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Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says the Russian Ambassador was called in to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade this afternoon over the escalation of tensions in Ukraine.

“On my instructions the Russian Ambassador has been called in to the Ministry to hear directly New Zealand’s views on the situation in the Ukraine,” Mr McCully says.

“New Zealand is deeply alarmed at the escalation of tensions in Ukraine over recent days and we condemn the breach of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says developments in Ukraine are “deeply worrying”.

“We call on all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from any action that could escalate tensions,” Mr McCully says.

“The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine must be respected and maintained.

“The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) met today to discuss this issue. It remains a matter of active consideration and the New Zealand Government is watching closely.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced New Zealand will open a Consulate General in Honolulu to strengthen ties with northern Pacific nations.

New Zealand’s Consul General in Honolulu will be cross-accredited to Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands.
“With the Pacific Islands Forum in the Marshall Islands last year and Palau this year, the region’s attention is focused on the northern Pacific and the unique issues these island nations face,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today welcomed the launch of the United Nations International Year of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

The International Year of SIDS, launched at the UN General Assembly in New York this morning, aims to focus international attention on the challenges and opportunities faced by small island developing states.

“Many of our closest neighbours in the Pacific are small island developing states and New Zealand has a good understanding of the challenges they face,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully and Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy today announced New Zealand has ratified an international fisheries agreement designed to fight illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations Port State Measures Agreement sets minimum standards for port access by foreign flagged fishing vessels and related support vessels.

“Widespread implementation of the agreement will make it more difficult and less economic to undertake IUU fishing,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today welcomed a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution to address the dire humanitarian situation in Syria.

“The New Zealand Government welcomes today's resolution by the Security Council and commends the leadership of Australia, Luxembourg and Jordan on this issue,“ Mr McCully says.

“New Zealand has been calling for UNSC action on Syria for nearly two years.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will travel to the Cook Islands today for the third New Zealand-Cook Islands Joint Ministerial Forum.

“These annual ministerial talks reflect the value we place on our unique constitutional relationship of shared citizenry and currency,” Mr McCully says.

“The discussions will cover a range of topics including economic reform, regional and international issues and New Zealand’s substantial development programme.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will host his Canadian counterpart, Foreign Minister John Baird, in Wellington today.

“Canada is one of our oldest and most established friends and partners. We have worked closely together on a wide range of issues for many years,” Mr McCully says.

“This visit comes as Canada looks to further strengthen its diplomatic connections with the Asia Pacific region, making it an excellent opportunity to discuss expanding our bilateral and regional cooperation.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today named diplomat Eamonn O’Shaughnessy as New Zealand’s Ambassador to Iran.

“New Zealand has a longstanding trade relationship with Iran, with over $173 million in exports last year,” Mr McCully says.

“Mr O’Shaughnessy will be responsible for further developing New Zealand’s engagement with the new government of President Rohani.

The Forum Ministerial Contact Group (MCG) concluded its two day visit to Fiji today, consistent with the mandate of Pacific Islands Forum Leaders to continue to dialogue and engage with Fiji. The MCG comprises Ministers from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will travel to Fiji today to chair a meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum Ministerial Contact Group (MCG).

“The MCG is the Pacific’s primary vehicle for engaging with Fiji on elections progress,” Mr McCully says.

The MCG will meet a range of government and non-government representatives to get a broad picture of recent developments in Fiji.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says the Japanese Ambassador was called in to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) today after a vessel from a Japanese whaling fleet entered New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

“On my instructions, the Japanese Ambassador this afternoon meet with a senior MFAT official who conveyed New Zealand’s deep disappointment at the vessel’s entry into our EEZ,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has described the entry into New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by a member of the Japanese whaling fleet as “unhelpful, disrespectful and short-sighted".



Mr McCully says he has been advised the Japanese vessel Shonan Maru 2 followed the Sea Shepherd's Steve Irwin into the New Zealand EEZ and travelled for some distance inside the zone, but stayed well clear of New Zealand territorial waters.
 

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will visit New York this week to host a Waitangi Day reception at New Zealand’s Permanent Mission and for a presentation of the African Union Handbook.

While in New York Mr McCully will hold meetings with a range of Permanent Representatives at the UN Headquarters.

“Securing a seat on the Security Council for 2015-16 is the government’s top foreign policy priority,” Mr McCully says.

Young New Zealanders will from next month be able to spend a year working, studying and holidaying in the Philippines, Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully announced today.

A new working holiday scheme will allow 100 New Zealanders to holiday and work in the Philippines and 100 Filipinos to do the same in New Zealand each year.

Mr McCully says the scheme, open to people aged 18-30, is an excellent opportunity for young New Zealanders to experience another culture.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will visit Tonga for two days this week.

Mr McCully will hold bilateral discussions with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Lord Tu’ivakano, as well as other cabinet ministers.

“This is a timely visit in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Ian. New Zealand is committed to supporting the Tongan Government as the recovery and reconstruction effort continues,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully and his Ethiopian counterpart, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, have signed an arrangement to improve agricultural cooperation and food security.

The Food Security Cooperation Arrangement was signed following a meeting of the African Union Executive Council in Addis Ababa yesterday.

The arrangement will provide a government-to-government framework to encourage commercial partnerships between New Zealand and Ethiopian agricultural interests.

The African Union (AU) Commission and the New Zealand Government have collaborated to produce a comprehensive guide to the African Union system.

The first edition of African Union Handbook 2014 was launched in the margins of the African Union Executive Council at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa on Monday by Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully and AU Commissioner for Human Resources Science and Technology Dr Martial De-Paul Ikounga.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced an additional $370,000 for cyclone recovery efforts in Tonga, including the provision of six technicians to help repair the electricity network.

New Zealand will provide a frontend loader and tractors to clear debris-covered land on the islands of Ha’apai, hand tools for the less assessable islands, and assist with the rebuild of the Tongan Government nursery.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced New Zealand is providing a further $1.4 million to help Tonga recover from Tropical Cyclone Ian.

“Following a request from the Tongan Government, New Zealand will provide equipment and materials to help restore the electricity network on the affected islands of Ha’apai. We have also made an offer to provide New Zealand-based technicians, if needed,” Mr McCully says.

New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today signed a partnership agreement that will see the two governments cooperate on renewable energy projects, primarily in the Pacific, Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says.

The partnership has grown from UAE participation in the Pacific Energy Summit, held in Auckland last year.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will depart today on a 10 day trip to the Middle East, South Asia and Africa.

Mr McCully will meet ministers in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan before travelling to Ethiopia for the African Union Summit.

“New Zealand has a strong trade relationship with the Middle East. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is our seventh largest export market, with exports of $1.53 billion in the year to 2012. Our exports to the region continue to grow at over 10 per cent per year,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced New Zealand is providing further assistance to Tonga in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Ian.

“Following a request from the Tonga Government, New Zealand will supply 300 emergency shelter kits, which can provide interim shelter to over 2000 people, and assist the New Zealand and Tongan Red Cross with the provision of clean water on the islands of Ha’apai,” Mr McCully says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully today announced New Zealand will provide a further $5 million to help those displaced by the conflict in Syria.

An estimated 2.3 million refugees have now fled the conflict in Syria and a further 6.5 million are displaced within the country. The number of refugees is expected to grow to 4.1 million by the end of 2014, including 2 million children.