Foreign Affairs
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New funding of $9.6 million in Budget 2017 will see New Zealand’s presence in Antarctica continue while cementing the Government’s commitment to the continent, Foreign Affairs Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

$2.1 million operating funding over the next two years and $4 million capital will be allocated to the future redevelopment of Scott Base.

Gerry Brownlee Foreign Affairs Budget 2017
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Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee has condemned yesterday’s test launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea.   

“UN Security Council resolutions prohibit North Korean ballistic missiles. North Korea’s disregard for its obligations under these resolutions continues to be of deep concern,” Mr Brownlee says.

“New Zealand strongly urges North Korea to start taking responsibility and contribute to the stability to the region.

Gerry Brownlee Foreign Affairs
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Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett and Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee have today announced that New Zealand will provide $1.3 million to support Fiji’s presidency of the United Nations Climate Change Conference later this year.

“At last year’s conference in Marrakech, Fiji was selected to take up the role of president of this significant event,” Mrs Bennett says.

“This is a major undertaking for any country and these important talks will bring together climate experts officials and leaders from around the world.

Gerry Brownlee Paula Bennett Foreign Affairs Climate Change Issues
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Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee has welcomed the signing of a letter of commitment between New Zealand and Turkey which will see $1.3 million provided for a new school for Syrian refugee children.
 
“Since the start of the Syrian conflict over six years ago, Turkey has taken in more than 2.75 million Syrian refugees,” Mr Brownlee says.
 

Gerry Brownlee Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee says attending Dubai 2020 will provide significant economic and entrepreneurial benefits that Kiwi businesses should take advantage of.

Mr Brownlee has today released the Cabinet paper and Indicative Business Case (IBC) supporting New Zealand’s attendance at the World Expo, being held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2020.

Gerry Brownlee Foreign Affairs
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New Zealand will provide a further $5 million in relief assistance to pressing humanitarian crises across Africa and the Middle East, Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced.

“An estimated 45 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across South Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria and Yemen, of which 20 million face starvation and famine,” Mr Brownlee says.

“Conflict and insecurity have exacerbated drought conditions, causing widespread humanitarian need.

Gerry Brownlee Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Affairs Minister Gerry Brownlee will today travel to Tonga to meet His Majesty King Tupou VI, Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva and cabinet ministers.

The visit will be the first by a New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister to Tonga since early 2015 and will provide an opportunity for Mr Brownlee to build on the strong bilateral relationship between New Zealand and Tonga.

Gerry Brownlee Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Affairs Minister Gerry Brownlee has today named Bradley Sawden as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Iraq.

New Zealand established an Embassy in Baghdad in 2015 to support New Zealand and Australia’s joint ‘Building Partner Capacity’ mission.

“This mission has trained over 20,000 Iraqi police and army personnel who are on the frontlines of the fight against Daesh,” Mr Brownlee says.

Gerry Brownlee Foreign Affairs
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In his first overseas engagement as Foreign Affairs Minister, Gerry Brownlee will today travel to Australia.

Mr Brownlee will meet his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop in Sydney tomorrow.

“Given the close intersect of trans-Tasman values and interests both globally and regionally, I am deliberately meeting my Australian counterpart as early as possible in my tenure as Foreign Affairs Minister,” Mr Brownlee says.

“It speaks to the value New Zealand places on its relationship with our most important bilateral partner.”

Gerry Brownlee Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully has appointed diplomat Jane Coombs as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to France.

“New Zealand’s relationship with France is one of our most long-standing and vibrant, and it remains an important partner within the European Union,” Mr McCully says.

“Since 2014, we have been jointly commemorating both the 100th anniversary of the First World War and the death of thousands of New Zealand soldiers on French soil.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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New Zealand and Viet Nam have launched a $5.4 million initiative to reduce dam related flooding in Viet Nam.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully joined Mr Ha Cong Tuan, Viet Nam’s Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, in Ha Noi today to launch the New Zealand-funded five-year project, which will focus on dam safety for the 1000km-long Ca River in Viet Nam.

“New Zealand is sharing its expertise in water engineering and natural hazard management to help Viet Nam address its development challenges,” Mr McCully says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to Ha Noi today to meet Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and President Tran Dai Quang.

“New Zealand’s relationship with Viet Nam has grown markedly in recent years. Bilateral trade, political engagement and people-to-people connections are all strengthening,” Mr McCully says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to Hawaii today to meet with senior figures in the United States Pacific Command. Mr McCully will also meet with members of Hawaii’s political leadership, senior academics and opinion makers.

“The US Pacific Command is responsible for US military operations in over half the world’s surface,” Mr McCully says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully has today announced that New Zealand has updated its travel advice for Turkey. 

“The advice for New Zealand citizens reflects information received that suggests terrorists may seek to target Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula,” Mr McCully says.

While travel advice for Turkey and the Gallipoli Peninsula has changed, the level of risk remains the same. 

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully has condemned the bombing in the northwest of Syria where dozens of people have been killed in a chemical weapons attack. 

“I was appalled to learn of another attack in an area where chemical weapons have previously been used,” Mr McCully says.

“Our thoughts and sympathies are with the victims of this barbaric attack, which is especially horrific for the number of children killed and injured.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully welcomes the Angolan Minister of External Relations Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, who he will meet in Wellington today.

“This visit presents an opportunity to deepen this relationship, including through discussing ways to increase trade flows. Angola had one of the fastest-growing economies of the past decade, and appointed its first ever Ambassador to New Zealand, resident in Singapore, last year,” Mr McCully says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
Speech

Thank you for the opportunity to make this address this evening.

In one month from now I will have tendered my resignation as New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, having served in this capacity for nearly eight-and-a-half years.

At the outset, I want to acknowledge - and I have said this many times to my staff and to the Ministry - that the real foreign minister is always the Prime Minister.

An effective Prime Minister / Foreign Minister team need to present a seamless face to both the outside world, and to the New Zealand public.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully has today welcomed Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil to New Zealand.

Lebanon is an important partner for New Zealand in the Middle East. During our term on the UN Security Council, we engaged closely with Lebanon on regional issues, including the war in Syria.

Since 1954, New Zealand has contributed to the UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) which helps maintain peace in the region. The current commander of UNTSO is a New Zealander.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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New Zealand and Singapore are to pursue an Enhanced Partnership that will significantly boost collaboration between the two countries, their Foreign Ministers, Hon Murray McCully, and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, announced today

The two Ministers, who met in Wellington today, said the Enhanced Partnership would deepen cooperation in the areas of trade and economics, security and defence, people-to-people links and research, technology and innovation, and in ways that would set an example of integration in the Asia-Pacific region.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully today welcomes his Singaporean counterpart Dr Vivian Balakrishnan to Wellington on his first visit to New Zealand as Foreign Minister.

“New Zealand and Singapore share a warm friendship that includes extensive trade and economic links, long-standing defence ties and regional cooperation,” Mr McCully says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced that New Zealand will provide $3 million to support emergency famine relief and prevention efforts in Africa and Yemen. 

“More than 20 million people are currently facing famine conditions or severe food shortages across the Greater Horn of Africa, Nigeria and Yemen,” Mr McCully says.

“Droughts in some of these areas have been compounded by conflict and insecurity, giving rise to a very serious humanitarian situation. 

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully has today signed two arrangements with China aimed at strengthening cooperation in the areas of fisheries and international development, particularly in the Pacific region.

The arrangements were signed in Wellington as part of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to New Zealand. 

“These arrangements will strengthen and expand our cooperation even further,” Mr McCully says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced that New Zealand will open an embassy in Dublin, Ireland.

“New Zealand and Ireland enjoy a very warm relationship which is underpinned by our shared values,” Mr McCully says.

“We work closely together on issues such as climate change, disarmament, and human rights, and are also both members of the Small Advanced Economies Initiative.

“Having an embassy in Dublin will enable us to build on and strengthen this relationship.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs
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Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced that New Zealand will open a High Commission in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

"Establishing a High Commission in Colombo is a sign of New Zealand’s commitment to strengthening the relationship between our countries," Mr McCully says.

Murray McCully Foreign Affairs