Hansard

Israel: Syria and Iran

Volume 685: debated on Monday 9 October 2006

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Lord Turnberg

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they have made to the governments of Syria and Iran about their possible role in promoting terrorism against Israel.[HL7078]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(Lord Triesman)

We have summoned both the Syrian and Iranian Ambassador in London to discuss the current situation in Lebanon with them. As my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary said in another place on 25 July:

“We are gravely concerned about the crisis in Lebanon. Syrian and Iranian support for Hezbollah and other extremist groups is encouraging extremism, threatening the stability of the region and putting peace in the middle east further out of reach. We call on Syria and Iran to stop their support for Hezbollah and end their interference in Lebanese internal affairs in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1680”.—(Official Report, Commons, 25/7/06; col. 717.)

Lord Turnberg

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have drawn the attention of the United Nations Security Council to the impact on the peace process in the Middle East caused by the actions of Hezbollah and Hamas with the apparent support of Syria and Iran.[HL7079]

Lord Triesman

We are very concerned about the role of Syria and Iran in Lebanon. Through their support for Hezbollah Iran and Syria are encouraging extremism, threatening the stability of the region, and putting peace in the Middle East further out of reach. We have called on Syria and Iran to stop their support for Hezbollah and end their interference in Lebanese internal affairs in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1680.

As we said at the UN Security Council on 21 July, “Hezbollah does not act alone. As other speakers have said, behind it, lending support and giving direction, are Syria and Iran. Syria provides material support to Hezbollah and facilitates the transfer of weapons, including thousands of missiles, which appear to be supplied by Iran to Hezbollah. Ultimately, long-term stability will be possible only if Syria and Iran end their interference in Lebanese internal affairs, in accordance with Resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006)”.