Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Nov 1991

Vol. 412 No. 3

Written Answers. - Forum for Discussion on Security Matters.

Roger T. Garland

Question:

75 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether his presence as an observer at a meeting of the Western European Union indicates that the Government no longer believe that the conference on security and co-operation in Europe is the appropriate forum for action on security issues.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Collins)

The Government believe that the CSCE has played and will continue to play a central role as a forum for developing European security and co-operation.

As a result of the dramatic changes in Eastern Europe over the past two years, the perspective for European security is now much altered. The Warsaw Treaty Organisation has disappeared. The Atlantic Alliance is re-examining its role. A new optimism is evident in arms control negotiations and in the co-operative approach to security represented by the CSCE.

These developments accord with the longstanding attitude of this country to security questions. We have long supported confidence-building, non-confrontational diplomacy, and the strengthening of the ability of the international community to achieve peaceful settlement of disputes. We believe that in this new situation the CSCE itself as a structure and the commitment of its 38 member states to the principles of the CSCE Final Act, 1975, and of the Charter of Paris 1990, are factors of major importance for European security.

For example, the CSCE has an important role in relation to events in Yugoslavia. Since the adoption of a statement by Ministers in Berlin last June, the CSCE's Committee of Senior Officials has met on a number of occasions to discuss the situation in Yugoslavia. All 38 participating states have endorsed the actions of the European Community aimed at bringing about a peaceful solution. In addition, on 22 October, the CSCE decided to appoint a mission to inquire into the human rights situation in Yugoslavia.

In a detailed statement issued on 18 September, the Government outlined their reasons for attending, in an observer capacity, a Western European Union ministerial meeting on Yugoslavia on 19 September. Similar considerations led to our attendance at a second such meeting later in September. Our attendance at these meetings related to the specific circumstances in Yugoslavia and to this country's interest in being fully briefed on all developments in relation to Yugoslavia which might have a bearing on the peace process.

Attendance in an observer capacity at WEA meetings does not detract in any way from the Government's views on the central role of the CSCE in European security and co-operation.