Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2013
105. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in response to Rafif Jouejati's call for a No Fly Zone in Syria, if he intends to promote such an action both at the EU and UN level in order to hamper the Assad regime's overwhelming dominance in terms of air power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26673/13]
View answer113. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he will take to prevent EU countries from wrecking any proposed peace process in Syria. [27033/13]
View answer118. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the imposition of a no-fly zone for Syria. [27498/13]
View answer119. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent lifting of the EU arms embargo on Syria. [27499/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 113, 118 and 119 together.
The crisis in Syria is undoubtedly the major challenge confronting the international community at present. It is being extensively discussed at EU level within the Foreign Affairs Council, including at the most recent Council which I attended in Brussels on 27 May.
All member States are united in their support for diplomatic efforts to reach a political solution to this appalling conflict. In particular, the EU is extending its full support to the initiative of the US and Russia aimed at bringing both sides in Syria to a further peace conference in Geneva, on the basis of the Geneva Communiqué of June 2012, with a view to mapping out a genuine transition towards democracy in Syria. In its May 27 Conclusions, the Foreign Affairs Council urged both sides to respond positively to the US-Russia initiative and to engage openly in a genuine process of negotiation. It also reaffirmed that the EU will spare no effort in helping to create the appropriate conditions for a successful convening of the conference.
The renewal of the EU’s sanctions against Syria, including the arms embargo, was extensively discussed by the Council at its May 27 meeting. There are differing views among partners as to how the EU can best promote the search for a political solution, which remains the primary objective for us all. I reiterated on behalf of the Government our firm view that lifting the arms embargo would be unlikely to assist efforts to achieve a political solution. On the contrary, we believe that the provision of arms to the Syrian moderate opposition, even if well-intentioned, is likely to contribute to further militarisation of the conflict and to lead to greater levels of violence in Syria and in the wider region. I further stated my view that lifting the arms embargo ran the clear risk of endangering the “Geneva II” initiative led by the US and Russia.
It is obviously a matter of regret that the Foreign Affairs Council was unable to agree to renew the EU arms embargo against Syria, which, as a result, expired on 31 May. However, I welcome the fact that the Council did agree to renew the remainder of the existing sanctions directed against the Assad regime, which will remain in force for a further year.
It is important to underline that all 27 member States of the EU remain fully united in their desire to promote the earliest possible end to violence and a political resolution leading to transition and the establishment of a functioning democracy in Syria. In the Council Declaration that accompanied the Council Decision on renewal of the sanctions package, it was noted that no member State intending to do so will proceed at this stage with the delivery of arms to Syria. The Council also agreed to review its position before 1 August on the basis of a report from the High Representative on the developments related to the US-Russia initiative and on the engagement of the Syrian parties.
In relation to calls which have been made for the establishment of a no-fly zone over Syria, this would obviously necessitate broad international agreement and could only be authorised through a UN Security Council Resolution specifically mandating such a step. Regrettably, the Security Council has not been able to agree any Resolution on Syria since the conflict erupted in March 2011 and it appears most unlikely that the political will exists within the Council at present to reach agreement on such a proposal.
