Recommendations & Conclusions
6 items
1
Recommendation
Tenth Report - Countries at crossroads:…
Accepted in Part
There is a genuine interest in Central Asian capitals in greater cooperation between the five countries. Such cooperation plays an important part in defending their independence from large and assertive neighbours such as China and Russia. It can help build on their shared history and cultural proximity to reduce the …
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There is a genuine interest in Central Asian capitals in greater cooperation between the five countries. Such cooperation plays an important part in defending their independence from large and assertive neighbours such as China and Russia. It can help build on their shared history and cultural proximity to reduce the risk of conflict, not least over dwindling shared resources. The UK is well placed to support this ambition, due to its good standing in Central Asian capitals, highly experienced diplomatic service and convening power at the UN. Consequently, we recommend that: a) a Central Asia 5+UK meeting is held in 2024, with the potential for follow-ups, to better understand how the UK can support regional cooperation. A single issue, such as renewable energy, should be identified for this meeting and result in concrete objectives for action. b) an offer is made by the FCDO of high-quality capacity building for the diplomatic corps of Central Asian countries through a Diplomatic Academy, enhancing the skills required for greater regional and international cooperation, as recommended for other Asian countries in our 2023 report on the Government’s tilt to the Indo- Pacific.
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees to support Central Asian cooperation and is exploring opportunities for a Ministerial CA5+UK meeting in 2024. However, they partially accept the diplomatic capacity building recommendation, offering informal support rather than a dedicated academy due to resource limitations.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
3
Recommendation
Tenth Report - Countries at crossroads:…
Accepted in Part
If the aspirations of Global Britain are to be realised the Government must live up to them across the breadth of its international relationships. We welcome the ambition of the FCDO’s Europe and Central Asia directorate and the intention to make the most of opportunities open to the UK. However, …
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If the aspirations of Global Britain are to be realised the Government must live up to them across the breadth of its international relationships. We welcome the ambition of the FCDO’s Europe and Central Asia directorate and the intention to make the most of opportunities open to the UK. However, while missions in Central Asian capitals continue to punch above their weight, achieving diplomatic successes, they have been let down by a lack of commitment from ministers. High- level ministerial engagement with Central Asian governments has been persistently inadequate and is interpreted by our partners as demonstrating a lack of seriousness from Government. We recommend more high-level engagement at Secretary of State and head of Government level over the coming three years with all five countries, including bilateral ministerial visits in both directions to each of them.
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Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, noting increased senior ministerial engagement, including recent visits. It commits to actively exploring further engagement opportunities in early 2024 and states the Foreign Secretary will consider appropriate future engagement, but does not fully commit to the scope of engagement recommended over …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
6
Recommendation
Tenth Report - Countries at crossroads:…
Accepted in Part
While there has been progress in developing laws and regulations to curb money laundering in the UK in recent years, enforcement has been inadequate, not least because of a lack of enforcement capacity. State agencies have been under-resourced in comparison with the wealthy individuals they are investigating. We reiterate the …
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While there has been progress in developing laws and regulations to curb money laundering in the UK in recent years, enforcement has been inadequate, not least because of a lack of enforcement capacity. State agencies have been under-resourced in comparison with the wealthy individuals they are investigating. We reiterate the recommendation in our 2022 report, ‘The cost of complacency: illicit finance and the war in Ukraine’, that the Government increase resources available to law enforcement authorities, including the National Crime Agency and the Serious Fraud Office, to ensure that they have the capacity to conduct effective actions against those engaged in illicit finance.
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Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, detailing a sustainable funding model including £400 million over three years for economic crime bodies, with £63m for Companies House reform. They are recruiting 475 investigators and establishing/expanding specific cells within the National Crime Agency.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
7
Recommendation
Tenth Report - Countries at crossroads:…
Accepted in Part
We recommend that the Government: a) Offers assistance to each of the Central Asian countries in building their domestic capacity to tackle corruption and money laundering as a contribution to their economic development. b) Encourages the National Crime Agency to send agents to liaise with Central Asian governments in developing …
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We recommend that the Government: a) Offers assistance to each of the Central Asian countries in building their domestic capacity to tackle corruption and money laundering as a contribution to their economic development. b) Encourages the National Crime Agency to send agents to liaise with Central Asian governments in developing cooperation on Unexplained Wealth Orders (UWO) and on bringing back stolen public assets from the UK. c) Ensures that Oversees Territory governments comply with the extended deadline of implementing public registers of beneficial ownership with full and free access to company data, not limited to single entries. There should be no further deadline extensions. d) Imposes Global Anti-Corruption sanctions designations on those whose origins of wealth can be tied to assets they have illegally seized and apply the Global Forum on Asset Recovery’s Principles for Disposition and Transfer of Confiscated Stolen Assets in Corruption Cases (the GFAR Principles). e) Ensures the Transatlantic Taskforce to tackle kleptocracy and Russian sanctions evasion, established in 2022, provides a special focus on sanctions evasion in Central Asia, by ensuring that the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation updates Parliament with a special report on the action taken.
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Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, stating they provide existing capacity building support via law enforcement cooperation and will continue to respond to new opportunities. They are considering future governance interventions and are already running pilots through the EGED programme, alongside supporting Kazakhstan's financial intelligence capabilities.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
20
Recommendation
Tenth Report - Countries at crossroads:…
Accepted in Part
The Government should proceed with caution when engaging with Central Asian governments on the issue of terrorism and military to military cooperation. The threat of terrorism is often used as an excuse for tightening the authoritarian grip of the state on its own people, opening the door for Chinese surveillance …
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The Government should proceed with caution when engaging with Central Asian governments on the issue of terrorism and military to military cooperation. The threat of terrorism is often used as an excuse for tightening the authoritarian grip of the state on its own people, opening the door for Chinese surveillance technology with the potential for misuse. Moreover, there is evidence that the threat of terrorism is used to encourage foreign investment in security infrastructure. We encourage the Government’s focus to be on the offer of training to Central Asian armed forces, initially in English language and in the ethical dimensions of conflicts, with the offer of training from the UK’s Islamic advisor to Central Asian militaries. (Paragraph 76) Countries at crossroads: UK engagement in Central Asia 59
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Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, highlighting existing English language training and UN Peacekeeping support. It commits to continuing courses on the Law of Armed Conflict and ethical dimensions, involving the UK Armed Forces Islamic Religious Advisor, while also balancing counter-terrorism cooperation against human rights risks.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
24
Conclusion
Tenth Report - Countries at crossroads:…
Accepted in Part
Engagement with Central Asian countries comes with significant potential for mutual benefit. Whether it be in terms of cultural exchange, migrant labour, investment in tech, creative industries, education or critical minerals, the countries of this region have hospitable cultures ready to embrace a closer relationship with the UK. Now is …
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Engagement with Central Asian countries comes with significant potential for mutual benefit. Whether it be in terms of cultural exchange, migrant labour, investment in tech, creative industries, education or critical minerals, the countries of this region have hospitable cultures ready to embrace a closer relationship with the UK. Now is the time to take this opportunity. We can see that the relevant directorate in the FCDO has the ambition for greater engagement but question the extent to which the Government as a whole is ready to enable it.
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Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, committing to greater engagement with Central Asia and acknowledging the value of senior ministerial engagement. They state ministerial engagement has increased and they are exploring further opportunities for early 2024 visits.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office