Speaking to Sky News in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan today,
, Leader of the , outlined how Britain can and
a Labour government would chart a proactive, independent course
to help achieve peace in Syria.
Corbyn argued that the UK must act to help end the conflict in
Syria, not just for the sake of the long suffering people of
Syria and the neighbouring countries, including Jordan, hosting
such large refugee populations, but also to keep us safe at home.
As Corbyn has repeatedly warned, continuing conflicts in the
wider Middle East, involving interventions by Western and other
powers, are a threat to our own security, as well as key drivers
of the refugee crisis.
Corbyn commits to doing “everything necessary and effective to
keep our people safe”, which includes ending the “bomb first,
talk later” approach to international affairs, which has left a
trail of destruction abroad and left us less safe at home.
Working to end long standing conflicts, which create further
violence and conflict, is at the heart of Labour’s approach to
domestic security.
Corbyn sets out Labour’s two part plan to “chart an independent
course” to help end the Syrian conflict.
1. Seek to re-start the Geneva peace talks and broaden
them to include the Astana and Sochi processes - all under UN
auspices.
Under a Labour government, the UK will chart an independent, but
multilateral course, in international policy. In Syria, at least
a dozen countries are intervening militarily. Britain needs to
take a step back from US policy, which, under President Trump is
increasingly erratic and contradictory. Britain would use a more
independent stance to help bring to the negotiating table all the
major parties to the conflict, under an inclusive UN-led process,
combining the Geneva and Astana processes. The talks would seek
to engage all parties without preconditions.
told Sky News that if in
government, Labour would:
“Bring together the Geneva and Astana peace processes because at
the end of the day a peace process in Syria has to involve the
major powers of the United States and Russia as well as the
European Union and of course all the neighbouring countries in
the region from Iran to Saudi Arabia because that’s the only way
we’re going to be able to bring about a meaningful ceasefire.”
2. Build on and broaden the scope of de-escalation zones
under UN auspices as the process of a long term and inclusive
peace deal is advanced and secured. This includes:
- Renewed commitment to local ceasefire and de-escalation zones
under UN auspices as part of a renewed Geneva process
- The option of ground-based UN peacekeeping operations to
underpin inclusive agreements once they have been made;
- Expansion of de-escalation zones on an inclusive basis under UN
auspices, and creation of a fifth zone.
More than 2.5 million people are estimated to live across a total
of four de-escalation zones set up under a tripartite agreement
between Russia, Turkey and Iran - with the fourth established
with the participation of Russia, the United States and Jordan:
Zone 1: Idlib province, north-eastern areas of Latakia province,
western areas of Aleppo province and northern areas of Hama
province;
Zone 2: The Rastan and Talbiseh enclave in northern Homs
province;
Zone 3: Eastern Ghouta in the northern Damascus countryside;
Zone 4: South along the border with Jordan, including parts of
Deraa and Quneitra provinces.
described the development of
these zones to Sky News as “interesting moves”, which have had
“some good effect” and could “build confidence” between groups.
Britain should, and a Labour government would, have as a policy
objective to bring existing and new de-escalation zones
under UN auspices as part of a renewed and expanded UN
Geneva process.
Speaking after the visit today, MP, Leader of the , said:
“We need to do everything necessary and effective to keep our
people safe. That means ending the bomb first, talk later
approach to international affairs, which has left a trail of
destruction abroad and left us less safe at home.
“Politically we need to be doing a great deal more to try and
bring about a ceasefire and an end to the war in Syria. The abuse
of human rights, the destruction of lives, the destruction of
society, is appalling by any stretch of the imagination. And
refugees are now in all neighbouring countries and of course in
Turkey, and in Greece and across Europe.
“Working to end long standing conflicts, which create further
violence and conflict, is at the heart of Labour’s approach to
domestic security.”
Ends
Notes to editors
-
’s interview will be on Sky
News from 1900, 22 June 2018
