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Written question asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon (Independent Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Howell of Guildford (Conservative) on Monday, 27 February 2012.

Syria

Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to make equipment and other resources available to rebel groups in Syria; whether any such resources will include military assistance; and if they intend to make such resources available, what method they will use to ensure that they are not distributed to groups including Al-Qaeda with interests and objectives inimical to those of the United Kingdom.
Answer

There is an EU arms embargo on Syria that covers both the Syrian regime and opposition forces and we are observing this. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) informed the other place on 6 February (Official Record, Col. 40), in reference to the Syrian opposition, that ““we will help with advice and some logistics and practical support in order to ensure their ability to operate.”” To that end, we have so far provided training to Syrian human rights activists and are sending experts to the region to help document the crimes being committed by the Syrian Regime. In our contacts with all Syrian opposition groups, we have made clear that they work towards a democratic, representative state, respectful of its ethnic and religious minorities, and which adheres to international human rights conventions. Opposition groups active on the ground and political groups outside Syria have made clear that they disassociate themselves from al-Qaeda and al-Qaeda's recent statements about Syria. Any action by the Government will be in accordance with sanctions adopted by the European Union in respect of Syria. European Union Council Decision of 1 December 2011 (2011/782/CFSP), inter alia, prohibits 'the sale, supply, transfer or export of arms and related material of all types, including weapons and ammunition to Syria by nationals of member states or from the territories of member states', subject to certain exemptions.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
15778; 735 c321WA
Session
2010-12
Related items
Syria
Monday, 6 February 2012
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Commons
Subjects
Arms trade Syria Military intervention
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk