Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 May 2013
137. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress made to date in the United Nations adopting a resolution in relation to the Syrian conflict following the statement issued by Secretary of State, Senator Kerry and the Russian Foreign Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25916/13]
View answerMore than two years after it first erupted, the conflict in Syria continues to be one of the greatest challenges confronting the international community. The dimensions of the crisis are truly daunting. An estimated 80,000 people have lost their lives; one-third of Syrians have either fled the country, are internally displaced or are otherwise in need of assistance; and there is an ever increasing threat to regional stability as mirrored by escalating tensions and violence in northern Lebanon and the recent horrific bombing in Reyhanli, southern Turkey in which fifty one people died. Since his appointment in August 2012 and in extremely challenging circumstances, the UN/League of Arab States Special Envoy Ladkhar Brahimi has shown great resolve in working to achieve these objectives. Ireland and its EU partners have expressed full support for his efforts, notably his search for a formula for transition based on last year’s Geneva Communiqué and providing for a transitional Government leading to free elections in Syria.
Special Envoy Brahimi has also long insisted on the crucial role of the international community in seeking a political settlement to the crisis, in particular through the UN Security Council. It is a source of great regret that the UN Security Council up to now has been unable to demonstrate leadership to the international community and adopt a strong Resolution on the crisis. Despite a number of unsuccessful efforts to agree a Resolution, it remains clear that only a united Council acting in concert can provide the necessary strong political backing to underpin any current peace efforts.
For this reason, I warmly welcome the agreement reached by the US and Russia, following bilateral discussions in Moscow earlier this month involving Secretary of State Kerry, President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov, to work together on an International Conference on Syria which would be held in Geneva in the next few weeks. Both UN Secretary General Ban and Special Envoy Brahimi have welcomed this development. The EU has also pledged its full political support for the US/Russian initiative. Conclusions adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council on 27 May which I attended made clear that the EU would spare no effort in helping to create the appropriate conditions for a successful convening of this conference.
There is an onus on all sides involved with this crisis to do all possible to support the planned Geneva II conference and endure a successful outcome. I understand the Syrian Government has now agreed in principle to attend the talks and it is to be hoped that the Syrian democratic opposition, led by the Syrian National Coalition, will seize the opportunity offered by the US-Russia proposal and engage fully in a process of dialogue aimed at ending the violence and starting the much needed transition towards democratic rule in Syria.
Ireland and the EU will remain fully occupied at all levels of our international engagement in securing the earliest cessation of violence in Syria and in providing the Syrian population with the aid and care they need and the hope that their nightmare will soon end.
