Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 2

Written Answers. - Special Rapporteurs.

Tony Gregory

Question:

109 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will request the UN Commission to appoint a special rapporteur on human rights for Algeria and to rescind the EU Association Agreement if visas are not granted to EU officials to oversee the agreement process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7522/02]

Dick Spring

Question:

116 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise at the appropriate fora the refusal of the Algerian authorities to grant visas to the technical committee of the EU to oversee civil society representation in Algeria. [7826/02]

Dick Spring

Question:

117 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will request the UN to appoint a special rapporteur for human rights in Algeria. [7827/02]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 109, 116 and 117 together.

The Government of Algeria continues to oppose the appointment of a UN special rapporteur and it appears that, as on previous occasions, there would be insufficient support among the current members of the UN Commission for Human Rights for such a proposal to succeed. In such circumstances, it would be counterproductive were a proposal to be made only to be defeated.

Reports by both the UN special rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions and the special rapporteur on torture are due to be considered at the forthcoming United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. It is expected that these would, inter alia, comment on developments in Algeria. The question of access for special rapporteurs to report at first hand on human rights situations of concern in a number of countries, not only Algeria, will also be an issue in Geneva. The EU will again call on Algeria to give access to these rapporteurs.

Ireland and our EU partners will again refer to the situation in Algeria at Geneva under agenda item 9, which concerns the question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Government will continue to present its view that a more co-operative approach by Algeria to the utilisation of the human rights protection machinery of the United Nations, including the role of special rapporteurs, would be a constructive step in helping to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the current tragic situation and to develop the rule of law and strengthen the democratic process in Algeria.

When a delegation from the external relations directorate of the European Commission under the EU-sponsored initiative for human rights and democracy recently applied to visit Algeria, a problem arose with the visa applications. I am informed that this was of a technical nature. I understand that the visit has had to be postponed, but that it is expected to go ahead in April. The visit is part of the EU's bilateral activities with Algeria to promote human rights and democracy and is part of the MEDA programme, the principal financial instrument of the EU for the implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.

I believe that the human rights dialogue between the EU and Algeria will be enhanced by the recently negotiated EU-Algeria Association Agreement under the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. In particular, Article 2 of the agreement states that respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights, as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, will guide the internal and international policies of the parties and will constitute an essential element of the agreement. The agreement also commits Algeria to develop the rule of law and democracy, including the upholding of fundamental freedoms. Ireland expects to see these commitments implemented fully in practice.