Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I can confirm that I will be arguing at the Foreign Affairs Council that there must be a full investigation into the allegations relating to the use of chemical weapons. The European Union has already written to the Secretary General of the United Nations to insist that said investigation must be comprehensive and must contemplate all serious allegations relating to the use of chemical weapons. On 20 March last the Secretary General of the UN agreed to a Syrian request to investigate a specific incident in which the Syrian authorities allege that opposition forces used chemical weapons. The problem which arises is that it has not proved possible, so far, for the Secretary General to agree terms of reference with the Syrian authorities in respect of such an investigation. The position in this regard is both deplorable and unsustainable. The information and allegations which have emerged since 20 March make the opening of that investigation, without delay, all the more urgent.

On the arms embargo, I expect that the Foreign Affairs Council will address the issue of the renewal of the sanctions regime relating to Syria later this month. That regime includes the arms embargo. We have argued that the lifting of the embargo would lead to a further militarisation of the situation in Syria and that this is not desirable. That remains our position. It is important that we achieve agreement on these issues at the Foreign Affairs Council in order that we might maintain a coherent and unified European Union position on the issue.

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