Liz O'Donnell
Question:26 Ms. O'Donnell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether Ireland supports the increasing involvement of Russian soldiers in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Developments in Bosnia.
Martin Cullen
Question:32 Mr. Cullen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposals, if any, Ireland has made at European level in relation to the creation of jurisdiction to try and punish persons engaged in the bombardment of civilians in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Máirín Quill
Question:40 Miss Quill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs in view of his position on the use of air power in Bosnia-Hercegovnia, the proposals, if any, Ireland will make at European level to bring about a cessation of bombardment of civilian towns in that area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Martin Cullen
Question:41 Mr. Cullen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether Ireland supports the increasing involvement of Russian soldiers in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Pat Rabbitte
Question:61 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's view of recent developments in Bosnia including the threat by NATO to bomb certain Serb positions and the Russian initiative which resulted in the withdrawal of some Serb forces; his view on the prospects for a peaceful settlement to the conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Desmond J. O'Malley
Question:67 Mr. O'Malley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if in view of his position in relation to the use of air power in Bosnia-Hercegovnia, the proposals, if any, Ireland will make at European level to bring about a cessation of bombardment of civilian towns in that area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Trevor Sargent
Question:69 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has sought to ensure that air strikes, or any other UN military action in former Yugoslavia should be under the command of the UN.
Peadar Clohessy
Question:72 Mr. Clohessy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the policy Ireland is currently proposing in relation to the conflict in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:75 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if, following the arrival of Russian peacekeepers at Sarajevo, he will request the European Union to support urgent action to end the siege of Mostar and other Bosnian cities.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 32, 40, 41, 61, 67, 69, 72 and 75 together.
At the Security Council on 15 February our Permanent Representative, speaking on behalf of the Government advocated that the international community should now intensify efforts to achieve three essential aims:—
—to maintain and develop the search for a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Bosnia on the basis of the European Union's peace plan
—to prevent the spread of the conflict,
and
—to ensure the supply and delivery of humanitarian assistance to the victims.
Ireland is fully engaged with our European Union partners in promoting these objectives. We participate in the International Conference on former Yugoslavia; we support the maximum engagement by the international community in the collective effort for peace; we contribute to UNPROFOR and the EU's Monitor Mission; we are applying sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro and we contribute personnel to the CSCE Missions which are helping countries in the region to implement sanctions. We have contributed over IR£1.7 million to the international relief effort; medical care is being provided to the victims of the conflict, including to a number of those injured in the 5 February massacre in Sarajevo; we fully support the International Tribunal, established last year by the Security Council, to prosecute those who have perpetuated war crimes and we are contributing £15,000 to the Tribunal, as a further demonstration of the importance which we attach to this work.
In the statement to the Security Council, to which I have referred, Ireland also called on all parties to respect the UN ceasefire for Sarajevo and to comply fully with the demand for the withdrawal or regrouping of heavy weapons by 20 February. I am pleased that this objective was achieved without the use of force. The humanitarian aid operation is continuing. Sarajevo, though still besieged, is no longer subject to ruthless bombardment.
An important factor in making this limited but vital progress on Sarajevo was Russia's willingness to redeploy troops expeditiously from Croatia to the UNPROFOR command at Sarajevo. I welcome this. I also welcome the active role which the US is playing in the search for peace in Bosnia.
The progress achieved at Sarajevo must be built upon. Senior officials of the member states of the European Union met with their Russian, American and Canadian counterparts and with a representative of the United Nations in Bonn on 22 February to coordinate their efforts. They fully supported the work of the co-chairman David Owen and Thorvald Stoltenberg and confirmed that the International conference on former Yugoslavia continues to provide the framework for a comprehensive solution for the region.
A number of short term measures were agreed at the Bonn meeting. These include the stabilisation of the situation in Sarajevo, the lifting of the siege, and the restoration of normal life, including public services; the rapid completion of the UNPROFOR troop rotation in Srebrenica and Zepa; the reopening of Tuzla Airport for humanitarian aid deliveries; an effective cease fire in Mostar; and free access for humanitarian aid deliveries to Maglaj.
The normalisation of relations between the Bosnian Government, the Bosnian Croats and the Croatian Government was identified at the Bonn meeting as a key objective. While there have been some violations, the ceasefire between the Bosnian Government and the Bosnian Croats, which took effect on 25 February, appears to be generally holding. I am pleased that, early this morning, agreement was reached between the parties on a federal arrangement within Bosnia, with the prospect of a confederal relationship with Croatia.
I also welcome that progress is being made on the reopening of Tuzla airport. The Bosnian Serbs have now agreed that it can be reopened for humanitarian aid flights.
The use of air power is provided for in Resolutions of the UN Security Council on Bosnia. Authority for approving the use of air power rests with the Secretary General, including the approval of air strikes in response to attacks on towns designated as safe areas by the Security Council.
In its Resolutions 781 and 816 the Security Council banned military flights in Bosnian airspace and authorised UN member states, acting nationally or through regional organisations, to ensure compliance with the ban. The action taken on 28 February against aircraft violating the "no fly" zone was under the authority of the Security Council in conformity with these Resolutions.
The activities of the parties on the ground in recent months would suggest that it is well not to be excessively optimistic about the prospects for an early settlement. But I believe that there is a new determination by the international community to build upon what has been achieved in Sarajevo last month, to make progress on the other short term goals, and to work for an overall settlement for Bosnia.
We, with our European Union partners, are fully engaged in this process. But a comprehensive and durable peace will be achieved only when all parties commit themselves to a determined effort to arrive at an agreement.