Jim O'Keeffe
Question:6 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether Ireland is willing to offer aid and asylum to help refugees in Croatia and Bosnia.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Yugoslav Crisis.
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:7 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the further steps that can be taken at EC or UN levels to induce Serbia to end its aggression.
Michael D. Higgins
Question:8 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the present position in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:31 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the measures he might take to bring hostilities to a halt in Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 31 together.
Since the beginning of the Yugoslav crisis, the European Community and its member states have played a leading role in the collective efforts of the international community to find a peaceful, just and comprehensive solution to the crisis. Ireland continues to play a full part in the elaboration of the policies of the European Community in this regard.
The basic approach of the Twelve has been to seek the establishment and maintenance of an effective ceasefire in both Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina and to pursue, within the framework of the EC Peace Conference chaired by Lord Carrington, the goal of a comprenhensive settlement for the region.
I know that all Deputies share my sense of outrage at the tragic situation which has developed in Bosnia. This newly independent state, which was recognised by Ireland and our Community partners on 7 April 1992, is being torn apart by tragic and vicious inter-ethnic conflict.
The prospects for a successful outcome of the peace process appear diminished by the continuing tragic violence, in Bosnia in particular. I am concerned that the deteriorating situation in Bosnia may have repercussions in other Republics of the former Yugoslavia and, indeed, in the Balkans generally.
Our attitude to developments in Bosnia was set out comprehensively in the statement by the Community and its member states of 11 May 1992. We have made it clear that, while all parties to the conflict have contributed in their own way to the present state of affairs, the primary responsibility rests with the activities of the Yugoslav National Army in Bosnia and the authorities in Belgrade, from which that Army receives its directions. The killings in, and expulsion of non-Serbian populations from, large parts of Bosnia; the siege and systematic shelling of Sarajevo; and the interruption of urgently needed humanitarian relief by denial of access to Sarajevo airport have been unreservedly condemned by the Twelve members of the EC.
Ireland, with our EC partners, has and continues to demand the disbanding of or the complete withdrawal of the Yugoslav National Army from Bosnia and the reopening of Sarajevo airport to allow the distribution of humanitarian aid.
We have also made it clear to Belgrade and, indeed to all parties, that the integrity of all borders in the region must be respected. We cannot allow the territory of a newly independent state to be, in effect, partitioned as a result of external military intervention.
As to further steps which might be taken to bring the hostilities to a halt, and to induce Belgrade to end its aggression, I can inform Deputies that the Twelve have: (1) asked the EC Commission to present a study of possible economic sanctions against Belgrade. This has just been received and is being examined by the Twelve; (2) adopted a policy of increasing the isolation of the representatives of Belgrade in international fora; and (3) decided to seek the suspension of the delegate of Belgrade at the CSCE from taking part in its proceedings for the present. In addition, EC countries with resident ambassadors in Belgrade have now withdrawn them for consultations.
We are consulting closely with our partners in the Twelve as to the future actions which should be taken to end outside aggression and interference in Bosnia, and to bring about a resumption of meaningful negotiations within the framework of the EC Peace Conference. Similarly, we have made it clear to the three ethnic parties in Bosnia that the faction fighting must cease so as to allow the finalisation of the internal constitutional arrangements for Bosnia already agreed in outline under the auspices of the EC which would fully respect the rights and identities of the three communities there.
The UN Security Council, in its Resolution 752 of 15 May, has given full backing to the efforts of the European Community to promote negotiations on the constitutional arrangements for Bosnia. It also demanded the withdrawal of the units of the Yugoslav National Army and the Croatian Army and has asked the Secretary-General to review the possibility of deploying a UN PeaceKeeping Mission in Bosnia. I understand that the Security Council may shortly consider selective measures in view of continued Serbian aggression in Bosnia.
In the tragic and complex situation which exists in the region, humanitarian efforts also require a sustained and concerted effort by the international community. The European Community is examining, as a matter of urgency, in conjunction with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the provision of substantial humanitarian assistance. The Community is also looking at the possibilities for assistance to refugees and the question of safe passage for emergency supplies.
I wish to take this opportunity to convey my appreciation to the Irish personnel — from the Defence Forces, the Garda Síochána and my Department — who are serving with the European Community's Monitor Mission and with the UN in Croatia and Bosnia. Their work is a tangible expression of Ireland's commitment to the search for a peaceful settlement of the Yugoslav crisis.
I should also like to pay tribute to the outstanding efforts made by Commandant Doyle of the Defence Forces, the Special Representative of the EC Peace Conference in Sarajevo, in attempting to establish an effective ceasefire in Bosnia and in promoting negotiations between the parties there.
Would the Minister not accept that Sarajevo, which is only three hours flight from this country, is now known as the slaughter house of Europe and that as Irish people and members of the European Community we have a huge obligation to try to help resolve the situation and, in particular, to restrain the aggressiveness of Serbia? From that point of view, would he agree that the condemnations and declarations of the European Community to date have been ineffective and what has been needed and is now even more urgently needed is a series of measures involving an economic blockade of Serbia, a naval blockade, if necessary and the cutting-off of armaments and other supplies to ensure that Serbia ends its aggression and stops the mindless murder of so many tens of thousands of people in that country?
With regard to the action we have taken to date in trying to resolve this very complex, dangerous and threatening conflict, we have played our role with our partners in the Community in endeavouring to find a solution. I can assure the Deputies we will continue to play a meaningful and useful role in this regard. I wish to again avail of the opportunity to compliment the Irish personnel who are putting their lives in danger and who have been to the forefront in helping to find a solution to these very complex problems.
I agree with the Minister that it is necessary that whatever can be said and done to relieve the situation in that country should be done. I join with him in complimenting the Irish personnel working in the area. May I ask the Minister if he agrees that the most urgent need at present is to send protected aid to the people who are effectively entrapped so as to give some form of protection? Would he further agree that there is a need to draw on such international agencies as are available to provide a buffer around the people who are immediately threatened with death? Finally would he agree that the speed with which the recognition process was pushed through the European Community was in itself a precipitating factor in the ethnic violence which has erupted?
Considering the scale of the problem which has unfolded in the former Yugoslav country it is clear that a concerted effort by the European Community and the international community at large is required. At the meeting of Foreign Ministers on 11 May it was decided to respond to the request by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for $150 million by providing 30 million ECU from the Community budget for emergency aid to assist refugees. The Commission is consulting with member states on the question of providing additional bilateral funding to deal with the refugee problem there which is a further by-product of this dangerous conflict. The Community is aware of the situation and we are fully in touch with it. We are endeavouring to be as helpful as we possibly can in this regard. I can assure Deputies that we are not neglecting to deal effectively with this problem.
May I——
Tá an t-am beagnach caite.
I accept the complexity of the situation and I very much wish to join with the Minister in complimenting Commandant Doyle and the other Irish personnel there for the work they are doing. Does the Minister not accept that the efforts of the European Community to date have not been successful? We are now faced with a situation where in a country on the continent of Europe, which is not that far away from Ireland, tens of thousands of people are being killed, there is a huge shortage of supplies and no milk for babies and no medicine for mothers. The European Community seems to be helpless in bringing about any solution to this problem. Ireland should be at the forefront of efforts to try to bring Serbia to heel to end this aggression so that that situation can be relieved. From the point of view of fellow feeling with small reemerging republics such as Bosnia and Croatia, would the Minister not agree that we should make even a symbolic gesture of inviting a number of refugees to Ireland to show that at least our heart is in the right place and we are with them in their misery?
To date no specific request for asylum has been made to Ireland by refugees from Bosnia.
I am talking about an offer.
Very often humanitarian agencies act on behalf of refugees. Of course, asylum policy is a matter for the Minister for Justice and perhaps the Deputy could address questions to him if this crisis develops further. As the Deputy will be aware, many refugees are indifferent at this stage as to their place of refuge. However, it would appear that the general wish of refugees is to return to their homes as quickly as possible and in the meantime to be temporarily located as close to their homes as possible. The aim should be to ensure their security and wellbeing with the minimum disruption and dislocation being caused to their lives. This issue is being handled by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. We are in touch with the situation and as I said to date no specific request for asylum has been made to us. I am not certain what will happen but it is likely that most refugees would wish to be located reasonably close to their homelands so that they could return to their homes at the first available opportunity when peace is restored.
We must now proceed to other questions.