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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"><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 class="ministerial"> </ins></ins></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"><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></ins></p>
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