· Minister will address the
Global Coalition against Daesh ministerial-level meeting in
Riyadh today [8th June].
· He will outline the UK’s
work to tackle the continued threat posed by Daesh and support
people in north-east Syria and Iraq.
· Lord Ahmad will then travel
onto Istanbul, the first visit to Turkey by a UK government
Minister since President Erdogan’s re-election.
The Minister of State for the Middle East will attend the annual
Global Coalition against Daesh ministerial-level meeting in
Riyadh today and reaffirm the UK’s commitment to tackling the
continuing threat posed by Daesh and helping people rebuild their
lives.
Lord Ahmad will outline the UK’s support to counter the threat
posed by Daesh, including approximately £88m towards ongoing
efforts for counterterrorism, stabilisation and socio-economic
development in Northeast Syria and Iraq over the next five years.
Examples of what this funding will provide include working with
the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and UNDP to
address the barriers to return, reintegration and reconciliation
of Iraqis displaced by Daesh’s violence, including the 30,000
Iraqis in Al-Hol camp in Syria. The funding will also provide
targeted job training for hundreds of young people in Iraq, as
part of efforts to prevent violent extremism and counter Daesh's
influence.
This will come alongside a further £16m over the next two years
to specifically address acute humanitarian needs in north-east
Syria. This package will provide 76,735 people with humanitarian
assistance, including psychosocial support targeting children
traumatised by conflict and programmes to empower women through
education and access to the labour market.
The global meeting in Riyadh will see ministers and
representatives from the 86 partners of the Global Coalition
gather to discuss the continuing threat from Daesh and to
coordinate efforts to counter Daesh and stabilise liberated
areas.
Minister of State for the Middle East Lord Ahmad
said:
“Though territorially defeated, Daesh is a threat that
continues to destroy lives – not only in liberated areas of Iraq
and Syria, but also in Afghanistan and parts of Africa where its
affiliates are active.
“I am proud of the UK’s continuing role in eradicating Daesh,
including rebuilding communities affected by its terrorism, and
leading global efforts against its poisonous
propaganda.
“I look forward to visiting Istanbul to strengthen the UK’s
important partnership with Turkey and to discuss a broad range of
foreign policy issues, including Syria, Sudan and Ukraine."
Following his attendance at the Global Coalition against Daesh
ministerial-level meeting, Lord Ahmad will travel to Istanbul to
strengthen UK-Turkey ties and to participate in an international
diplomacy conference. This will be the first visit to Turkey by a
UK government Minister since President Erdogan’s re-election,
following the second round of Presidential elections on 28 May.
[ENDS]
Notes for editors:
· In Istanbul, Lord Ahmad
will participate in wide-ranging foreign policy talks, chaired by
his Turkish counterpart, Deputy Foreign Minister Burak Akçapar,
and joined by a range of other European interlocutors. The talks
will include discussions on Syria, Iran, Ukraine, Sudan, and
Libya.
