Asked by Baroness Cox To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is
their assessment of the current situation in Syria. The Minister of
State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon)
(Con) My Lords, we welcome the progress made in the fight
against Daesh, including the liberation of Raqqa. However, the
Syrian crisis is far from...Request free
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Asked by
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To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of
the current situation in Syria.
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The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon) (Con)
My Lords, we welcome the progress made in the fight against
Daesh, including the liberation of Raqqa. However, the
Syrian crisis is far from resolved. Violence continues and
the humanitarian situation is dire. Eastern Ghouta, which
is besieged by the regime, is a particularly tragic
example. A political transition is the only way to bring
sustainable peace to Syria, and we support the Geneva
process. All parties must work constructively towards a
political agreement.
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(CB)
My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply. Is he aware
that, during a recent visit to Syria, I and colleagues met
faith leaders, medical professionals, intelligentsia and
parliamentarians, including the political opposition? All
expressed deep anger at the UK Government’s massive
funding, of at least £200 million, of bodies allied to
jihadists. A recent BBC “Panorama” programme showed UK
taxpayers’ money given to police assisting atrocities such
as stoning victims. Can the Minister say when the UK will
stop funding Islamists? As the end of the war against ISIS
and other Islamist militias approaches, will the UK
Government help all the people of Syria with urgently
needed funding for reconstruction to enable people to
return to their homes?
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My Lords, on the second question raised by the noble
Baroness, the Government’s position has been clear: we will
aid the reconstruction of Syria once a peace process has
been resolved and the prevailing conditions are such that
there is stability in Syria. On the noble Baroness’s first
question, she referred to the “Panorama” report and the
£200 million. That relates to the CSSF, which the Foreign
Office administers. As she will know, there are various
parts of that funding; the component part that was reported
on in the “Panorama” programme related to funding of the
police force. The source of that funding, including who we
fund through, has been put on hold pending full
investigation. I am sure, however, that she would also
acknowledge that £45 million of that particular funding pot
supports the initiatives—and indeed the incredible
courage—of organisations such as the White Helmets.
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(Lab)
My Lords, sadly, it looks like the Geneva talks will
collapse, mainly because Assad’s brutal regime refuses to
talk to anyone who opposes his view. I appreciate the
Government’s commitment to the process but, in the light of
this, what is their plan B if Assad refuses to participate
at all in the Geneva talks?
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The noble Lord raises an important point about the current
regime. As he, and indeed many noble Lords, will know,
while the regime is being represented at the Geneva talks,
which the Government and other international partners
support, it is not engaging directly in the substantive
discussions with the Syrian opposition that are taking
place in Geneva. We remain absolutely focused on making
those talks work. In our bilateral discussions with other
key players, such as Iran and Russia, who have greater
influence over the Syrian regime, we are imploring them to
ensure that the Geneva talks get the kick-start that they
desperately require.
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(CB)
My Lords, are there not constructive steps that Her
Majesty’s Government could take now: first, to have some
level of diplomatic representation in Damascus, since we
have full representation in such places as Russia, Iran and
even North Korea; and, secondly, to start to eliminate
sanctions, beginning with those on education, culture and
sport? All the non-government Syrians whom we met on our
recent visit assured us that the sanctions do more harm to
the Syrian people and affect very little the Syrian regime.
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First of all, the Government have no plans to reopen an
embassy in Damascus until such time as we see a meaningful
transition away from the Assad regime—that position has
been made clear—and the position is in the hands of the
civilian population and the communities themselves. In
terms of the sanctions, I do not agree with the noble Lord.
As I am sure he is aware, the sanctions that have been
imposed include travel bans and asset freezes against 300
persons and other entities that are linked directly to the
Assad regime, and they remain in place.
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The
(LD)
My Lords, barring the unforeseeable, President Assad will
remain in place until 2021, or until the Syrian people
elect a successor. Three years is a long time, and mention
has twice been made of sanctions on Syria. I do not think
anyone expects sanctions to be lifted on the Syrian
military, for example, but the country is, as the Minister
recognised, suffering severely from food, clothing and
especially medical shortages. As the formal position is
that humanitarian aid is not embargoed, but in practice the
controls on the mechanisms for financial transfers are
considerable, and the acquisition of medical aid is
severely sanctioned, does the Minister see scope for a
review of humanitarian aid in Syria based on a more
calibrated policy of exemptions or licences for the
purchasers and purveyors of humanitarian aid?
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I assure the noble Earl that, as others in your Lordships’
House know, the Government have taken a very firm line on
ensuring, and, indeed, leading the way on ensuring, that in
particular the NGOs working in the context of the Syrian
conflict and in Syria get the necessary exemptions to allow
them to deliver humanitarian aid. He will also be aware of
the UK’s contribution: we are second to only one other in
our contribution of close to £2.5 billion-worth of aid,
assistance and humanitarian assistance that we have given.
He may also be aware that we were very pleased to note the
renewal of UN Resolution 2165, on the cross-border
provision of humanitarian aid directly to Syria without the
approval of the regime. That underlines the humanitarian
commitment and support that the UK Government are
delivering to the war-afflicted people of Syria through
DfID and other NGOs working with great courage on the
ground.
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(Lab)
My Lords, is it not clear—
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The Lord
My Lords—
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(Lab)
My Lords—
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(CB)
My Lords—
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The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Evans of Bowes Park)
(Con)
My Lords, it is the turn of the Bishops’ Benches.
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The Lord
My Lords, would the Minister agree that there is a danger
here that support for, and funding of, anti-Assad forces,
however understandable that may seem from the outside,
might lead to exactly the same unintended consequences that
we have seen in Iraq—namely, the strengthening of
anti-democratic Islamist forces who have no intention of
delivering the freedoms that we assume they should?
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I assure the right reverend Prelate that the Government are
very cognisant of the situation he has illustrated. We remain
absolutely determined to ensure that all the delivery
mechanisms for any funding that is provided, through the
Foreign Office funding pot or DfID agencies, are robustly
challenged and checked. In the case illustrated by the noble
Baroness, Lady Cox, we will cease funding until we are
satisfied that those in receipt of the funds fulfil the
mandate of ensuring that they bring peace to the civilians of
Syria and ensure equity and justice for all communities
across Syria.
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