Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 June 2013
4. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of the most recent discussions at European Union Foreign Affairs Council in relation to Syria; if there is a possibility of a common European position to deal with this ongoing and escalating conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30911/13]
View answerThe ongoing conflict in Syria was a key item on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council, which I attended in Luxembourg on Monday, 24 June. The Council had a thorough exchange of views on recent developments on the ground against the background of mounting casualties, with the death toll now estimated by the UN at more than 93,000, and the catastrophic humanitarian situation unfolding in Syria and in neighbouring countries. Our discussions also demonstrated the strong support and broad agreement within the Council on the urgent need to de-escalate the crisis and work to promote a political settlement.
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy articulated the strong concern within the Council to press ahead and offer our full support to the US-Russia initiative to convene an international peace conference on Syria - Geneva II - in the near future. We all recognise that this represents the only credible opportunity at the moment to try to stop the violence and fashion a comprehensive political solution to the crisis.
The Council reiterated its collective commitment to increase EU support to the international humanitarian efforts following the recent call by the UN for an additional $5.2 billion to cover requirements to the end of 2013. The EU and its member states have so far contributed over €1.25 billion in emergency funding to address the humanitarian crisis, including an additional €400 million announced on 24 June as a response to the deteriorating situation. Ireland is playing its full part in this international effort, having contributed €9.8 million in assistance to date, including an additional €1.65 million which I announced on 19 June. Together with its EU partners, Ireland will continue its efforts to promote a peaceful resolution that finally brings about a civil, democratic and pluralistic Syria.
I thank the Tánaiste for his reply and welcome the additional funding provided under our overseas development budget for the humanitarian crisis in Syria.
Barbarity is too mild a word to describe what has been happening there. Some Members met representatives of the Syrian opposition groups recently. Their descriptions of the treatment of individuals and the murder and mayhem that is taking place there were horrendous. There have been more than 93,000 deaths and a catastrophic humanitarian situation is unfolding there and in neighbouring countries such as Lebanon. Another disturbing development there is the employment of mass rape as a weapon of war. It is an extremely serious issue for the Syrian people, as is the spillover of refugees into many neighbouring countries.
The Tánaiste has rightly argued for disarmament and the continuation of the arms embargo, but, unfortunately, there is not a unified European Union stance on that issue. Some of the opposition groups argue about the non-provision of assistance in that form for the rebel groups, while some countries such as Russia and others are arming the Assad regime. Arms are also being provided for the rebel groups by other groups. I know that Iran, the Hezbollah and the United States are providing arms. Does the Tánaiste envisage the European Union offering a united response? Will it implore Russia and the United States to hold the Geneva II talks immediately? We have heard that Senator Kerry met the Russian Foreign Minister some time ago and that they agreed to talks to try to reach a political solution. Unfortunately, more and more people are suffering and losing their lives. Was there an indication at the European Union Council meeting that the Geneva talks would take place sooner rather than later in view of the escalating crisis, the desperate humanitarian situation in which millions of people find themselves and the mass murder taking place in the country?
First, it is important to state there is a unified European Union position that we have to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Syria. Second, there is a unified European Union position that it put its money where its mouth is. On the provision of humanitarian assistance, the European Union has provided €1.25 billion to date, with €400 million having been allocated on Monday. A good deal of that money is being used to address the refugee problem in surrounding countries. When I visited Turkey I saw at first hand the huge problem with the numbers of refugees and the necessity for facilities to be provided for them.
The only show in town right now is the prospect of Geneva II talks. The European Union supports this and has encouraged both the United States and Russia in that direction. On the question of when they will happen, that is unclear because there is still a large degree of uncertainty about the participation of all sides in the conference. If the Syrian authorities have indicated their agreement in principle to attend, the opposition has not yet formally taken a position, despite having formulated repeated demands for excluding the top echelons of the Assad regime from any political process. Furthermore, the presence of Iran at the conference has turned into a fractious issue. On the one hand, Russia insists on Iranian attendance, while, on the other, France and Saudi Arabia, supported by the United States, object to such participation.
Has consideration being given by the Council of Foreign Ministers to urging the United Nations to impose a no-fly zone, or is there certain merit in that proposal? We know that, apart from the European Union, the international community made major commitments at the commencement of the year that it has not honoured about assisting to try to deal with the humanitarian crisis. Have the European Union, the Tánaiste as President of the Council of Ministers, or the Government in terms of Ireland holding the Presidency been in a position to indicate to other major trading partners and powers that commitments to provide substantial humanitarian aid are not adequate enough without actual delivery to those millions of deprived people?
Yes, we have. We have drawn attention to the fact that there are countries that have made commitments to provide humanitarian aid and that these commitments have not been delivered on. We have delivered on our commitments and the European Union is also delivering. We support the holding of the Geneva II talks. A special preparatory meeting took place under Special Envoy Brahimi in early June. However, it did not lead to much progress and there was a further preparatory meeting yesterday. It is a matter for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to issue formal invitations. At this stage it does not seem that the conference will begin next month as planned, in part because Ramadan is due to start on 9 July.
Regarding the calls made for the establishment of a no-fly zone, this would obviously necessitate broad international agreement and could only be authorised through a UN Security Council resolution specifically mandating such a step. Given that the Security Council has not been able to agree to any resolution on Syria since the conflict erupted in March 2011, it appears most unlikely that there is the political will within the Council to reach agreement on such a proposal.
