To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken to prevent states or other agents sending funds and arms to the parties to the conflict in Syria, in particular those who are guilty or suspected of war crimes and grave human rights abuses; and what further action they plan to take.
Answered on
7 July 2015
The UK does not supply weapons to anyone in Syria, and we have played a major role in trying to prevent both the regime and extremists in Syria from acquiring weapons.
UN sanctions require that no states, groups or individuals may make available arms or funds to designated groups or individuals. In February 2015 the UN Security Council unanimously adopted UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2199, which the British Government co-sponsored. UNSCR 2199 specifically targets the fund raising methods used by Al-Qaida and its affiliates operating in Syria and Iraq.
The UK is also at the forefront of efforts to broaden the EU Syria sanctions regime, which limits the regime's access to funding. This year the EU has listed 24 new Syrian regime ministers who are jointly responsible for the regime’s reprehensible policies. There are several EU-Syria trade embargoes currently in place, including prohibiting exportation of chemical weapons (and precursors) and luxury goods to Syria, importation of oil from Syria and access to EU financial institutions.
We will work hard to sustain these efforts.