Queen says UK to continue Ukraine, Syria peace efforts

LONDON (AA) – British government will continue to work to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and support international peace efforts in Syria, Queen Elizabeth II said Wednesday.

In remarks made in her keynote speech at the House of Lords on Wednesday during the State Opening of Parliament, which marks the formal start of the parliamentary year in the U.K, Queen Elizabeth made references to around 21 bills the British government was working on.

“My government will continue to work to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. It will play a leading role in campaign against Daesh and to support international efforts to bring peace to Syria,” she said, according to her televised speech.

The queen said the U.K.’s foreign policy priorities include spending two percent of the country’s national income on defense.

She also said the government would introduce legislation to prevent radicalization and to tackle the threats of extremism.

About the economy, she said: “My government will use the opportunity of a strengthening economy to deliver security for working people, to increase life chances for the most disadvantaged and to strengthen national defenses.”

British Prime Minister David Cameron and Leader of Opposition from the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn stood next to each other when the queen spoke at the House of Lords.

The monarch, who last year became the longest-reigning sovereign in British history, said the British government would continue to play a leading role in world affairs.

The queen’s opening speech is the only occasion when the three parts of the parliament, the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons, come together.