Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has invited Mr al-Khatib leader of the Syria National Coalition to visit Ireland; if arrangements have been made for such a visit; the agenda for discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14239/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I had the pleasure of meeting with the Syrian National Coalition President, Dr Al Khatib, when he addressed the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 10 December. Subsequently, my colleague Joe Costello T.D., Minister of State for Trade and Development, met briefly with Dr Al Khatib and his colleagues at the Friends of Syria meeting in Marrakesh on 12 December. It was suggested that a meeting in Dublin would be opportune, especially in view of our current EU Presidency role. Against this background, I wrote to Dr. Al Khatib in January formally inviting him to travel to Dublin at a mutually convenient time to discuss the Coalition’s activities and its vision for a new, post-Assad Syria.

Ireland supports the Syrian National Coalition in its efforts to unite all those elements of the Syrian opposition which are committed to democratic values and to fashioning a new, inclusive and democratic Syria. I have also made clear that I welcome Dr Al Khatib’s recent offer of initiating talks with the Assad regime which hopefully may prove to be a catalyst in achieving the beginning of a genuine political process of transition within Syria. Our Embassy in Cairo continues to be in contact with Dr. Al Khatib and the SNC, including in relation to identifying a suitable opportunity for him to travel to Ireland.