- Foreign Secretary's visit to Syria marks first by a UK
Minister in 14 years and renews the UK and Syria's diplomatic
relationship.
- Commitment to support Syria as the new Government seeks to
rebuild Syria's economy, deliver an inclusive political
transition and forge a path to justice for the victims of the
Assad regime.
- New UK funding to assist with removal of Assad era chemical
weapons and provide urgent humanitarian assistance in Syria, to
bolster UK and Middle East security, tackle irregular migration,
and deliver on the Government's Plan for Change.
Eight months on from the collapse of the Assad regime, the UK has
officially re-established diplomatic relations with the Syrian
Government following the Foreign Secretary's visit to Damascus
today.
As the first UK Minister to visit in 14 years, the Foreign
Secretary emphasised that the UK will support the Syrian
Government to deliver its commitments to build a more secure and
prosperous future for Syrians, increasing security in the wider
region and the UK.
The Foreign Secretary met President Al-Sharaa and Foreign
Minister al-Shaibani to reiterate the importance of an inclusive
and representative political transition in Syria and offer
continued UK support to the Syrian people.
A stable Syria is in the UK's interests. We want to ensure that
Daesh's territorial defeat endures, and they can never resurge,
and we want to prevent vulnerable Syrians from being exploited by
people smuggling gangs across Europe. Building closer diplomatic
partnerships with Syria is critical to safeguard UK security, in
line with the Government's Plan for Change.
Foreign Secretary, said:
As the first UK Minister to visit Syria since the fall of Assad's
brutal regime, I've seen first-hand the remarkable progress
Syrians have made in rebuilding their lives and their country.
After over a decade of conflict, there is renewed hope for the
Syrian people. The UK is re-establishing diplomatic relations
because it is in our interests to support the new government to
deliver their commitment to build a stable, more secure and
prosperous future for all Syrians.
A stable Syria is in the UK's interests, reducing the risk of
irregular migration, ensuring the destruction of chemical
weapons, tackling the threat of terrorism and delivering the
Government's Plan for Change.
During his visit to Syria, the Foreign Secretary met Syrian
Civil Defence volunteers (White Helmets) to learn more about the
vital work they carry out across the country, including with the
safe removal of unexploded ordnance and emergency lifesaving
medical work.
The fall of Assad presents an opportunity for the new Syrian
government to fully declare and destroy Assad's evil chemical
weapons programme. As part of the visit, the UK has committed an
additional £2 million this financial year to the Organisation for
the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to support their vital
work addressing the horrific legacy of Assad's chemical weapons
in Syria. The UK contribution will support the OPCW's operational
requirements in Syria as they help the Syrian Government fulfil
their commitments to eliminate Assad's chemical weapons once and
for all.
Demonstrating the UK's continued commitment to sustainable
development and Syria's recovery from conflict, the Foreign
Secretary met women-led businesses in Syria, which have been
supported by the UK's livelihoods and economic recovery
programme.
UK support is set to continue, with the additional £94.5 million
package announced today, which will provide urgent humanitarian
aid to Syrians, support Syria's longer-term recovery through
education and livelihoods, and support countries hosting Syrian
refugees in the region.
The Foreign Secretary will travel on to Kuwait where
strengthening regional security and boosting bilateral relations
will be top of the agenda in meetings with His Highness the Crown
Prince, His Highness the Prime Minister and His Excellency the
Foreign Minister. The Foreign Secretary will advocate for UK
businesses to have access to new opportunities to support Kuwaiti
growing markets– further advancing business engagement between UK
and Kuwait and the wider region.
The Foreign Secretary will also announce a new partnership with
Kuwait to tackle the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. New funding
will help provide nutrition support and restore clean drinking
water supplies, as Sudan faces both famine and a devastating
cholera outbreak. Support will also be made available to fund
lifesaving work in Somalia where conflict and the climate crisis
are driving pressing humanitarian needs.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- The UK has provided £4.5bn of assistance to Syria and
countries in the region since 2011.
- Over the past two years the UK has provided more than £5m to
the White Helmets in support of their lifesaving emergency
medical, firefighting and search rescue services. This includes
£2.25m this financial year to continue this work and ensure a
smooth transition of their activities to the Government.
- The UK has already provided £837,300 to the OPCW Syria
Missions since the fall of Assad to support their immediate work
in ensuring the safe and rapid destruction of Syria's chemical
weapons.
