The Community's humanitarian aid to E1 Salvador was approved by the Council on 17 March in Brussels and will be distributed to the people most in need in E1 Salvador through the International Red Cross. This humanitarian aid consists of (i) approximately £268,000 in emergency aid from Article 950 of the Community Budget and (ii) food aid, consisting of maize and rice, amounting to 1,050 tonnes of cereal equivalent. Ireland strongly pressed for an early positive decision on this Community aid and we are pleased that we can now make a practical contribution towards relieving the suffering of the people in that country.
The Community has also lent assistance to E1 Salvador refugees in Honduras. At the end of 1980 a contribution of approximately £172,500 in emergency aid from Article 950 of the Budget was made available to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for its programme of assistance to the refugees. In a further decision, the Community has since provided emergency food aid assistance for these refugees amounting to 2,000 tonnes of cereals and 100 tonnes of milk powder.
The Government of the United States, through diplomatic channels, has communicated to us, as it has to other governments in Europe, its concern about shipments of arms from Cuba and other Marxist States to E1 Salvador. We have indicated, in turn, our support for resolutions of both the UN General Assembly and Commission on Human Rights which "call upon governments to refrain from the supply of arms and other military assistance to E1 Salvador in the current circumstances". We have also expressed our continuing disquiet about reports of widespread violations of human rights, including the killing of thousands of civilians, on the part of the E1 Salvador security forces and armed groups allied to them. I am glad to note that the United States has signified that it regards as a priority in solving the E1 Salvador crisis the holding of early elections and the urgent implementation of political and social reforms.
The question of severing diplomatic relations with the United States is not under consideration by the Government. Ireland's relations with the United States are close and friendly and of considerable importance to this country. What is more, our diplomatic relations enable us to have useful exchanges with the Americans on many issues of interest to both countries, including issues on which our approach may differ.
The Government through our representatives at the United Nations in New York is in frequent contact with the representatives of Latin American countries including Latin American members of the Security Council who share many of our concerns about E1 Salvador. Because of their geographic situation and diplomatic representations these countries are well informed about the situation in E1 Salvador.
We are aware that efforts are currently being made to bring the parties in the E1 Salvador conflict together for negotiations. I can assure the House that Ireland strongly supports any moves to promote a negotiated solution to this crisis.
My Department has been in touch with Irish missionaries in E1 Salvador through intermediaries. I do not believe that it would be appropriate, in view of prevailing circumstances in E1 Salvador, to disclose details of the content of the exchanges which have taken place.