Austin Deasy
Question:51 Mr. Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will request a special meeting of EC Foreign Ministers to discuss the deteriorating situation in Russia and other former Soviet republics.
Written Answers. - Developments in Russia.
Developments in Russia and the other former Soviet republics are a matter of serious concern to the Government. We are monitoring these closely, together with our Community partners. Yesterday, I met the Foreign Minister of Russia, Mr. Kozyrev, at Shannon. He informed me of the background to the steps taken by President Yeltsin for the government of Russia and for the holding of a referendum on 25 April. The referendum will address three issues: a vote of confidence in the President, the draft of a new Constitution, and a new electoral law for a Federal Parliament. He stressed the commitment of the President and of the Russian Government to protect the process of political and economic reform, which has faced considerable opposition in recent months.
In response, I underlined the importance attached by the Irish Government to the continuation of the reform process. We recognise that this is proving to be more difficult and to take longer than many outside Russia anticipated. We regard it as vitally important that the principles of democracy and respect for human rights should remain central to these reforms. What is significant is that the Russian people will be given an opportunity to express their wishes in a month's time. The referendum called by President Yeltsin is intended to strengthen the democratic foundation for the process of political and economic reform. That process is crucial for stability in Russia and in Europe generally.
I also informed the Russian Foreign Minister that Ireland, in common with other EC member states, would maintain its support for the economic transformation under way in Russia. This process of transformation in the post-Communist era has confronted Russia and the other Republics of the CIS with enormous challenges. It is right that they should look to the international community for assistance.
The European Community has made a major effort in response to the former Soviet Union's aid requirements. Some 2.2 billion ECU have been committed in this regard. Three Irish army officers were part of the EC Task Force which supervised the distribution of emergency food and medical supplies in Russia last year.
Some 950 MECU was approved for technical assistance for the former Soviet Union in 1991 and 1992. A further 520 MECU is available in 1993. The Community is partially funding the International Centre for Science and Technology in Russia which will promote projects and identify opportunites for former Soviet nuclear scientists.
The Community is also working on a set of agreements with Russia and the other former Soviet Republics to replace the earlier agreement with the USSR. These will provide a wide-ranging framework for the development of the Community's relations with these Republics. EC Foreign Ministers will consider how to give momentum to the negotiations when they meet in Luxembourg on 5 April.
A $24 billion aid programme was agreed by the G7 last year. However, not all of this has been disbursed on account of Russia's inability to meet some of the IMF's criteria. We welcome the prospect of an early G7 meeting to consider how assistance to Russia can be accelerated.
Within the framework of European Political Co-operation, Ireland is in constant contact with its European Community partners regarding the situation in Russia and the other former Soviet Republics. EC Ministers discussed the subject at their meeting in Brussels on 8 March, and they will have an opportunity to take it up again on 5 April.
Contact is also being maintained by the European Community and its member states with the leadership in Russia. The EC Ministerial Troika will visit Russia shortly for discussions and the outcome of that visit will be considered at the Luxembourg meeting.
We are concerned at developments within and between a number of the former Soviet Republics. We strongly support the active contribution being made by the CSCE and by the UN in resolving conflicts and reducing tensions in the area.