Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 September 2016
855. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to outline his views on Turkey's recent military incursion into Syria; his views on the fact that although the action is supposedly to target Daesh, Turkish forces have attacked and bombed Kurdish-held areas and citizens in Rojava; and his views on whether Turkey's real motives are to attempt to destroy the autonomous Rojava Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). [26296/16]
View answerI have concerns about the military actions of a number of countries in Syria and the risks these actions pose to both the Syrian people and international peace and security. I am particularly concerned about the support by some countries for the Assad regime and the possibility that those countries are actively supporting the Assad regime’s persistent and deliberate war against the Syrian population.
The UN has set out a mandate for actions by States to confront Daesh under Security Council resolution 2249. Daesh has committed numerous, horrific attacks in Turkey in which hundreds of Turkish citizens have been killed and wounded.
I call on all international stakeholders, including Turkey, to ensure that they act at all times to uphold their international obligations to protect the civilian population in Syria, and to ensure the fundamental freedoms and human rights of all Syrians. I also urge all parties to work for an early end to all violence, lifting of the illegal sieges against civilian populations and restrictions on the provision of humanitarian relief and for the urgent renewal of the UN-led negotiations and for a swift political transition process in Syria.
I do not believe that it would be constructive for me to engage in speculation about Turkish policies.
