Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Feb 1991

Vol. 405 No. 6

Written Answers. - Referenda in USSR.

Roger T. Garland

Question:

59 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will consider sending official observers to the referenda being held in Estonia and Latvia on 3 March 1990 and in Georgia on 24 March 1991; and if he will outline his views on these referenda.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Collins)

The Government have not received invitations to send observers to the referenda mentioned by the Deputy. However, it is not the general practice of the Government to send observers to elections or referenda; this is normally a matter for the Oireachtas in accordance with its usual procedures.

Ireland has never recognised the incorporation, which occurred in 1940, of the Baltic countries into the Soviet Union, and has, on a number of occasions, called for dialogue between the Soviet authorities and the elected representatives of the Baltic peoples, with a view to satisfying the legitimate aspirations of these peoples. On 4 February, the Foreign Ministers of the European Community welcomed the decision to hold referenda in each of the Baltic countries and expressed the hope that this would favour the resumption of a meaningful and constructive dialogue between the central authorities of the USSR and the Baltic countries. The Ministers considered that this decision was in conformity with the spirit of the Paris Charter for a new Europe.

The formal position concerning Georgia is different: this republic has been part of the Soviet Union since the establishment of the Union in 1922. The Soviet Constitution makes provision for Union Republics to leave the Soviet Union and legislation adopted in April last year sets out the modalities by which this can be brought about. The question of whether Georgia should remain part of the Soviet Union is a matter to be decided by the Soviet and Republican authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Soviet Constitution and legislation. Full details are not as yet available concerning the holding of the referendum in Georgia.