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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Oct 1991

Vol. 411 No. 1

Written Answers. - Peace Plan for Cambodia.

Mary Flaherty

Question:

169 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the concern shared by 30 non-governmental organisations in relation to the inadequacies of the peace plan for Cambodia; and if he will endeavour to see that their concerns are met before the plan is fully signed.

I stated in my address to the United Nations General Assembly last month that the UN Plan for peace in Cambodia offers the best guarantee of a just, durable and comprehensive settlement of the conflict. I am aware that the non-governmental organisations referred to by the Deputy have expressed certain concern about the UN Plan, but I believe the plan as currently drafted meets these concerns and offers the best hope for the future of the long-suffering people of Cambodia.

The framework for the plan was endorsed by the UN Security Council in its Resolution 668 of 20 September 1990 and acclaimed by the General Assembly on 15 October 1990 as the basis for the elaboration of a comprehensive political settlement through the processes of the Paris Conference on Cambodia. Since July of this year negotiations among the Cambodian parties have intensified. Such has been the progress made that the Paris Conference is scheduled to resume later this month to endorse formally and to sign the necessary agreements on the comprehensive political settlement giving effect to the UN Plan.

This comprehensive political settlement will ensure for the Cambodian people the right to determine their own political future through UN supervised free and fair elections; it will provide the most rigorous safeguards to allow them to make a free choice; and it will offer for the future special measures to ensure protection of human rights and the non-return of the genocidal practices that outraged the conscience of the world.

The UN role in the transition period will be of the greatest importance. This role will begin shortly after the signing of the comprehensive political settlement when a UN advance mission will be deployed in Cambodia. This mission will have as one of its main tasks to assist communications between the four Cambodian parties in matters relating to the cease-fire until the full UN transitional operation (UNTAC) begins.
Ireland will give full support to the United Nations as it prepares to implement one of the most difficult and important operations it has ever undertaken; and, if we are asked, the Government will give favourable consideration to participation by Ireland in the UN advance mission.
I believe that this transition process and the holding of free elections offer a unique opportunity to bring peace, democracy and justice to Cambodia and I hope and believe that the Cambodian people will avail of it to begin the reconstruction of their war-torn country.
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