Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 Feb 1992

Vol. 416 No. 4

Written Answers. - Aid to Cambodia.

Nora Owen

Question:

29 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the EC Council of Foreign Ministers has agreed to send development aid to Cambodia; if so, when such a decision was taken and the amount of such aid to be sent, and whether any specific aid is being sent to assist the people to de-mine the country as the existence of mines is causing untold hardship to the people of Cambodia.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

The General Affairs Council, meeting on 4 November last, invited the Commission to prepare proposals on development aid for Cambodia. Since then the Commission has engaged in consultations with other donors, including the UN agencies, in order to ensure a co-ordinated response to the need of the country. The Commission proposals are expected to be communicated to the Council in the near future. In the meantime, 10 million ECU in food aid was pledged on behalf of the Community on 21 January last through the UN. This is in addition to 6.7 million ECU which the Community previously agreed to spend in 1992.

The Deputy is correct in identifying the presence of landmines as a serious hardship. They pose a dangerous hazard threatening the people of Cambodia and are a major impediment to the reconstruction of the country. The mandate of the United Nations Advance Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC), currently preparing the ground for the larger United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), includes training in mine clearance and the initiation of the mine clearance programme. The UN Secretary General is at present making arrangements to begin the deployment of UNTAC as a matter of urgency. The EC Commission is co-financing an aerial mapping project which is expected to be helpful in locating mines for clearance.