Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will recognise the new government of Syria, and what plans they have to help the new government to secure a fair and just administration of Syria.

The Foreign Secretary visited Damascus on 5 July to renew UK-Syria relations and reiterate UK support to the Syrian Government as it seeks to rebuild the economy and deliver an inclusive political transition. We welcome the progress made, including representative appointments to the Cabinet, a commitment to free and fair elections, and provisions on freedom of expression and freedom of religion and belief in the Constitutional Declaration. We will continue to work with the Syrian Government to ensure the political transition proceeds in a genuinely inclusive way and protects the rights of all Syrians, regardless of religious or ethnic background.