A short debate took place in the UK House of Lords, about the situation in Syria per questions asked by Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale (Labour party).
Lord McConnell starts his speech by describing the current situation in Syria as “so unacceptable and so strategically disastrous.” McConnell continues to emphasise the importance of security and British values as part of a newly emerging ‘vision’: global Britain.
The Lord continues to explain that “while the actions of the current Administration in the United States of America might be unpredictable at times, what has happened in these past two weeks was entirely predictable. Turkey threatened regularly to take the action that it has, while the USA has, from time to time over the last few months, indicated that it might allow it to do so.” McConell draws his first question, on this basis, inquiring what representations the UK government has taken to deter the current situation from unfolding.
Highlighting that “we have seen our allies, the Kurds, abandoned,” the Lord added that 160,000 people, including around 80,000 children, have been displaced from their homes and are now at serious risk. “We have seen religious minorities, already persecuted by some of the armed gangs operating in the area—at times in close co-ordination with the Turkish army—now displaced from their ancestral homelands. We have seen captured fighters from Islamic State, or Daesh, potentially let loose.” Touching on the possible use of chemical weapons by the Turkish army, the Lord drew attention to the face that “those who have in recent times stood against democracy and human rights and for other forms of action—Syria, Russia and, indeed, Turkey—have been strengthened in their positions, regionally and globally.”
Speaking on Trumps inconsistent announcement that 100 ISIS fighters have already been released from the camps, in which they were being detained, the Lord underlined that “this figure was minimised by the spokesperson for the United States Government who announced it.” Emphasising the impact that even a single one of these gang members can have on the public, the Lord stated that “even one suicide bomber can cause carnage on the streets of Europe or North America, or indeed in the region, in Iraq or elsewhere.” The Lord’s second question is to resolve what the British government is doing as part of the coalition to ensure that jihadists are continued to be captured, and how the guards of the camp are being protected.
The Lord challenged “what is acceptable within NATO,” calling for stronger action regarding arms sales to Turkey, and more thought as to the purpose to which those arms might be put. In regards to the humanitarian crisis, the Lord asked what action was being taken about the use of UK resources, “inside Iraq and inside Syria, to help address the humanitarian needs that will undoubtedly develop?”
The Lord continued, “Will we continue to press for the justice required by those immediate victims, particularly the Yazidis and other persecuted religious minorities? What action will be taken to provide justice for them and to try members of Islamic State/Daesh for their rapes, beatings and murders in attempting to carry out genocide against the Yazidis and others?
“However difficult it might be, we cannot ignore the alleged use of chemical weapons, not just by the Syrian regime but now by the Turkish Government as well. What action will we take to try to ensure that anybody who is alleged to have used chemical weapons is successfully investigated and, if necessary, prosecuted?”
While many one-dimensional answers were given, certain details drew attention.
Firstly, Lord Howell of Guildford stated that the UK’s policy in relation to the region “has been an unmitigated disaster.” Also recognizing the threats produced by Turkey, the Lord said “we have now got to the point where NATO is being threatened in a very dangerous way.” In terms of the betrayal of the Kurds, the Lord stated that “America has shown itself to be an utterly unreliable and erratic ally, changing its policy from day to day.”
The Lord concluded his explanation by adding the following: “Let us at least rescue some principle out of this whole imbroglio. That is my plea to the Minister and I would dearly like to know whether we will indeed give the support we can to the Kurds, even while they are being attacked from all sides, by Assad, Russia and Turkey. They are our friends. We should stick by our friends.”
Another interesting answer came from Lord Alderice, who stated that “the second thing that the western world has done consistently and that we need to change is betraying the Kurds. In 1920, under the treaty of Sèvres, there ought to have been a Kurdish state, but in the subsequent treaty of Lausanne, they were abandoned. They have been abandoned time after time after time and have now been abandoned again by the United States, which benefited so enormously from their courage and commitment in dealing with Daesh.
That betrayal of the Kurds is something that has not changed, but must be changed, not just for good moral reasons but for political and strategic reasons too.”
Questionning the genuity of Turkey as a NATO ally, the Lord also stated that it would have been inconceivable some years ago for a NATO ally to obtain weapons in such circumstances. Lastly, the Lord added that there may be worse to come because there have been indications from Turkey that it may wish to obtain nuclear arms. “We know the Saudis have been talking in similar terms and that they have relationships with Pakistan. Turkey talking in such a way, along with the breakdown of the treaty with Iran and the situation in Israel, creates a situation that is potentially globally catastrophic.”
Lord Alton of Liverpool also raised concerns in the same direction. Drawing attention to known jihadists fighting alongside the Turkish army in this conflict, the Lord asked “what is being done to evaluate the credibility of those names and how are we holding Turkey to account?”
Regarding Turkey’s membership of NATO, the Lord stated that “Turkey today is very different from the Turkey that joined NATO in 1952.” Citing the requirements of candidates of NATO, the Lord cited that they must have “stable democratic systems, pursue the peaceful settlement of territorial and ethnic disputes, have good relations with their neighbours, show commitment to the rule of law and human rights”. The Lord concluded by asking that the Minister explains “on the basis of Turkey’s actions in northern Syria, which of those criteria still apply to [Turkey].”
