Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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196. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken in 2016 at the European Union, United Nations and other international bodies, to support moves to bring the war in Syria and Iraq, to an end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17843/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I have repeatedly discussed the conflicts in Syria and Iraq as well as the threat of terrorism at the EU since the start of this year. The January Foreign Affairs Council discussed the situation in Syria and EU support for the UN-led negotiations. The Syrian conflict was also discussed at the February Council and the May Council adopted conclusions on Syria, Iraq and Daesh, as well as approving a comprehensive review of the EU’s regional strategy on Syria, Iraq and Daesh. Ireland spoke at the March and June debates at UN Human Rights Council Sessions on the situation in Syria.

I have repeatedly made clear Ireland’s continued and strong support for political solutions to the conflicts in Syria and Iraq. I remain strongly of the view that any viable political solution must be based on the principles of the 2012 Geneva Communique, and support the need for a political transition based on the formation of an inclusive transitional Governing body and a full end of violence and the legal accountability for the victims of the conflict.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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197. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his relationship with representative bodies in Kurdistan; the details of any Irish contribution on ending violence against the Kurdish people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17844/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Ireland does not have any diplomatic relations with Kurdish representative bodies in Turkey, Iraq and Syria. Ireland, along with its EU partners, supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of those States. Ireland has repeatedly raised the human rights situation in Syria and Iraq at the UN and the EU. Ireland has called for referral of the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court, given the multiple and credible reports of crimes requiring international action and the failure to prevent and reported accountability of the Syrian authorities for the overwhelming majority of these crimes. Ireland has also repeatedly made clear its strong support for the UN-led negotiations to agree a political solution to the Syrian crisis, based on the 2012 Geneva Communique principles. Ireland has urged international stakeholders, including the Assad regime’s backers, to give their full backing to the UN process. The Government is also strongly supportive of the 2014 political reform and national reconciliation programme announced by PM Abadi of Iraq. Integration of all religious and ethnic groups in Iraq is a vital response to supporting Iraq’s unity, integrity and sovereignty. This is a critical political response to parallel security efforts to confront Daesh and to end the threat of jihadist terrorism and the safe haven posed by Daesh control of parts of the territory of Syria and Iraq.

The domestic situation in Turkey remains a matter of concern, both for Ireland and our European partners. I would like to reiterate the serious concern I have expressed several times already in this House at the escalation of violence since the breakdown of the ceasefire between the Turkish Government and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) last summer. This breakdown has been all the more regrettable given that there were positive signs in the peace process as recently as early 2015.

Ireland has been a strong supporter of the peace talks between the Turkish Government and the PKK and, through the work of the Conflict Resolution Unit of my Department, financial assistance has been provided to an international NGO which has facilitated study visits to Ireland by Turkish and Kurdish MPs, journalists, and advisers working for peace. The current situation demonstrates clearly the critical importance for all sides to cease hostilities and return to dialogue and I take this opportunity to urge again all sides to do so. The most recent Progress Report on Turkey, published by the European Commission in November 2015, emphasised the importance of this too.

The Taoiseach has participated in discussions at the European Council on the issue of human rights in Syria, Iraq and Turkey. Officials in my Department, both at headquarters in Dublin and in our Embassies in Cairo, Riyadh and Ankara, will continue to follow these developments very closely.