asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the present Government policy concerning a Middle East settlement and if he has made any representations in the United Nations or elsewhere to the parties concerned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Middle East Policy.
12.
The Government policy concerning a settlement for the problem of the Middle East was set out in the Minister's address on behalf of the nine EEC countries to the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September last. A copy of this speech has been deposited in the Library of this House. To summarise, the Nine believe that a comprehensive settlement must be based on Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, applied in all their parts and on all fronts and on the following principles: (i) the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force; (ii) the ending of the territorial occupation maintained by Israel since the 1967 conflict; (iii) the right of every State in the area, including Israel, to live in peace within secure and recognised boundaries; (iv) recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinians, including their right to a homeland and their right, within the framework set by a peace settlement, to determine their own future as a people.
An aspect of the Middle East situation which is of particular concern to the EEC countries and of special interest to Ireland is the situation in Lebanon. The Nine have frequently reaffirmed their support for that country's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, most recently following the meeting of Foreign Ministers in Dublin on 11 September. On that occasion they recognised the courageous efforts made by the Lebanese Government to promote the security of its people and the restoration of its authority over the whole of its territory.
The views of the Nine have been set out on numerous occasions at the UN General Assembly. These views, as well as the concern of the Nine in regard to specific developments, are brought to the attention of governments in the area as circumstances require.
While we hold the Presidency of the Community there may be understandable confusion between Community policy and our own policy. My question relates to the policy of this Government, not to the policies of the other member states. Does the Minister agree that there is a dangerous ambivalence in the policies of the individual member states towards the Middle East, an ambivalence which appears to suggest that as the price of oil increases——
The Deputy is making a statement.
The situation in this area has the potential of a third world war. Does the Minister agree that there is ambivalence towards a settlement in the Middle East and that the ambivalence relates more to the increasing price of oil than to sincerity on the part of these countries towards a settlement and that it is important for us to do our best to make our contribution, which should relate to some form of autonomy for the people on the West Bank as well as absolute assurances on the stability and security of the State of Israel?
I agree with the latter part of the Deputy's question. We should make provision for the Palestinians and guarantee the territorial integrity of Israel.
Has the Minister's search of the files disclosed any individual utterance of the Minister as Foreign Minister of this country rather than as President of the EEC? A distinction must be made between our foreign policy and the foreign policy of the Community.
Our foreign policy on the Middle East is as I said in reply to the Deputy's question.
Would the Minister agree that both the Irish policy and the EEC policy in relation to the Palestinians have been read many times by the Arabian Embassies but are not believed by them?
The Deputy is making a statement.
As the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry has not been able to assure me that there has been an individual search by our Foreign Minister for a contribution towards the solution of this problem, would he take up this question with the Minister for Foreign Affairs to see if we can use our good offices to advance the situation?
The Deputy is making a speech.
I agree with the Deputy that this matter is important and I will certainly take it up with the Minister for Foreign Affairs.