Graham Kennedy: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Graham Kennedy: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 07 February 2012. Volume:677;Page:90. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
10. 
Dr KENNEDY GRAHAM (Green) 
 to the  
Minister of Foreign Affairs 
: What has the Government publicly said in response to the attack by Syrian forces on its own citizens in Homs and how does it see the crisis there being resolved? 
Hon MURRAY McCULLY (Minister of Foreign Affairs) 
: 
The Government has condemned the attacks by Syrian forces on Syrian citizens. Dealing with the current situation I have this morning issued a statement on behalf of the New Zealand Government condemning yesterday’s bombardment of Syrian citizens in Homs resulting in a reported death toll of 50. As the member may know Syria does not have an ambassador resident in New Zealand but I have asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to request that the Syrian chargé based in Canberra attends the ministry to hear our concerns directly. Over recent weeks we have taken opportunities to encourage and commend Arab League representatives for the initiatives taken by that organisation. We remain deeply disappointed that the United Nations Security Council members have been unable to agree the form of a suitable resolution and have urged that they try harder to find agreement in light of the escalating violence. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: Although the Minister says that by and large his Government endorses the Arab League’s work will it endorse the precise plan for a Syrian-led transition to a democratic and plural political system through political dialogue between the Syrian Government and the whole spectrum of the Syrian opposition? 
Hon MURRAY McCULLY 
: I do not think it is helpful for us to get into the detail. I would simply say that the Government has applauded the leadership shown by the Arab League and I believe the formula that the member has just read out to the House is a sound one. What I would say is that it is imperative that the United Nations Security Council now shows some leadership and resolves the issue that separates other members of the council from Russia and China on the wording of the resolution. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: Does the Minister see any parallels between the Russian-Chinese veto of the Syrian resolution and the persistent US vetoes on the Israeli-Palestine resolutions? 
Hon MURRAY McCULLY 
: I think that range is rather wider than I would care to go in response to the original question. What I would say is that there is a disagreement between China and Russia and the other members of the Security Council over references in effect to regime change in the resolution. I believe that we need to encourage all members of the Security Council to work hard to find an agreeable resolution because that sort of leadership is called for in light of the escalating violence. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister says it ranges a little too widely and yet he just expressed concern over one— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member cannot debate the Minister’s answer. The member asked the Minister for an opinion. The Minister gave an opinion and that is the answer to the question. The member may ask a further supplementary question but he cannot debate the answer by way of a point of order. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: Does the Minister agree that the recent experience in the Security Council shows that the time has come to reform the use of the veto under the UN charter and will he work with other member States towards that goal? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: My goodness! That is a long way from the primary question but I will not deprive the Minister of the opportunity to answer. 
Hon MURRAY McCULLY 
: I do believe that New Zealand needs to take a role in the emerging debate on Security Council reform. Late last year I took the trouble of taking a paper on this matter to Cabinet to ensure that New Zealand was well equipped to join this debate. Over the coming weeks I think the member will see that New Zealand will become more active in promoting Security Council reform. Of course the question of the veto that he refers to is an inherent part of that discussion. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. May I ask the Minister whether he is prepared to table that Cabinet paper that he— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Is leave being sought to table that? Sorry—I am trying to understand. Does the member believe that the Minister is quoting from an official document? 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: He referred to a Cabinet paper pertaining to Security Council reform. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member can be asked to table a document he is quoting from only if it is an official document he is quoting from. Just because he referred to a paper does not mean he has to table it. Can I check with the Minister? Is the Minister quoting from an official document? 
Hon MURRAY McCULLY 
: No I am not but if it assists the House I am happy to indicate that the paper I referred to will be released for public discussion at the appropriate time.