Finian McGrath
Question:115. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will advocate comprehensive political talks with Syria. [38535/13]
View answerWednesday, 18 September 2013
Questions (115, 123, 124, 126, 127)
Brendan Smith
Question:123. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the recent European Union Council of Ministers' meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38808/13]
View answerBrendan Smith
Question:124. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of discussions at the EU Council of Ministers in to the ongoing crisis in Syria; the proposals the EU have put forward in relation to the need to achieve a political settlement at the earliest possible date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38809/13]
View answerBrendan Smith
Question:126. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals and view points he put forward at the recent EU Foreign Affairs Council in relation to the ongoing crisis in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38811/13]
View answerBrendan Smith
Question:127. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals Ireland has put forward at the United Nations in relation to the urgent need to achieve a political settlement in relation to the ongoing crisis in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38812/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 123, 124, 126 and 127 together.
I am assuming that Questions relating to the recent Foreign Affairs Council are referring to the informal meeting of Foreign Ministers on 6-7 September, which was not a meeting of the Council as such. I have already welcomed in my statement on 14 September the outcome of the US-Russian negotiations on a framework agreement for the elimination of Syrian chemical weapons. Syria’s possession of chemical weapons is unacceptable, and the use of these weapons under any circumstances is illegal under international law as well as morally reprehensible. Syria must comply in full with the terms of the framework agreement and also with the international obligations which it will assume under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Ireland has consistently stressed that only a political solution can bring peace and democratic reform to Syria. Recent events, including the atrocity of the mass gassing of the civilian population in Ghouta, have only reinforced that analysis. This is also the broadly held view of the wider international community. I welcome the participation of the UN-Arab League envoy Brahimi at the recent Geneva talks between the United States and Russia. The overall objective for Ireland and its EU partners remains the achievement of a political solution in Syria.
I discussed events in Syria with my EU counterparts at the recent Informal Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Vilnius on 6-7 September. EU Foreign Ministers agreed that the chemical weapons attack in Damascus on 21 August represents an unacceptable violation of international law and that every effort should be made to prevent further recourse to such weapons; that the United Nations is the appropriate and legitimate forum for addressing these issues; that the Security Council must unite to agree a resolution; that there equally must be accountability for the perpetrators of this atrocity; and that only a political solution can ultimately bring peace to Syria. The EU also undertook to continue its strong support and leading role in international humanitarian relief efforts to assist Syria. While progress is being made on the issue of chemical weapons use in Syria, the need for a political process and an end to the fighting is more urgent than ever.