UK confirms diplomatic contacts with Syrian rebel alliance

by time news

2024-12-16 00:02:00

OR ‍ Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on the BBC website⁤ that the coalition known ⁢in Arabic as ‘Hayat Tahrir al Sham‘ (HTS) remains banned in the⁢ UK, but this does not prevent diplomatic⁢ contacts: “We have diplomatic contacts, as‌ it would be expected.”

“We want to see ‍a‌ government [sírio] representative ‌and inclusive. We want stockpiles of chemical weapons to ‍be neutralized and not used, and we want to ensure that the ‌violence does not continue,”⁤ he said, according to ​the BBC.

“For ⁤these reasons, ​we try‌ to deal with HTS whenever necessary, using the channels available to us, ‍wich are diplomacy and, of course, secret ‍services,” the head of⁤ the Ministry​ of ⁢Foreign Affairs said.

The BBC points out that diplomatic contacts with the Syrian association do not meen Lammy himself was involved, nor that they took place at embassy level, as the‌ British representation in Damascus‍ was closed in 2013.

The minister did not⁢ say whether the British ⁢government plans to remove HTS, which has emerged as ‌an al-Qaeda affiliate,‌ from the‍ list of terrorist groups. “Al-Qaeda​ is responsible for a huge loss of life ‌on British soil,” Lammy said.

“We will judge them for​ their actions. I will not ⁣comment ​on future bans, but obviously we‌ recognize that⁣ this is an critically important moment for Syria,” he added, according to the public broadcaster.

US Secretary of ‌state Antony Blinken said in jordan on Saturday that his country ‍was also in contact with the Islamic alliance.

lammy’s announcement comes after his ministry announced on Sunday it would send £50 million (around €60 million) in humanitarian aid to vulnerable‌ Syrians, following the overthrow of the Assad regime after 24 years in power.

The foreign minister said emergency aid will be delivered through the ⁣United Nations and non-governmental organizations to people inside⁣ Syria, as well as ​refugees in Lebanon and jordan.

The UK will⁣ also allocate around ‍120,000 pounds (145,000 euros) to ⁣the Organization for ⁢the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), according to a statement.

High representatives from the united States, France,⁣ Turkey, ‍the United Kingdom and‍ eight Arab countries,‍ as well as the United Nations and the European Union, expressed “unanimous” support for an “inclusive‌ political process” in Syria, without ⁢”terrorism” ​and without “exclusion” from any of the country’s components, in a meeting ⁢held on⁣ Saturday in the ⁢Jordanian city of‌ Aqaba.

The meeting was ⁤called by⁣ Jordanian King Abdullah II to agree on a united position on the new era in Syria.

Lammy said on Sunday that​ the change of government “provides a unique prospect” for‍ the Syrian people and ​promised British support, first ⁢with humanitarian aid​ for​ food‌ and medicine and then at ‌diplomatic level, to ‌ensure “better governance for the⁢ future of Syria”.

“This‌ weekend, ⁣the UK and its partners came together to agree ⁢the principles needed⁣ to ⁢support a Syrian-lead transition political process. It is vital that the future‍ Syrian government brings all groups​ together to⁤ ensure stability and respect that the Syrian people deserve,” he said.

read also: Macron and the Pope discuss Ukraine and Syria ​during their visit to Corsica

How can ‌organizations implement responsible AI practices effectively?

Interview between Time.news Editor and AI Ethics Expert

Interviewer ‍(Time.news‍ Editor): ⁣ Welcome,everyone,to this special edition of Time.news. Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Emily Chen,⁢ a leading expert in AI ‍ethics. Dr. Chen, thank you for⁤ joining us today.

Dr. Emily chen: ​ thank you for having me! I’m excited to discuss the​ fascinating, and often controversial, world of artificial intelligence.

Interviewer: To kick things off,let’s talk about the current landscape of AI technology. From social media algorithms⁤ to autonomous vehicles, AI is everywhere. What are the most pressing ethical concerns you see today?

Dr. Chen: Great question! One of the major concerns is bias in AI systems. Since these systems learn from past data, ⁤they can ‌inadvertently perpetuate existing biases,⁤ leading⁤ to unjust outcomes. For instance, ‍in hiring algorithms, there have ⁣been cases where candidates from certain demographic backgrounds are unfairly filtered ⁣out.

interviewer: That’s‌ eye-opening. With AI becoming a staple in many sectors, how ‌can organizations ensure ⁣that they are implementing AI responsibly and ethically?

Dr. Chen: Organizations must adopt an ethical framework that guides thier AI development. This can include diverse teams to mitigate biases, regular audits of​ algorithms, and establishing‌ clear accountability structures. Transparency is key; stakeholders must understand ⁣how AI​ decisions are ⁣made.

Interviewer: Speaking of transparency, there’s been a lot of buzz⁣ about the “black box” nature of some AI systems. Can you elaborate on why this is a problem?

Dr. Chen: Absolutely! The “black box” issue arises when ⁢the decision-making process of an AI system isn’t understandable—even to ‌its creators. This ⁣lack of clarity can lead to mistrust, especially ‌when AI systems make decisions that considerably impact lives, such​ as in ‍healthcare or law enforcement. Transparency ensures that⁢ people can question and‍ understand AI ‌systems.

Interviewer: In your opinion, how should governments regulate AI without stifling innovation?

Dr. Chen: It’s a delicate balance. Regulations should focus on accountability ⁤and ethical considerations without overly hindering technological advancement.⁢ as‌ an example, establishing guidelines for transparency and fairness could promote responsible⁣ AI innovation, rather than prohibiting new technologies altogether.

interviewer: ​ With rapid developments in AI, such as generative models like ChatGPT, how ⁤do you ⁢see the public’s understanding of AI evolving?

Dr. Chen: As AI becomes more integrated into everyday life, public understanding is crucial. ⁢Education will play a key role. We need to demystify AI ⁣for everyone, not just tech experts. Workshops, public forums, and accessible online resources can definitely help people grasp the implications of these technologies and encourage informed discussions.

Interviewer: That’s a powerful perspective. Lastly,Dr. Chen,what gives you hope for the future of AI ⁤ethics?

Dr. Chen: I’m optimistic as ​there’s a growing awareness of the importance of‌ ethical AI. The conversations around fairness, accountability, and ‌transparency are taking⁢ center stage, not just among ⁤experts but also in the wider public and industry. As we continue to engage in these⁣ dialogues, I beleive we can steer AI towards a positive and equitable future.

Interviewer: thank you, Dr. Chen, for sharing your insights⁤ with us ⁢today. It’s ⁣clear that while⁣ challenges exist, proactive steps can lead us to a more ethical approach to AI.

Dr. Chen: Thank you for the chance to discuss this⁣ crucial topic. I believe that by working ‍together, we can harness the power of AI while ensuring it serves the ⁤greater ‌good.

Interviewer: And thank you to ⁤our audience for tuning in. Stay informed and engaged as we navigate the evolving landscape of technology and ⁢ethics. Untill next time!

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