Vol. 437 No. 7
63 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the transport requirements of the UN-sponsored Irish mission to Macedonia dealing with Customs procedures, SAM, FYROM; if he can offer help by way of 4-wheel drive vehicles; if he has received any such request; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Following the imposition by the UN Security Council of sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Serbia-Montenegro, it was decided, in the framework of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, to assist the states bordering Serbia and Montenegro in enforcing these sanctions. Many of these new states did not, and indeed still do not, possess the means to enforce strictly the UN sanctions. Sanctions assistance missions were, therefore, established, to which CSCE participating states were asked to contribute. These are the missions to which the Deputy refers. Ireland, together with most of our partners in the European Union, and many other CSCE states, offered to participate in these missions. The decision to participate, in Ireland's case, reflected our involvement in the CSCE and also in the ongoing efforts of the European Union to help bring about a peaceful settlement to the crisis in the former Yugoslavia.
The Revenue Commissioners have agreed to provide two customs officials, selected on a voluntary basis, to serve in the sanctions assistance mission in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. I am happy to say that these officials will be taking up their positions with this mission next week.
Questions of practical arrangements for the tour of duty, including that of providing a vehicle, are currently under consideration between my own Department, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, and the co-ordination centre for the sanctions assistance missions.
