Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have supported any peace or reconciliation efforts in Syria and Iraq.

The UK strongly supports international and local efforts to seek a comprehensive political settlement in Syria, in particular the political process being taken forward by UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura. The UK is funding discussions between non-state actors representing key interest groups to encourage a Syrian national dialogue, as well as local level peace-building projects to mediate and mitigate local conflicts and to strengthen cohesion and moderate voices in these communities. The UK fully supports Prime Minister Abadi’s work to deliver the reforms and political reconciliation needed to persuade all of Iraq’s communities – Shias, Sunnis and Kurds – that they have a stake in Iraq’s future. In 2015/16 we will provide funding for a number of projects in Iraq designed to support community cohesion and encourage reconciliation, acceptance and tolerance between communities at a grass roots level. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has also deployed or reassigned 20 officers to help better understand and support the political process in Iraq, including efforts to reach out to members of the Sunni community.