Thomas P. Broughan
Question:3 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has received any requests for assistance in monitoring the fairness of the forthcoming Russian parliamentary elections.
Ceisteanna—Questions Written Answers. - Russian Parliamentary Elections.
I can confirm that the Russian authorities have invited us to send observers to monitor the forthcoming parliamentary elections. The Government attaches very considerable importance to these elections which come at a critical stage of the process of political and economic reform in Russia. I informed the Russian Foreign Minister, in the course of my discussions with him in Dublin on 25 October, of our intention to make available a number of observers, including members of the Oireachtas.
At its special meeting on 29 October, the European Council decided that the European Union should undertake a joint action on observance of the Russian elections. A decision to this effect was taken by the General Affairs Council at its meeting on 8-9 November. This will be one of the first such actions to be undertaken on the basis of the provisions on a Common Foreign and Security Policy of the Treaty on European Union. Ireland's involvement in the monitoring of the elections is being arranged in this context.