Written answers

Wednesday, 7 February 2018

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Syrian Conflict

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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87. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the invasion by Turkish forces of the Kurdish Afrin region in northern Syria; if he has raised this with the Turkish Government or received a briefing on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6255/18]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The conflict in Syria, and the destabilising impact it has had on the wider region, remain a source of deep concern. Clearly, a comprehensive, inclusive political solution to the conflict is urgently needed, both to end the suffering of the Syrian people and to prevent any further turmoil in the Middle East.

For these reasons Ireland fully supports the UN-led political negotiations to end the conflict based on the 2012 Geneva Communique and UN Security Council resolution 2254, which calls for an end to violence; release of political prisoners; formation of a transitional governing body with executive powers and a constitutional reform process. Ireland fully supports this process and the work of UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura. The EU provides direct assistance to the UN-led Geneva peace talks and has launched, in coordination with the UN, an initiative to develop political dialogue with key actors from the region to identify common ground.

At the December EU Foreign Affairs Council, we discussed the regional situation in the Middle East, including of course the urgent need for progress towards peace in Syria. I joined colleagues in stressing the primacy of the UN-led Geneva process and the need for an inclusive political transition in Syria.

Since 2012 Ireland has contributed over €90 million to the international humanitarian response to the Syria crisis, including over €15 million to the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey. Through our annual contributions to the EU institutions Ireland also supports the EU’s humanitarian response to the crisis. The EU and its Member States have together mobilised more than €9.5 billion for humanitarian and resilience assistance to support Syrians inside the country and in neighbouring countries, making the EU the largest single donor to the effort. The EU will host another donors’ conference for Syria in 2018.

Officials from my Department met with the Turkish Ambassador to Ireland earlier this week. They conveyed Ireland’s overarching concern for the protection of civilians, including in the context of this particular operation, and urged caution to avoid escalating the conflict any further.

Ireland understands Turkey’s concern about the conflict raging on its southern border. Turkey has borne a heavy burden in terms of knock-on effects of the conflict, including in terms of migration and spill-over of violence. However, our primary concern is for the safety and well-being of civilians on both sides of the border, especially displaced and vulnerable communities.

I call on all parties to exercise restraint in order to avoid any further exacerbation of this already fragile situation and to cooperate in the effort to find a political solution under UN auspices which alone can bring lasting peace to Syria.

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