To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following their calling-in of Russian and Iranian ambassadors to discuss Syria, they will also call in the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia and Qatar to discuss Syria.
Answered on
5 January 2017
We have regular dialogue with Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Syria. Both states are members of the International Syria Support Group and supporters of the Syrian opposition. The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), recently discussed Syria with Saudi Arabia and Qatar at the Gulf Cooperation Council summit on 6 December. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson) also attended a likeminded Ministerial meeting in Paris on 10 December at which Saudi Arabia and Qatar were represented.
The Foreign Secretary summoned the Russian and Iranian Ambassadors to the UK on 15 December to express the UK Government's profound concern over the actions of Iran and Russia in Syria. The Foreign Secretary made clear that both states have failed to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. It is now imperative that the regime, Russia and Iran implement resolution 2328, providing the UN with unhindered humanitarian access and oversight of evacuation processes to ensure that all civilians and non combatants are properly protected.