asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will list the countries whose operative government the Irish Government recognise as the de jure government, distinguishing between those with which Ireland has full diplomatic relations and others.
6.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Recognition of Governments.
5.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if the Irish Government have categorically refused to recognise the Smith regime in Rhodesia and the military junta in Greece; and if he will make a full statement on the matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together.
Why is the Minister doing that?
The Deputy will understand when he hears my answer.
I propose to circulate with the Official Report a list of the States which we recognise indicating those with which we have formal diplomatic relations.
As the list shows, we have recognised the State of Greece but it is one of the many countries with which we have not formal diplomatic relations. It is not our practice to take formal decisions to recognise the Governments of States with which we have not diplomatic relations.
The Government do not recognise Southern Rhodesia as a sovereign independent State and we have not accorded recognition to the Smith regime.
Following is the list:
LIST of States Recognised by Ireland as of 13th February, 1968.
|
Afghanistan |
Chad |
Gabon |
|
Albania |
Chile |
The Gambia |
|
Algeria |
China |
Ghana |
|
*Argentina |
Colombia |
*Great Britain |
|
*Australia |
Congo (Brazzaville) |
Greece |
|
*Austria |
Congo (Kinshasa) |
Guatemala |
|
Barbados |
Costa Rica |
Guinea |
|
*Belgium |
Cuba |
Guyana |
|
Bhutan |
Cyprus |
Haiti |
|
Bolivia |
Czechoslovakia |
Honduras |
|
Botswana |
Dahomey |
Hungary |
|
Brazil |
*Denmark |
*Iceland |
|
Bulgaria |
Dominican Republic |
*India |
|
Burma |
Ecuador |
Indonesia |
|
Burundi |
El Salvador |
Iran |
|
Cambodia |
Ethiopia |
Iraq |
|
Cameroon |
*Federal Republic of |
Israel |
|
*Canada |
Germany |
*Italy |
|
Central African Republic |
*Finland |
Ivory Coast |
|
Ceylon |
*France |
Jamaica |
|
*Japan |
*Netherlands |
*Sweden |
|
Jordan |
*New Zealand |
*Switzerland |
|
Kenya |
Nicaragua |
Syria |
|
Korea (South) |
Niger |
Thailand |
|
Kuwait |
*Nigeria |
Togo |
|
Laos |
*Norway |
Trinidad and Tobago |
|
Lebanon |
*Pakistan |
Tunisia |
|
Lesotho |
Panama |
*Turkey |
|
Liechtenstein |
Paraguay |
Uganda |
|
Liberia |
Peru |
Union of Soviet Socialist |
|
Libya |
Philippines |
Republics |
|
*Luxembourg |
Poland |
United Arab Republic |
|
Madagascar |
*Portugal |
United Republic of |
|
Malawi |
Romania |
Tanzania |
|
*Malaysia |
Rwanda |
*United States |
|
Maldive Islands |
Saudi Arabia |
Upper Volta |
|
Mali |
San Marino |
Uruguay |
|
Malta |
Senegal |
*Vatican City |
|
Mauritania |
Sierra Leone |
Viet-Nam (South) |
|
Mexico |
Singapore |
Venezuela |
|
Monaco |
Somalia |
Western Samoa |
|
Mongolia (Outer) |
South Africa |
Yemen |
|
Morocco |
Southern Yemen |
Yugoslavia |
|
Nauru |
*Spain |
Zambia |
|
Nepal |
Sudan |
* States with which Ireland has formal diplomatic relations.
Is the Minister aware that in the case of Greece the Council of Europe have suspended this country? Is he aware that this is a question in which many European countries are interested? Will he say if this Government have any viewpoint on the totalitarian regime in Greece at the present time?
That does not arise out of the question. There are on an average several changes of government all over the world in States with which we do not have diplomatic relations and we do not do anything formal about it.
I have a memory of attitudes and governments which changed with the appearance of tanks in the streets. Is the Minister aware that four countries in Europe, such as Norway, Sweden and Denmark have already brought the case of Greece before the Court of Human Rights? So far as I know this Government have not made their position clear in regards to Greece. Is this another example of lack of firm policy on the part of the Minister?
I do not know to what the Deputy refers when he speaks about states whose governments were changed with tanks in the streets unless he is referring to Hungary.
I am referring to Greece as well, as the Minister knows.
I understand that the Government of the Soviet Union are sending back their Ambassador to Greece.
Has the Minister any viewpoint on the present Greek regime? Evidently he has not.
I have my own personal views on a lot of things that I do not feel it my duty to say, as the Minister representing this country.
Whatever Britain recognises, we recognise: that is it. Into the Empire with your heads up.