MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Unveiling the first all-Conservative legislative program in nearly two decades, Queen Elizabeth II said Wednesday that the new UK government will "maintain pressure" on Russia over Ukraine.
"My government will maintain pressure on Russia to respect territorial integrity of Ukraine," the Queen said, adding that the government will continue supporting the full implementation of the Minsk peace agreements.
The Conservative Party won a landslide victory in May 7 general election in the United Kingdom.
London has been supporting the continuation of sanctions against Moscow, and sending non-lethal equipment and military instructors to Kiev.
Russia has repeatedly denied the allegations of fueling the conflict between Kiev and independence supporter.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was one of the participants of February’s talks on Ukrainian reconciliation in Minsk, alongside with the French, German and Ukrainian leaders. The foursome managed to hammer out an agreement for the settlement of the crisis, stipulating a ceasefire, the withdrawal of heavy weaponry and constitutional changes for Ukraine.
UK to Renegotiate Relations With EU, Control Immigration
The new UK government will renegotiate the United Kingdom's relations with the European Union and introduce measures to control immigration, Queen Elizabeth II said presenting the new Conservative legislative agenda.
"My government will renegotiate the relationship between our country and the European Union," the Queen said, reiterating the government's previously announced goal to hold a referendum on EU membership by 2017.
Measures will also be introduced to control immigration, the Queen stated.
The issue was a hotly-discussed topic in the run-up to the May 7 general elections. The Conservative Party, who secured the absolute majority of the seats in the lower house of the the British parliament, vows to hold a referendum on the United Kingdom’s membership in the European Union by the end of 2017.
On May 21, reelected Prime Minister David Cameron unveiled the new immigration legislation, which will make it more difficult for undocumented immigrants to work, study or reside in the United Kingdom.
UK Government to Crack Down on Extremism, Help Destroy Terrorism in Middle East
The newly elected UK government will tackle extremism at home and help defeat terrorism in the Middle East, Queen Elizabeth II said.
"My ministers will remain at the forefront of the NATO alliance and of international efforts to degrade and ultimately defeat terrorism in the Middle East."
Measures will also be brought forward to promote social cohesion and protect people by tackling extremism, according to the Queen.
The Queen has opened Parliament every year of her reign except 1959 and 1963 (when she was pregnant) #StateOpening pic.twitter.com/SzvC5xFUgc
— BritishMonarchy (@BritishMonarchy) 27 мая 2015
In addition, the UK government will introduce new legislation to modernize the law on communications data and improve the law on policing and criminal justice.
In August 2014, the level of terror threat in Britain was raised from "substantial" to "severe," as more and more Britons were travelling to Iraq and Syria to join radical militant groups there.
View footage of The Queen travelling to Westminster for the first #QueensSpeech of her reign in 1952: http://t.co/dbUbrRTxY1
— BritishMonarchy (@BritishMonarchy) 27 мая 2015
In 2014, terrorism-related arrests in the United Kingdom increased by 40 percent as opposed to the figures of 2013.
In mid-May, British police said that more than 700 UK citizens are believed to have traveled to Syria and more than half of them have returned home, where now they may pose a significant threat.
