Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendations in the verdict of the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal on Turkey and Kurds, published in May; and whether they will discuss the findings within NATO.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is concerned by the ongoing violence in some areas of south-eastern Turkey. We condemn acts of violence by Kurdish militant groups, including the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), and urge an end to the conflict and a resumption of the peace process between the PKK and the Turkish government. We regularly urge the Turkish authorities to respect human rights in the course of anti-terror operations, and the Foreign Secretary and Her Majesty's Ambassador to Turkey have been clear that the rule of law must be upheld and freedom of expression permitted. We have raised human rights concerns with Turkey within NATO meetings, and will continue to monitor these issues closely.
Asked by: Rosie Duffield (Labour - Canterbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of allegations that the Kurdish population in Northern Syria are being displaced from their homes by forces loyal to the Turkish Government.
Answered by Alan Duncan
We are aware of reports of the displacement of over 130,000 civilians, both Kurds and other groups, from areas in Afrin following the Turkish military operation. It is essential that the rights of internally displaced persons are protected, including the protection of property, and that those who wish to return are able to do so freely and safely. We continue to make this point clearly in our close dialogue with Turkey about Syria. Turkey has assured us of its commitment to respect international law in its operations.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department plans to provide medical support for people affected by recent military action between Turkish Government forces and Kurds.
Answered by Alistair Burt
UK-funded partners have been delivering humanitarian assistance in Afrin including health and protection services. Activities inside Afrin are currently suspended due to the recent military action. Partners are pre-positioning supplies to help meet the needs of those fleeing the area. We call on all parties to facilitate access for life-saving humanitarian aid, and to allow freedom of movement for those caught up in the violence, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The UK will continue to engage with the Government of Turkey on issues relating to the current operation. The Prime Minister spoke to President Erdogan on 26 January where she urged Turkey to avoid any escalation in violence and to protect civilians, while recognising its legitimate interest in the security of its borders.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with President Erdogan on ensuring protection for the rights of Kurds and Christians in Turkey.
Answered by Alan Duncan
We take a strong interest in the situation of minority groups in Turkey and encourage the Turkish authorities to safeguard their welfare and fundamental human rights. We have raised human rights issues regularly with Turkey at the highest levels, including in recent discussions between the Prime Minister and President Erdogan.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his counterpart in Turkey on the need for a negotiated peaceful and democratic solution to the Kurdish question in Syria and in Turkey.
Answered by Alan Duncan
We encourage Turkish and Kurdish political leaders to resolve disputes through negotiation. The Foreign Secretary and our Ambassador to Turkey have emphasised to the Turkish government the importance of returning to the peace process and the need to respect human rights for all citizens. We are clear that PKK violence must end, and stand ready to help in any way we can. In Syria, we continue to work for a sustainable national political settlement which protects the rights of all Syrians, including Kurds.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what diplomatic, military, and humanitarian training and support they have provided to the Turkish Kurds in the last two years.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In the past two years, our Embassy in Ankara has supported a number of civil society projects that aim to build understanding and dialogue on the Kurdish issue and other minority rights issues in Turkey.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the welfare of the Kurdish people in Syria, Turkey and Iraq.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Kurdish people in Syria have suffered during the conflict, alongside much of the country's population, including through the brutality of both the Assad regime and terrorist groups like Daesh. As such Syrian Kurds have been amongst the recipients of UK aid in our largest ever response to a humanitarian crisis (£2.4 billion since the start of the crisis). UK funding is distributed on the basis of need, to ensure civilians are not discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion, or ethnicity. In the same way, our policy position is that a transition away from the Assad regime to a government that can protect the rights of all Syrians, unite the country and end the conflict is necessary to protect all minority groups: we continue to use all of our diplomatic levers to advocate for this.
All communities in Iraq have also suffered at the hands of Daesh. We are committed to ensuring that the Kurds in Iraq can look forward to a brighter future within a stable, democratic and unified Iraq. One that can provide the security, jobs, healthcare and education that all Iraqis want and deserve, including the Kurds. The Department for International Development has provided £209.5 million in life-saving humanitarian aid to Iraq since June 2014, which has helped to support internally displaced people across Iraq, including those hosted in the Kurdistan region.
We are concerned by ongoing violence and reports of civilian casualties in South Eastern Turkey where a significant proportion of the Kurdish community live, and a worsening humanitarian situation in that region. We urge the Turkish state to treat all of its citizens equally, regardless of ethnicity or faith. We regularly urge the Turkish authorities to respect human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, and to support the rule of law. We will continue to monitor these issues closely.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Turkish counterpart on ensuring that Kurds are part of Syria peace talks.
Answered by David Lidington
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) has had a number of conversations about Syrian peace talks with the Foreign Minister of Turkey and other Turkish leaders, including during his recent visit to Turkey and at the Syria Conference in London. There was agreement on the importance of support to intra-Syrian negotiations on political transition in Syria. Any political settlement must be inclusive and we trust that the process will bring in a full range of Syria groups at the right time.
Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Final Resolution of the 12th International Conference on the European Union, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds, held at the European Parliament in January.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
While we do not agree with all points made in the Final Resolution of the 12th International Conference on the EU, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds, held at the European Parliament in January, we too call for the Kurdistan Workers' Party to cease its attacks and share the participants’ desire to see a return to the peace process.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implications for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq of the reported construction by Kurdish forces of a trench dividing Iraqi territory, and what discussions they have had with (1) the government of Iraq, (2) the Kurdistan Regional Government, (3) the United States, and (4) Turkey, about that development.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We are aware that Iraqi Kurdish forces are in the process of constructing a trench at sections of the frontline with Daesh. The Kurdistan Regional government has stated that the trench, in addition to other fortifications, is required to deter Daesh suicide attacks, which frequently involve assaults using multiple vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices. We are monitoring the situation closely.
The Government is committed to a united Iraq. We continue to encourage the Government of Iraq and Kurdistan Regional government to resolve any disagreements over internal boundaries in a way that is transparent and in line with the provisions of the Iraqi constitution. We regularly discuss issues relating to the Iraqi Kurds with our Global Coalition partners, including the US and Turkey.