Desmond J. O'Malley
Question:20 Mr. O'Malley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give his understanding of the EC commitment for troops and money for the so-called safe havens in Bosnia, and its implications for Ireland.
Written Answers. - Peace in Bosnia-Hercegovina.
Liz McManus
Question:39 Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give his views on the prospects for peace in Bosnia following the conditional acceptance of the Geneva Peace Plan by the Bosnian Parliament; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Máirín Quill
Question:47 Miss Quill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the stance Ireland is taking within the European Community in relation to the on-going wars in the former Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Nora Owen
Question:95 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the recent actions, if any, that Ireland has taken to assist the peace talks in Bosnia, either unilaterally or as a member of the EC.
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:109 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if any new initiatives will be taken by the EC or its Special Envoy to finally end the holocaust in the former Yugoslavia; and his views on whether the envoy is showing sufficient determination to avoid another terrible winter for the peoples of Bosnia-Hercegovina.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 39, 47, 95 and 109 together.
I am gravely concerned at the latest setback to the efforts to bring about peace in Bosnia-Hercegovina, and the danger of renewed fighting in Croatia as well as the possibilities for the over-spill of conflict in the region.
The package elaborated between the parties under the auspices of David Owen and Thorvald Stoltenberg, the Co-Chairmen of the International Conference, while not ideal, represents an opportunity for peace in Bosnia which should not be lost. The prospect of a continuation of the war during the harsh Bosnian winter and the death and destruction which this will bring make it imperative that the outstanding difficulties should be resolved without further delay. It is, however, ultimately for the parties themselves to determine what is acceptable to them.
The lines of our approach to the crises in former Yugoslavia were set out in the Declaration adopted by the European Council in June 1993 which stated that a negotiated settlement must be based on the principles of the London Conference and contain a firm commitment of support for the International Conference Co-Chairmen in their efforts to promote a fair and viable settlement acceptable to all three constituent peoples of Bosnia.
The negotiations under the auspices of the Co-Chairmen have continued intensively over the past three months. They have worked tirelessly and with determination to facilitate a settlement between the parties which would avoid a human catastrophe in Bosnia over the coming winter. EC Foreign Ministers have been kept fully informed of the developments in the negotiating process. David Owen briefed Ministers in this regard at their meeting in Luxembourg on 4 October.
Through the efforts of the Co-Chairmen who have been conducting the negotiations on behalf of the EC and the UN, broad agreement from the three parties was secured on a number of key elements of an overall package. This includes a Constitutional Agreement — based on the concept of a Union of Republics of Bosnia-Hercegovina, composed of three constituent republics and encompassing three constituent peoples; provision for the administration of Sarajevo by the UN and the appointment of an EC administrator for Mostar; detailed provisions on the protection of human rights; the establishment of an access authority to ensure free movement and transport on key roads; and a military agreement for implementing and monitoring a cessation of hostilities and for the demilitarisation of Bosnia-Hercegovina.
Negotiations then focused on the map delineating the boundaries of the three constituent republics. The Co-Chairman, with our full support, insisted that the Muslim majority republic should have no less than 30 per cent of the national territory and have guaranteed access to both the Sava River and the Adriatic. These negotiations, which were particularly difficult, led to provisional agreement as part of an overall package on an increase in the size of the territory to be assigned to the Muslim majority republic and on provisions governing access to the Adriatic for that republic.
The prospects for agreement before the onset of winter have receded following the decision of the Bosnian Parliament on 29 September to reject as inadequate the territorial aspects of the package. This situation has been compounded by the reaction of the Bosnian Serb Assembly which has decided to withdraw territorial concessions made in the course of the negotiations in recent weeks. The Co-Chairmen of the International Conference are actively pursuing their contacts with the Bosnian parties with a view to securing agreement on the outstanding issues.
The European Community and its member states have underlined to all of the Bosnian parties — in particular to President Izetbegovic — their determination to participate actively in the implementation of an agreement accepted by the parties in accordance with the Principles of the London Conference and the Conclusions of the European Council in Copenhagen. Preparations for implementation are continuing within the EC, at the United Nations and in other fora.
Following the Copenhagen European Council's decision that EC member states would support the implementation of the Security Council resolutions on safe areas through contributions commensurate with member states' abilities, Ireland and its EC partners have maintained close contact with the UN Secretary General.
In response to a request from the Secretary-General, Ireland has made available an additional three military observers to supplement UNPROFOR's capacity in this area and Government will be contributing a sum of $450,000 up to December 1993 towards the cost of UNPROFOR's operations in the safe areas. The Secretary-General has now received pledges for the 7,600 additional personnel required for the safe areas, including significant contributions from a number of EC member states, including France and Denmark. Equipment is also being provided by one EC member state to non-EC contingents who are to be deployed in the safe areas.