Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

25. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action Ireland is taking to ensure the EU takes a strong stance against Russia in view of the breaking of the ceasefire, its abandonment of the peace process in Syria and the appalling situation in Aleppo, with the ongoing bombardment of the city by Russian and Syrian Government forces having resulted in the deaths and injuries of so many civilians, including children, there. [31840/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I attended the most recent Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting in Brussels on the 17^th of October where together with my EU colleagues I called on Russia to demonstrate all efforts to halt indiscriminate bombing by the Syrian regime, restore a cessation of hostilities, ensure immediate humanitarian access and create the conditions for a credible and inclusive political transition. This is critical to save the lives of Syrian citizens, particularly those who remain in Aleppo.

EU Ministers were also united that the situation in Syria should be referred to the International Criminal Court in order to ensure legal accountability for the victims of the unspeakable crimes that have been committed against them.I believe that the only viable and sustainable way forward remains a comprehensive end to violence and a Syrian-own and Syrian-led political resolution, based on a real political transition process. That remains my objective and that of the EU, and is reflected in the conclusions adopted by the FAC.

At last week's European Council, in the context of discussion of the conflict in Syria, the EU's Heads of State and Government stated that “the EU is considering all available options, should the current atrocities continue”. There are currently no specific proposals for Syria-related sanctions.

Clearly all available options can include sanctions and Ireland will be open to considering proposals for sanctions should the atrocities against the people of Aleppo continue.

As I informed the Dáil in my address on 20 October, it is a matter of the gravest concern to me that a permanent member of the Security Council, with a duty to the United Nations to uphold international law and the principles of the UN Charter could condone or engage in the bombardment on Aleppo, which as the EU stated on Monday may amount to war crimes.

I utterly condemn the actions by the Assad regime and its allies, including Russia, in Aleppo, and demand the immediate end to the bombardment of that city, the end of the siege of eastern Aleppo and the lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian assistance in Aleppo and across Syria.