Vol. 405 No. 2
9 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland, through the United Nations or through any other acceptable international arrangement, will support the principle of autonomy or recognition of separatism for the Kurdish minority in Iraq, in the post-Gulf war, in the region.
The principle which the UN Security Council resolution seek to uphold, and which is at stake in the present conflict in the Gulf, is the territorial independence and integrity of one member state of the United Nations, Kuwait, which was violated by another, Iraq. It would be wrong, and would cause even greater instability in the region, if the territorial integrity of Iraq itself were to be put in question in any subsequent peace settlement after the present conflict has ended and Iraq has been obliged to comply with Security Council resolutions by withdrawing from Kuwait.
Having said this, I would add that we, together with our partners in the European Community are concerned to see the rights of the Kurdish minority in Iraq, and indeed in other countries of the region, fully respected and upheld.
How far these rights should include a right to autonomy for the Kurdish population is a matter which could best be settled through a future negotiation within Iraq. I would hope that any settlement reached on this issue will be such as to ensure peaceful development and full human rights for all its peoples.
I thank the Minister for his reply. However, could I press him a little further on one issue? The Minister will recall the awful treatment meted out to the Kurdish people by Saddam Hussein, two years ago, when 7,500 of his own people were gassed. Does the Minister see any way we could ensure that this could never happen in the future, or, if it does, that protests will be made through every international organisation to which we belong?
First, Ireland and the other member states joined in the strong international reaction to the alleged use of chemical weapons against the Kurds in 1988. It is my hope that this strong reaction will serve as a deterrent to future use of such weapons by any country. Indeed, the Twelve are committed to the total elimination of these weapons and specific concerns about the resettlement policy carried out by the Iraqi Government was expressed by the Twelve in Baghdad in July 1989 and bilaterally we raised our concerns about the human rights position of the Kurdish population during consultations an Baghdad in October 1989. For our part we will continue to follow the situation. I cannot, very regrettably, give Deputy O'Keeffe the assurance he seeks, which I would very much like to give him.
When we were seeking to exercise moral suasion on our fellow members of the Twelve, could the Minister tell the House whether the Irish representation on the occasion of speaking out on the use of gas against the Kurdish minority pointed to the fact that a member of the Twelve had supplied the gas involved, specifically mustard gas which had been supplied by West Germany? Would the Minister not agree that it is a little contradictory that he is using the withdrawal from Kuwait to deflect attention from the fact that one of the Twelve — indeed one of the countries seeking the withdrawal of Iraq from Kuwait — was the country that supplied the capacity to kill the Kurdish community referred to?
We are having quite an extension of this question.
In an effort to be helpful to the Members of the House I have given a clear outline of the position of the Irish Government in relation to this matter. I regret that Deputy Higgins seems to think I am trying for some reason I cannot understand to hide behind the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in order not to give him the information he wants. I and every Member of this House regrets the fact that gases were used and of course Ireland has, at all times, condemned the supply of these gases to such people. Of course we will play our part in insisting that the supply of military warfare capabilities be stopped immediately. On that basis alone can we be assured of a long lasting and stable peace in the region when the present war is over, and the sooner the better. If the Deputy is pointing the finger at any one country for supplying military warfare capabilities — chemical, biological or any other type — to the Iraqis, please have regard to the many other countries who supplied many other forms of warfare capabilities which are being used at present.
May I ask the Minister if he is aware that chemical weapons continue to be supplied by a whole range of countries involved in the coalition against the invasion of Kuwait and whether he is taking any steps to deal with that situation? Would the Minister agree that there is a need to ensure that the situation of the Kurdish populations of Iraq, Turkey and the Soviet Union needs to be dealt with as part of a comprehensive approach to the problems in that region and that it should not necessarily be left until the end of this war — whenever that may be, we have not been told when it will be stopped? Can the Minister confirm that bombing is taking place in northern Iraq at present where the Kurdish population is located?
I am afraid this is going too far and is quite outside the scope of this question. This question deals with the recognition of separatism for the Kurdish minority in Iraq.
It is an important question so far as the Kurdish population of Iraq are concerned.
Please, Deputy De Rossa.
I am concerned——
The Deputy is widening the question.
Regarding the first part of Deputy De Rossa's question the answer is no, I am not aware of suppliers of gas to Iraq at present.
I did not say to Iraq.
I understood the Deputy to mean Iraq——
Chemicals continue to be sold in the region by states——
The supply of gas does not arise now.
With regard to the second part of the Deputy's question as I said in reply to the question on the post-war scenario, future peace, stability and development must be assured for all peoples of the region. I hope that the concerns of the Kurdish population will be taken into account.
What about the bombing of Kuwait?
Next question, please.
