Vol. 369 No. 2
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the decision of the US Congress to approve the allocation of 100 million dollars for anti-Nicaraguan activities and the increased evidence of direct US involvement in attempts to overthrow the democratically-elected government of Nicaragua, he will publicly call on the US authorities to halt its interference in the internal affairs of Nicaragua; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
15.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on Ireland's position regarding the recent decision of the United States to increase its financial support for the overthrow of the democratically-elected government of Nicaragua.
I propose taking Questions Nos. 9 and 15 together.
The Government believe that the problems of Central America, including those of Nicaragua, can be resolved only in the context of a political agreement emanating from the region itself. Together with our partners in the Twelve we therefore support the proposals for such a general negotiated agreement between the five Central American states which were put forward by Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela, known as the Contadora Group in 1983. The Government are of the view that all states should refrain from actions of any kind against any Central American state which might impede this peace process.
The view of the Government concerning US policy on Nicaragua have been made known to the US authorities on many occasions and they are in no doubt about where we stand.
The Minister has said that the Government have made their views known to the United States Government. Could he now make his views known to this House as to his attitude to the support being given by the United States administration to the Contras? Would he not agree that it is comparable with the kind of support which the Libyan administration were offering to the Provisional IRA in this country and that it is contradictory on the one hand to refrain from condemning the United States for its actions against the democratically elected Government in Nicaragua while taking relatively strong measures against the activities of the Libyan Government in their declared verbal support of the Provisional IRA?
I do not propose to go back over the Libyan question again. The Government's views on Central America are known in this House. They have been put on the record of this House on a number of occasions by the Taoiseach and myself. They are that a peaceful solution to the problems of the Central American States must come from the region itself, that the best prospect we see at the moment of that peaceful solution emanating from the region itself is the Contadora process. In the meantime, to facilitate that movement towards peace all States, whether the United States or the Soviet Union, should refrain from interfering at all in the region. We have made those views very clearly known here, in the United Nations, in the European Community, in Stockholm and on any other platform that we have.
May I take it that the Minister is saying that he condemns, or does not agree with, the supplying of money or arms to the Contras who are attacking the democratically elected Government in Nicaragua?
The House may take it that I do not approve of any country supplying arms into the Central American region.
A question from Deputy Coilins.
It is not good enough for the Minister for Foreign Affairs of this State to refuse to condemn the deliberate arming and funding of an illegal organisation which is attacking the democratic Government of Nicaragua. There is no comparison between that and the supplying of arms by any other country to the legitimate legal Government of this or any other country. I would appeal to the Minister to come off the fence and apply to the United States the principle he has applied in relation to Libya.
That is repetition.
I appeal to him to state clearly that he condemns the attack on the democratic Government of Nicaragua by the United States administration.
Indeed, we have very warm relations with the Government of Nicaragua. I repeat that the Government's attitude to Central America is that any outside interference is bound to make the prospect of peace in the region more distant. That applies to every country if they are countries that are interfering in the region. I have no hesitation in repeating that in regard to both the Soviet Union and the United States.
Am I to take it that the Minister refuses to condemn the United States for their increased support of the Contadora?
I am not refusing to condemn them or any State.
May I take it that the Minister is condemning them?
I do not want to single out the United States. Every country that interferes there——
Is the Minister prepared to go on public record as condemning the American Government for aiding the Contras in the way that they are doing at present? A simple question — yes or not? Just for the record.
This is not a debating society.
The Deputy will move to a final question.
We are not going to single out any one country here for condemnation. Any country that is interfering in the Central American region, I condemn. They should not be doing it. The only possibility of peace there comes from the countries concerned.
I am moving on. We are simply having an endless and pointless argument. Ceist 10.
The Minister is sidestepping.
Would the Minister please answer Question 10?
Would the Minister answer a question specific to Nicaragua?
