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Select committee: Foreign Affairs Committee

6th Special Report - Kurdish aspirations and the interests of the UK: Government response to the Committee's Third Report

Published 20 April 2018

Foreign Affairs Committee Kurdish aspirations and the interests of the UK inquiry Report on parliament.uk ↗

At a glance

The government's response

This document responds to 3rd Report - Kurdish aspirations and the interests of the UK.

This is the government's response, published 20 April 2018.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government welcomes the Committee's report and responds to each recommendation, with agreement on some points on Iraq and a restated position on Syria, the PYD/YPG and Turkey.

  • On facilitating dialogue between Baghdad and Erbil, it says "We agree" that the FCO has played an important role and should continue; it makes clear it is willing to facilitate discussion "should this be requested by both parties".
  • On the Kurdistan Region, it says it is "concerned by the potential monopolisation of power and curtailment of democracy" and that it will "continue to, challenge them in these areas".
  • On the PYD/YPG and PKK, it says it is "aware of ideological and organisational links", does not proscribe the PYD/YPG, and has "limited contact" with them and none with the PKK.
  • On Syria, it says UK airstrikes supported the SDF against Daesh, with no weapons, funds or equipment provided, and it plans to "maintain this limited contact" with the PYD. Inclusion in the Geneva talks is for the UN Special Envoy to decide.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

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