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<p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question
in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with
the Member.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The basis for reaching the conclusion
that the Assad regime has lost all legitimacy is the clear evidence of the atrocities
the regime has committed against the Syrian people, as documented by the UN Commission
of Inquiry on Syria and other independent bodies. These atrocities include, but are
not limited to, the repeated use of chemical weapons; repeated violations of international
humanitarian law including attacks on civilian infrastructure such as schools and
hospitals; and systematic use of torture, including sexual violence, and summary execution
against those suspected of opposition to the regime. As the regime's security forces
have played a major role in directing and committing these atrocities, we have no
intention of encouraging the Global Coalition to cooperate with them.</ins></p><p><ins
class="ministerial">The UK policy towards Sudan has been one of clear and public condemnation
of human rights abuses, alongside a very limited process of engagement to explain
to the Sudanese Government what needed to change in order that Sudan could progress
and their relations with the international community could improve. As the protest
movement gathered pace in 2018 and 2019, we publicly supported the calls of those
protestors and pressured the government to heed those demands. Our approach has been
described by many in the protest movement, and those now in government, as well judged
and critical.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Our engagement with Sudan's former
regime sought to maintain pressure on the then Sudanese authorities to make democratic
reforms. The Strategic Dialogues also enabled us to have frank and constructive exchanges
on pressing issues such as increasing protections for human rights and macroeconomic
reform; the resolution of conflict and matters related to UN peacekeeping; and, to
address shared threats including terrorism, modern slavery and illegal migration.
We repeatedly raised our deep concern, both publicly and directly on a range of issues,
including the response to the protest movement. The UK, alongside Troika partners
(US and Norway) and Canada, made clear in a statement of 8 January that the (then)
Government of Sudan's actions and decisions towards protestors would impact our approach
to future engagement.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Following the overthrow
of Omar al Bashir, an agreement was reached between the Transitional Military Council
and Forces of Freedom and Change who represented the protestors. The UK welcomes the
appointment of a civilian led government and Prime Minister Hamdok's agenda of freedom,
peace and justice for all in Sudan. We are engaging with him and the newly formed
government on how best we can practically support these ambitions towards Sudan's
democratic transition. In addition to supporting the reforms and changes that the
people of Sudan deserve, we will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to those
in need across Sudan.</ins></p>
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