Vol. 412 No. 5
87 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline Ireland's attitude to Syrian hegemony over Lebanon; whether we support free and democratic elections for the Lebanese people; and if he will outline where we have expressed this view and when.
The Irish Government and the other governments in the European Community have consistently supported the Taif Accords which were adopted by the Lebanese Parliament in October 1989. Those accords envisage the Lebanese state extending its authority over the entire Lebanese territory by means of its own internal forces. The accords provide for Syrian troops to assist legitimate Lebanese forces to extend the state's authority.
I am conscious that both Syrian and Israeli troops continue to be present in Lebanon but the Taif Accords have provided the framework for restoring greater stability in Lebanon than has existed for more than fifteen years.
The European Council, at its meeting in Rome on 14-15 December 1990 expressed the hope that the Taif Accords would be fully implemented and so bring about the restoration of the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of a Lebanon free of all foreign troops.
The Taif Accords affirm that Lebanon is a democratic parliamentary republic and provide that:
Until such time as the Parliament has laid down an electoral Bill which is free from sectarian restraints, the parliamentary seats will be distributed along the following lines:
(a) equal numbers for Christians and Muslims
(b) proportionally among the sects of the two groups and
(c) proportionally among the regions".
