Dáil debates
Wednesday, 13 December 2017
Other Questions
Syrian Conflict
11:10 am
Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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30. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the continued imposition of sanctions on Syria, in particular their utility in forcing regime change in that country. [53196/17]
Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Wallace has been given permission to take Parliamentary Question No. 30.
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Wallace is an able substitute.
Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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Sanctions allow governments and international organisations such as the EU to appear to be doing something about war at times. At the end of the day, however, sanctions are a foreign policy tool which do not take account of the humanitarian needs of the citizens affected by war. It is obvious that the sanctions imposed on Syria have not had the intended effect on the Assad regime. It is the people who are suffering, not Assad. Does the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade believe it is time we abandoned the notion of sanctions on Syria?
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy has raised this issue with me already and I know his concerns are genuine. There was quite a long debate on Syria in the Foreign Affairs Council meeting this week.
On 9 May 2011, the EU agreed to impose restrictive measures, or sanctions, on members of the Syrian regime to put pressure on them to end the violent repression of the civilian population in Syria. Targeted EU sanctions are in place against over 250 people and almost 70 entities complicit in the violent repression of the civilian population in Syria. The first person on this list is Bashar al-Assad, whose forces have been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. The sanctions also include an oil embargo, restrictions on investments, a freeze of the Syrian central bank’s assets and export restrictions on equipment and technology which might be used for internal repression, or for interception of Internet or telephone communications. There are no sanctions on food, medicines or most other civilian goods. The EU’s Syria sanctions include exemptions for essential civilian needs and humanitarian assistance.
The EU keeps the impact of sanctions under constant review. It will consider options to mitigate any unintended consequences which can be documented as relating directly to the measures themselves, as distinct from the more general economic disruption caused by the conflict and the Assad regime’s actions.
Ireland has consistently supported EU sanctions targeting the Assad regime and its supporters. It will continue to do so as long as the situation on the ground justifies these measures. To lift these sanctions would amount to tacit support for the Assad regime and would serve to encourage further impunity with regard to attacks on civilians, as well as disregard for the UN-led peace process.
There are numerous barriers to humanitarian access in Syria but these are as a result of actions by the parties to the conflict, particularly the Assad regime. I am aware of the challenges faced by NGOs operating in Syria. However, I am confident that EU sanctions are still justified.
Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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While I have no intention of defending Assad, he is not the only one killing people in Syria as there are many other groups involved.
A report commissioned by the UN, Humanitarian Impact of Syria-Related Unilateral Restrictive Measures, was never published because of its findings. However, it was leaked. It found US and EU economic sanctions on Syria are hitting civilians the hardest and preventing the delivery of blood safety equipment, medical equipment, medicines, fuel, food, water pumps, spare parts for power plants etc. A leaked internal UN email, obtained by the online news publication, The Intercept, in October 2016, also highlighted US and EU sanctions as a principal factor in the disintegration of the Syrian health system. I recommend the Minister examines these two documents. The essentials are not getting through and the sanctions in place, which the EU thinks are bothering Assad, are not.
As we know Assad is winning the war so the sanctions had no effect on that. The people are suffering. A fresh look at the area is required.
11:20 am
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The EU keeps the impact of sanctions under constant review and will consider options to mitigate any unintended consequences which can be documented relating directly to the measures themselves as distinct from more general economic disruption caused by the conflict. For example, in 2016, the EU amended the Syrian sanctions regime to make it easier for NGOs operating in Syria to buy fuel. Earlier this year, the relevant working group of the Council of the European Union examined the impact of EU sanctions on NGOs providing humanitarian assistance in Syria and consulted NGOs, including Irish NGOs, as part of the process. The review highlighted some challenges facing NGOs working in Syria, including a lack of understanding of the restrictive measures by banks and other key actors, which can result in delays in transferring funding, which the Deputy raised last week or the week before when there was a Private Members' motion on this issue. This led to the publication of a frequently asked questions document by the European Commission, which aims to clarify the sanctions regime for NGOs and economic operators to facilitate the work of humanitarian actors in Syria. Ultimately, the European Union wants to bring about an agreed settlement and permanent ceasefire that lasts in Syria. That is the way in which we can help people in that country most effectively, as opposed to removing sanctions and essentially allowing Syria to go back to normal under the Assad regime.
Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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The western powers, with the prompting of Saudi Arabia and Israel, wanted regime change and interference has made the situation in Syria 100 times worse than it would have been without external interference. The centre for Syrian studies at the University of St. Andrews has stated that the reduction in living standards and aid dependency as a result of the sanctions is empowering the regime because people are more dependent on the regime. The NGOs that were interviewed in this report complain about the sanctions and say the sanctions undermine their chance to help people. The sanctions between 1991 and 2003 in Iraq caused the deaths of over 500,000 children. We will not know for a few years how many children will die in Syria because of the sanctions. The sanctions are not working.
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Lessons have been learned from the sanctions regime in Iraq. I do not disagree with the Deputy on that. The sanctions against Syria are much more targeted than that but I reiterate the idea that we would send a signal by removing sanctions now, effectively saying that we accept that the Assad regime should not be targeted in any way politically, would give the wrong signal in the context of the negotiated solution we are looking for in the Geneva process.