International Syria Support Group: Airdrops Debate

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Department: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

International Syria Support Group: Airdrops

Ann Clwyd Excerpts
Thursday 9th June 2016

(8 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Lidington Portrait Mr Lidington
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We have not been asked to provide that kind of assistance to the UN. Obviously, we would consider any request that we received from the UN seriously and sympathetically, but my understanding is that the UN would prefer to use civilian airports, because that would emphasise to all parties the humanitarian, rather than political, nature of the flights.

Ann Clwyd Portrait Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley) (Lab)
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Bashar al-Assad’s father-in-law lives in London. He is a retired doctor. He used to boast—he has boasted to me—that he had considerable influence over his son-in-law. Has anyone in the Foreign Office met Bashar al-Assad’s father-in-law? That might be one additional approach that we could try.

David Lidington Portrait Mr Lidington
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I do not know whether there has been a recent conversation with Assad’s father-in-law, but I will ensure that that point is noted in the Foreign Office, and will perhaps write to the right hon. Lady.