asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason Ireland has taken a position hostile to the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic in a recent vote at an international forum; the pressure Ireland is bringing to bear on the Moroccan Government to enter into negotiations for a lasting peace with SADR; his views and those of the European Communities towards the annexation of the fishing areas of the SADR by Morocco and the use of fishing vessels in the European Community.
Written Answers. - Recognition of Independent State.
25.
As I have previously indicated to the Deputy our efforts at the United Nations and other international fora on the conflict in the Western Sahara have been directed towards a peaceful settlement. At the United Nations we have supported the guidelines of the OAU as set out in a General Assembly resolution adopted by consensus in 1983. The consensus adoption of a resolution on this issue in our view assisted the peace process and together with our partners in the Twelve and other west European states we have continued to encourage a consensus approach. On those occasions when no consensus has emerged we have taken the view that the tabling of separate, competing and divisive resolutions would not advance the peace process and we have accordingly abstained. This conflict involves two states, Algeria and Morocco, with whom we have friendly relations and diplomatic ties. All parties are now agreed that a referendum should be held in the region to allow the Saharan people themselves to decide on the status of their territory. Morocco and the Polisario continue however to lay down mutally unacceptable conditions for the organisation of such a referendum. In such circumstances we see our role as one of encouraging consensus where possible and in supporting the mediation efforts of the UN Secretary General working in co-operation with the Secretary General of the Organisation of African Unity.
The fact that there was a meeting recently between President Chadli Benjedid of Algeria and King Hassan of Morocco to discuss Western Sahara is encouraging. We would hope that it presages a move towards a consensus approach to this tragic problem.
We are not in a position to recognise an independent state in the Western Sahara before the people of the region have decided the issue of self determination through a referendum. For this reason, neither Ireland, nor any of its partners in the Twelve recognise an independent state on the territory and any claim to jurisdiction over adjacent territorial waters has to be regarded in the light of this.