Question Period Note: Syria Crisis and Peace Talks

The Syrian conflict involves multiple armed groups and external backers. Ceasefires must be enforced and humanitarian access secured for a meaningful peace process to be possible.

• UN-led intra-Syrian peace negotiations are the only path for a sustainable long-term solution to the conflict. We hope the Constitutional Committee's discussions will lead to mutually satisfactory results.
• Canada strongly supports the inclusion of women in negotiations. Their meaningful participation in decision-making is critical to the success of peace talks, and an eventual political settlement.
• Canada is supporting the necessary tools to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria and to hold responsible those found guilty of such crimes, including the use of chemical weapons.
• Full, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access is vital to reach those most in need, throughout Syria.

• Canada firmly condemns Turkey's military incursion into Syria. Turkey's unilateral action in northeastern Syria undermines regional stability, exacerbates the humanitarian situation and jeopardizes progress achieved in fighting Daesh.

With the military and political support of Russia and Iran, the Assad regime holds a significant portion of core inhabited areas of Syria. Efforts to hold the Assad regime accountable are ongoing, despite Russia's vetoing thirteen Syria-related UNSC resolutions. The regime's continued disregard for international standards and norms, including its repeated use of chemical weapons, has been condemned internationally. The regime stands accused of more than 100 chemical incidents over the course of the war. In April 2018, Russia vetoed a US-led UNSC resolution seeking accountability for the use of chemical weapons in Syria, following an attack on the Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta.
In April 2019, the regime launched Operation Idlib Dawn with Russia's support to reclaim territory in Idlib province, the last area remaining under opposition control. A ceasefire announced by Russia in August largely holds for now. However, resumption of hostilities in the near future is very likely.
Following commencement of US troop withdrawal from positions near the Syria-Turkey border, on 9 October Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring, a unilateral incursion into northeastern Syria aimed at pushing back Kurdish-led forces, which Turkey views as terrorists. The Turkish operation was quickly and widely condemned by Canada and most allies.
Talks between Turkey, Russia, Iran, and Syria (Astana process) are ongoing. In September 2019, the leaders of Turkey, Russia and Iran announced agreement on the composition of a 150-member constitutional committee, made up of equal numbers of government, opposition, and “independent” representatives. The UN-led Geneva process has largely been stalled owing to a lack of constructive engagement by the regime.
Canada has welcomed over 64,000 Syrian refugees since November 2015 and is providing up to $3.5 billion over five years (2016-2021) in military, security, stabilization, humanitarian and development assistance to the region in response to the Syrian and Iraqi crises. Canada is also supporting accountability efforts for Syria, including by funding evidence collection and documentation concerning atrocities and crimes against humanity.

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