Supplementary memorandum by Jim Murphy
MP, Minister for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
When I gave evidence to Sub-Committee C on 23
January on European Union Foreign Policy, I agreed to correspond
on two points.
Lord Anderson raised the issue of Syria and
its regional policies. I said that I would consult my colleague,
Dr Howells, Minister of State with responsibility for the Middle
East.
The UK remains seriously concerned about the
role that Syria is playing in Lebanon and the broader region.
Syria's attendance at Annapolis and the efforts they have made
to build their relationship with the Iraqi government show some
flexibility in their approach. However, we judge there is a great
deal more Syria could do to improve its regional policies.
Syria must play a constructive part in resolving
the current political impasse in Lebanon, in the interests of
all communities in Lebanon. Syria also needs to meet its international
commitments as set out in a range of UN Security Council Resolutions.
This means normalising relations as well as stemming the flow
of weapons to Hizballah. Syria also continues to host the leadership
of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Damascus. In addition,
despite some progress, foreign fighters continue to transit Syria
on their way to Iraq: a trend which fuels violence in Iraq and
creates a threat to Syria itself.
Our EU partners share many of our concerns about
Syria. One area that we work together particularly closely on
is human rights. In past months, we have seen a worrying deterioration
in the human rights situation in Syria, with activists being detained
simply for holding a meeting calling for greater democratic rights.
The use of torture also remains a serious concern, and there are
several reports of suspects dying during interrogation. The British
Embassy in Damascus, working with other EU missions, continues
to press the Syrians to improve conditions in general, as well
to raise individual cases of concern. In addition, the EU Presidency
made a statement on 1 February 2008 condemning the recent deterioration
in the situation.
I also agreed to follow up Lord Hannay's question
on Africa with more detail on the EU's approach to the human rights
situation in Zimbabwe.
The 2007 EU Annual Report on Human Rights noted
that the dire human rights situation in Zimbabwe had continued
to deteriorate, with brutal treatment of opposition figures, human
rights activists, and ordinary citizens exercising their right
to freedom of expression, association and assembly.
The EU closely monitors and takes appropriate
action on human rights violations in Zimbabwe, most recently making
a demarche to the Zimbabwe Government on 24 January. Under the
joint EU-Africa Strategy and Action Plan, agreed at the EU/Africa
Summit in December 2007, the Government of Zimbabwe has an obligation
to protect human rights.
Since 2002 the EU's targeted measures on Zimbabwe
have underlined its concern at the appalling human rights situation
there. Last year they were strengthened with two new names of
human rights abusers added to the list of those subject to a visa
ban and assets freeze. Those measures will be maintained and we
will press for them to be strengthened until there is an improvement
in governance and human rights in Zimbabwe.
13 February 2008
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