Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Dec 1991

Vol. 414 No. 5

Written Answers. - Yugoslavia Monitor Mission.

Tomás MacGiolla

Question:

32 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish EC monitors currently serving in Yugoslavia; the latest information available from the monitors on the current situation there; if he will outline the Government's position on proposals that a UN peace-keeping force should be sent to Yugoslavia; if he will outline the position of the Government on a request for Irish participation in any such force; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Collins)

There are at present seven Irish personnel serving with the Monitor Mission established under the auspices of the European Community, in accordance with the mandate received from the CSCE and the relevant memoranda of understanding.

The Head of Mission provides regular reports to the EC Presidency on the various matters relating to the work of the mission. These reports are confidential in nature, and it would not be appropriate for me to make their contents public. To do so would make the work of the monitors more difficult and could, in certain circumstances, endanger their safety.

The Government welcome Security Council resolution 721/91 in which the Council undertook to examine and take appropriate action without delay upon any recommendation of the Secretary-General for the possible establishment of a United Nations peace keeping operation. No decision has yet been taken by the Security Council to establish a peace-keeping operation in Yugoslavia. The Secretary-General's Special Envoy, Mr. Cyrus Vance, has visited that country on two occasions to assess the prospects for such an operation which is dependent on a number of essential factors, including a durable cease-fire respected by all the parties involved. It remains to be seen what decision the Security Council will take on foot of the recommendations that the Secretary-General will make. The question of participation by Ireland in any peace-keeping operation that may be established does not therefore arise at this time. Should any request for participation in a UN operation be received, it would, of course, receive very careful consideration by the Government.