Vol. 432 No. 2
4 Mr. Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the post-election situation in Cambodia; and if he will include Cambodia in this country's Development Aid Programme as a contribution towards stability and reconstruction in Cambodia.
41 Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the prospects of peace and progress in Cambodia in view of the results of the recent elections there; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 41 together.
By turning out to vote in such large and enthusiastic numbers in the recent UN-supervised elections the ordinary people of Cambodia have clearly demonstrated their wish for a future based on peace and national reconciliation. After 15 years of war there is now a real prospect of a better future for Cambodia.
The elections have provided a firm and widely supported democratic base on which those now elected to the constituent assembly can draw up a new constitution and establish a new Government for all of Cambodia.
I would like to support the call made by the UN Security Council on 2 June that all the parties in Cambodia stand by their obligations to respect fully the results of the elections. This is crucial to ensuring that the will of the Cambodian people is fully respected.
I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my congratulations to Mr. Akashi, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Cambodia, and all the members of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), particularly the Irish members, for their courage and dedication in providing the necessary support for the electoral process despite hardships and difficulties.
Three members of the Oireachtas were in Cambodia to observe the elections and found them to be free and fair.
Following the peace accords, Ireland, in common with many other countries, pledged support for the reconstruction of Cambodia both bilaterally and through multilateral support measures undertaken by the United Nations and the European Communities.
Funds have been provided under the bilateral aid programme for the rehabilitation of the electricity supply for Phnom Penh. This work, which is being carried out by ESB International, will be commissioned later this summer.
Through APSO the Government funded 45 volunteers working with the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) to assist in the election process.
The Government is also supporting the activities of a number of governmental organisations by direct co-financing of projects in Cambodia and is providing a total of 12 volunteers to Concern and GOAL through APSO.
While thanking the Minister for his reply, there is a specific part of my question which has not been addressed. Would the Minister say whether this country include Cambodia as a priority country in any extension of our bilateral aid programme?
The Deputy will be aware that in the past we have concentrated on the continent of Africa in our bilateral aid programme. But in present circumstances, in which we are reviewing all of our programmes, I can assure the Deputy that we will be focusing on Cambodia as well.
The Tánaiste may be aware that this morning the United Nations officially declared the results of the elections in Cambodia, which the outgoing Government refused to accept. Would he agree with me on the need for the United Nations Transitional Authority to remain on in Cambodia to ensure that a similar disaster will not occur there, as occurred in the case of Angola, where there was a transitional authority but where, once the elections were over and the losers refused to accept the results, the United Nations pulled out, leading to a disaster of horrible proportions?
Yes, I think we would all be wary of circumstances in which the work being done by the United Nations Transitional Authority, which made the arrangements for the elections and supervised them would come to naught if the constituent assembly is not allowed to function, develop into a legislative assembly and establish a new Government for that country. In that respect I would say to Deputy Connor I am sure the United Nations will be reviewing the position and outlining a course which they feel is in the best interests of Cambodia and to ensure that, after the suffering and hardship endured by the Cambodian population for so many years, democracy is firmly established there.
Would the Tánaiste say whether the Government will insist at United Nations level that the role about which he has spoken will be undertaken by the United Nations, that is, that UNTAC will remain there to ensure that civil order is restored and transition to a new government achieved?
I can assure the Deputy that we will take up that matter with the United Nations as a matter of urgency.
Let us now proceed to other questions.
A Cheann Comhairle, may I raise a brief point of order? I am doing so in the spirit of allowing our work here to be seen in operation. I have noticed there is quite a time lag before the television cameras pick up this side of the House. Perhaps, Sir, you would take that matter up with the people operating the television cameras. It has happened over and over again. I timed it this afternoon. The Tánaiste's face appeared instantly whereas that of Deputy Michael McDowell and others on this side of the House did not appear for some four, five or six seconds.
I am quite unconscious of these cameras myself. This does not appear to be a matter for the Chair.
I think that is something that could be taken up with the United Nations, A Cheann Comhairle.
