Written Answers. - Recognition of Croatian and Slovenian Independence.
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:
15
Mr. J. O'Keeffe
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will confirm to (1) Dáil Eireann (2) our EC colleagues that Ireland intends to recognise the independence of Croatia and Slovenia; if he will urge our EC colleagues to do likewise; and if he will furthermore seek the imposition of sanctions against Serbia unless it ceases its aggression and withdraws to its own territory.
I believe that, on the question of a possible recognition of the independence of Croatia and Slovenia, it is essential to maintain the close cohesion which characterises the Twelve's approach to the Yugoslav crisis.
At their informal meeting in Haazuilens on 6 October, Foreign Ministers of the Twelve agreed that a political solution should be sought in the perspective of recognition of the independence of those republics wishing it, at the end of a negotiating process conducted in good faith and involving all parties. This continues to be the Community's position and I fully support it.
Negotiations between the Yugoslav parties are currently taking place in the Conference on Yugoslavia in The Hague, and on behalf of the Twelve, the Conference chairman, Lord Carrington, has put forward proposals aimed at a general settlement. These include the acceptance of sovereignty and independence for those republics which wish it, a free association of the republics with an international personality, and a common state for those republics wishing to remain in one. These proposals have been accepted by all Yugoslav republics, with the exception of Serbia, as the basis for further negotiations. Any recognition of the independence of particular areas should come at the end of this process and in the framework of a general settlement.
The actions of Serbia and of the Yugoslav National Army (JNA) have gven rise to grave concern among the Twelve. They consider these actions, which include the Serbian position in the Conference, to be violations of principles previously stipulated by the Twelve and accepted by all the Yugoslav parties, including Serbia, as being fundamental for a solution: that there should be no unilateral change of borders, that human rights and the rights of ethnic and national groups should be fully protected, and that all legitimate aspirations should be fully taken into account.
These actions also include the usurpation of the authority of the Federal Presidency by the four pro-Serb members of that body and the announcement of a plan aimed at the establishment of a greater Serbia.
The Twelve view the statements and actions of the Yugoslav National Army (JNA) in the same light. They have strongly condemned the continuous JNA attacks on Croat cities. While ceasefire agreements have been violated by all parties, recent JNA attacks are out of all proportion to any non-compliance by Croatia. In particular, the repeated attacks on Dubrovnik have given the lie to the JNA assertion that its only aims are to relieve besieged garrisons and to protect Serbian communities.
Faced with this situation, Ministers of the Twelve on 28 October gave Serbia until 5 November to accept unequivocally the principles I have outlined and to continue negotiations on the basis of the draft arrangements put forward by Lord Carrington. Failing that, the Community indicated that Serbia and other non-cooperative parties could expect restrictive measures to be taken against them by the European Community and its member states.
On 4 November, the General Affairs Council took decisions to enable restrictive measures to be imposed if that should prove necessary. These measures would include the suspension, with immediate effect, of the co-operation agreement between the Community and Yugoslavia, and its denunciation; the exclusion of Yugoslavia from the benefits of the Community's Generalised System of Preferences (GSP); and the formal suspension of Yugoslavia from the PHARE programme. It was agreed in principle that positive measures would be taken to ensure that co-operative republics were not prejudiced by these actions.
In addition, should it be considered necessary, the Twelve would raise with the Security Council the question of an oil embargo. Through the Security Council, the Secretary-General will be asked to examine the implementation of the existing arms embargo with a view to ensuring that it is respected.
Foreign Ministers of the Community are meeting in Rome to-morrow morning to hear Lord Carrington's report of Tuesday's plenary session of the Conference. In the light of that report and of the situation on the ground, they will consider whether to adopt the measures I have outlined. I will be urging at this meeting that the Community should take the joint action needed to ensure that the peace process can continue.
