Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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630. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he and his European Union counterparts are taking to find a political and diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6852/16]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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650. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to report on the ceasefire in Syria; his ongoing efforts to secure peace in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7094/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 630 and 650 together.

I welcome the call by UN Special Envoy de Mistura for a resumption of the Geneva III talks on Friday 15 April, and in particular his focus on achieving a political transition. This remains the core issue in the conflict and no sustainable peace can be achieved without agreement on political change in Syria. I will be discussing the EU’s Syria and regional strategy with my colleagues at the Foreign Affairs Council on 18 April.

The cessation of hostilities remains critical to the negotiations. There can be no prospect of meaningful negotiations if the violence continues. The reports of Assad regime helicopters barrel bombing opposition held areas underline the urgent need for a comprehensive political solution.

I call on all parties, including all members of the International Syria Support Group, to support the UN’s efforts and to commit themselves to work sincerely and with urgency for a nationwide ceasefire, a negotiated peace agreement which will protect the rights of the Syrian people and preserve the pluralistic character, unity and sovereignty of a free and democratic Syria at peace.

Ireland strongly endorses the efforts of the United Nations to renew peace negotiations based on the 2012 Geneva communique principles and UN Security Council Resolution 2254, in particular the ending of violence, the formation of a transitional governing body with full executive powers and a constitutional reform process which would protect Syria’s multi-ethnic and multi-sectarian character.

I believe that there must also be legal accountability for victims of the Syrian conflict and in 2014 we co-sponsored a resolution called for referral of the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court.

I would also note that the UN Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry has reported that the Assad regime is responsible for the majority of crimes against the Syrian people.

While recognising the need for a political transition and an end to the Assad regime, I want to make clear that it is the Syrian people’s right to decide on Syria’s future national leadership.