Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 June 2012
53 Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the up to date situation in Syria and the action he will take to stop the slaughter that has been escalating in recent months — so much so, that it is believed that the country is on the brink of civil war. [28609/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have made clear on a number of occasions the absolute horror and revulsion which all right-thinking people feel at the recent course of events in Syria and the escalating conflict which is now estimated by the UN to have claimed well over 10,000 lives in the past 15 months. On behalf of the Government and people of Ireland, I have condemned the appalling massacre at Houla on 25-26 May which resulted in the brutal murder of more than 100 people, including 49 children, and equally condemn the mass killing of a reported 78 people in the village of Al-Qubeir on 6 June allegedly committed by Assad-affiliated militias. These atrocities provide further unwelcome testimony of the Syrian regime's utter disdain for human life and the welfare of its own people. High Representative Ashton, on behalf of the EU, has forcefully condemned the recent violence in Syria in a statement on 3 June and has called for those responsible for the Houla massacre to be held accountable. A number of our EU partners also took the step following the Houla massacre of expelling their resident Syrian Ambassadors or Charge d'Affaires. However, as I explained in my statement of 30 May, such a step did not arise for Ireland as Syria does not have a resident Mission in Ireland but rather accredits from London where there has been no Ambassador since last March. Ireland, along with our EU partners, was also active in securing adoption by the UN Human Rights Council on the 1 June of a strong resolution, co-sponsored by all EU countries, which extends the mandate of the UN Commission of Inquiry in Syria established last August to investigate the events at Houla and report to the UN Security Council on any responsibility that may warrant future criminal prosecutions. Those responsible for committing such atrocities as those witnessed in Houla and Al-Qubair must know that they will be held to account and will not evade prosecution.
It is difficult to remain optimistic in face of the rapidly deteriorating situation on the ground and undoubtedly the conflict in Syria is now at a critical juncture as to whether an all-out descent into a bitter, sectarian civil war can be avoided. Ultimately, as Joint UN/Arab League Special Envoy, Kofi Annan, has emphasised when addressing the UN Security Council last week, it is for all those who have undertaken to implement his six-point peace plan to honour their commitments as well as their obligations under international law. In particular, the Assad regime must ensure the complete withdrawal of heavy weaponry and troops from population centres, the release of all political detainees, and ensure free access and movement throughout the country to all, including media, humanitarian organisations and the UN. Any obstruction or attempt to prevent observers of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS, and to which Ireland is contributing six officers) from fulfilling their mandate, as happened with the shootings directed at some observers as they approached the village of Al Qubeir on 7 June, is completely unacceptable.
Despite the obstacles it faces, the Annan Plan remains the only agreed plan at present for ending the violence and promoting a peaceful transition in Syria. If the Syrian regime or any other party continues to fail to meet their obligations under the Plan, then they will leave the Security Council with little option but to re-visit the issue and actively consider the imposition of sanctions against those impeding the implementation of a peace plan endorsed by the international community. Closer engagement with Russia also remains extremely important, given that they remain the one country best placed to exert influence on the Syrian authorities at the current time. I am not in any way persuaded by those who call for military interventions or arming the opposition and believe such steps would only hasten a descent into all-out civil war. Pressure also needs to continue to be exerted on all Syrian opposition groups, both internal and external, to work more closely together and to agree a common platform since without such opposition unity and cooperation, progress in initiating any kind of internal political dialogue on Syria's future will remain very difficult.
The humanitarian situation in Syria continues to remain critical, with an estimated 80,000 Syrians having been forced to flee to neighbouring countries and upwards of one million civilians inside Syria urgently in need of sanitation, food and medical aid. Ireland is continuing to work closely with the UN and other international partners to address this situation. The recent agreement between the Syrian authorities and the UN on the opening of four UN humanitarian field offices is at least one positive development of note. Irish Aid has already made available emergency funding of €500,000 to the ICRC, UNHCR and WFP for use both within Syria and to assist those fleeing the violence.
Ultimately, the complete cessation of violence and implementation of the Annan Plan in full offer the best opportunity for ending the conflict and setting in train a process of urgently needed political reform and transition in Syria. Ireland and its EU partners will continue to work in support of this aim.
