Stone calls for UK government to stop arms sales to Turkey
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A CALL has been made for the UK government to stop arms sales to Turkey over its military operations in northern Syria and its human rights violations.
It was made in the House of Commons this week by far north MP, Jamie Stone, who also urged the government to extend its vulnerable persons resettlement scheme. The government has agreed to one year’s further commitment to the vulnerable persons resettlement scheme which provides sanctuary to some of the most vulnerable Syrians, including children and young people.
Speaking in the House of Commons, the Liberal Democrat MP, said: "My party absolutely does not support the sale of arms to any regimes that carry out human rights violations.
"The Foreign Secretary has said the UK will keep its arms exports to Turkey under ‘careful review’ but this does not go far enough. The Liberal Democrats have long called for arms exports to Saudi Arabia to be halted and we are now asking the government to follow our European allies and suspend arms sales to Turkey in the light of these human rights abuses.
"And we must recognise that many victims of this war are children. Many have lost their families and are frightened and alone.
"The Lib Dems demand better. The UK must show compassion, redouble efforts and increase the number of people we are resettling."
Mr Stone added: "The plight of the young people is truly appalling. They are frightened and they are alone, and it doesn’t bear thinking about what they are going through right now. There is a question mark over the vulnerable persons resettlement scheme, we don’t know how long it’s going to be there for.
"Can I make a plea to the government to please extend that scheme and show compassion and resettle these young people here among all of us who care for them."
The UK government said it is to suspend arms export licences to Turkey amid concerns over its operation in Syria.
The Turkish offensive, which began last week, intends to oust Kurdish-led forces from the border region. Dozens of civilians have been killed in the operation so far and around 160,000 have fled the area.
The Turkish government says it wants to create a 'safe zone' to resettle as many as two million Syrian refugees who are in Turkey.
According to a report on the BBC, the move by the government does not mean all UK arms sales to Turkey will be suspended – exports could continue under existing licence.
But the measure brings the UK into line with other European powers which have said they would block future arms deals to Turkey.
