US/NZ relationship.

“New Zealand and the United States work together closely at the United Nations and we cooperate on a range of international peace and security issues,” Mr McCully says.

Statement delivered by Foreign Minister Murray McCully, United Nations Security Council Open Debate on the Middle East, Thursday 23 July 2015 (New York Time)

Right across the Middle East, grave issues continue to demand this Council’s attention.

The humanitarian situation in Yemen continues to deteriorate. The civil war in Syria rages on. In Iraq, sectarian divides provide space for groups like ISIL to prosper. A basis for lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians remains elusive.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully chaired a meeting of the United Nations Security Council today that endorsed last week’s historic nuclear deal between Iran, the Five Permanent (P5) members of the United Nations Security Council, and Germany.

“The Council adopted a resolution that makes the agreement legally binding and sets out steps towards its implementation,” Mr McCully says.

“New Zealand hopes this agreement can form the basis for building trust and opening a new chapter of cooperation in the Middle East.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says the thoughts of all New Zealanders are with the victims of the MH17 tragedy and their families on the first anniversary of the flight going down.

“New Zealand joins with other countries in remembering those aboard MH17 today,” Mr McCully says.

“The downing of the Malaysia Airlines flight in the eastern Ukraine cost 298 lives, including one New Zealand citizen and one New Zealand resident.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully travels to New York this weekend to support New Zealand’s Presidency of the United Nations Security Council.

“As the current President of the Security Council, New Zealand chairs all Council meetings and has a central role convening the Council’s work on major international security issues,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has welcomed news that agreement has been reached on a nuclear deal between Iran, the Five Permanent (P5) members of the United Nations Security Council, and Germany.

“Over the last eighteen months negotiators have been working to secure an agreement that will increase international confidence in the nature of Iran’s nuclear programme,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully met with President Waqa of Nauru in Sydney yesterday and today to express New Zealand’s concerns over reported violations of civil and political rights.

“My meetings with President Waqa provided an opportunity to raise New Zealand’s concerns about the suspension of opposition Members of Parliament, and the alleged removal of civil and political rights. I also raised directly the cancellation of Roland Kun’s passport, given his close connection to New Zealand,” Mr McCully says.