Syria: anti-Government Forces

George Howarth Excerpts
Monday 4th March 2013

(11 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Swire Portrait Mr Swire
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My hon. Friend makes a valid point, although there are a lot of ifs in his question. The whole point of providing the additional aid is to bolster the opposition groups in Syria in order to prevent the country from sliding into the kind of anarchy that he describes.

George Howarth Portrait Mr George Howarth (Knowsley) (Lab)
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Is it not the case that, although all options are still on the table, the slaughter on the ground continues? Does the Minister agree that sadly this is another demonstration of the inadequacy of international organisations, most particularly the United Nations, in dealing with these problems as they arise, and is it not time for major a reform of how international organisations respond to these situations?

Lord Swire Portrait Mr Swire
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I share the right hon. Gentleman’s continuing concern about the inability of either Russia or China to take the same view as other members of the UN Security Council, but I am proud to stand in front of the House to announce that the UK and its EU partners have taken this measure. Where we lead, others should follow.