Written answers

Wednesday, 20 March 2013

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

European Council Meetings

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the discussions at the recent Foreign Affairs Council in relation to the request of Mr Idris for arms and military equipment due to the ongoing conflict in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14235/13]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I attended the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on 11 March where an extremely useful exchange of views was held with the UN-League of Arab States Special Envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi. Mr Brahimi briefed the Council on the situation on the ground as well as on the prospects for a political solution to the two-year old conflict. Drawing our attention to the increasingly destructive war of attrition between the Syrian army and the opposition forces, he reaffirmed his view that only a political solution can bring about an end to the harrowing violence in Syria. He also appealed to the EU to continue using its leverage with other countries of influence to advance the prospects for a political settlement. Observing that the continuous flow of arms into Syria is part of the problem, Mr Brahimi endorsed the view of UN Secretary General Ban that supplying arms and ammunition will only exacerbate an already destructive conflict, leading to more casualties and greater destabilisation of the wider region.

When High Representative Ashton received the Chief of Staff of the Syrian Supreme Military Council, General Idriss, earlier this month in Brussels, she made clear to him that EU support for the people of Syria, other than the already substantial contribution being made to UN-led humanitarian efforts, could not go beyond the provision of non-lethal equipment and technical assistance intended for the protection of civilians. Along with most EU member States, Ireland is of the view that lifting the current EU embargo on the supply of arms and military equipment would contribute to further militarisation of the conflict and to greater proliferation of arms in Syria and in neighbouring countries. We also believe that it could undermine the efforts currently underway to promote a peaceful political solution to the crisis.

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