Mary Flaherty
Question:198 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will ensure that the need to finalise the Mozambiquan peace talks is kept to the top of the EC agenda during 1992.
Written Answers. - Mozambique Civil War.
The Government, along with its partners in the European Community, have consistently encouraged the process towards an end to the civil war in Mozambique. The European Council, last weekend, urged the parties to the conflict to reach, with the utmost urgency, a peace agreement in the context of the mediation process in which EC countries play an active role.
The eleventh session of the peace talks, between the Government of Mozambique and RENAMO, ended a few days ago in Rome. Prior to the start of the talks, the Portuguese President of the Council of Ministers wrote to the two delegations urging them to achieve rapid and substantial progress in the peace negotiations in order that a cease-fire could be agreed. Unfortunately, in spite of the endeavours of the mediators, the parties were not able to agree on a cease-fire.
We shall continue to follow closely the negotiations and will support initiatives intended to promote the peace process, which will make possible the delivery of international aid to the affected populations who, in addition to the ravages of 17 years of civil war, are now suffering further because of the prolonged drought throughout the region.