Trevor Sargent
Question:33 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, he has in relation to the trade embargo agaisnt Cuba; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1338/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Trade Embargo Against Cuba.
The US embargo on all political, economic and commercial relations between the United States and Cuba has been in place since 1962. I am very conscious of the difficulties which the embargo causes for the people of Cuba and I regret the continuing poor relations between the United States and Cuba and the circumstances which underlie that situation. I have said on many occasions before that it is my hope that the changes which have occured in international relations in recent years will create the conditions for an end to cold war animosities everywhere. Indeed I have been encouraged recently by the talks which continue to take place between the Cuban and US Governments.
At the 49th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York Ireland abstained in the vote on the draft resolution concerning "the necessity of ending the commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba". Our Permanent Representative to the United Nations explained in a speech to the General Assembly that this abstention did not mean that Ireland supported a continuation of the embargo. On the contrary the Government agreed with the call in the Resolution to all states to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures of the kind adopted by the United States.
The Government wants to encourage the process of dialogue between the US and Cuba and allow it time to develop. The Resolution which was passed at the General Assembly envisages a review of the issue at this year's session of the General Assembly. I sincerely hope that before then the embargo will be lifted and that the conditions can be created which will enable relations between the United States and Cuba to be normalised.
I have been informed that the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs decided unanimously that the embargo should be lifted. What status does the Minister think the committee has given that Ireland abstained in the vote on the draft resolution at the UN? Does he believe that the decision of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs should have had a bearing on our position at the UN?
As someone who called for its establishment, I certainly believe that the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs has a very important role to play. It has played a very significant role in the development of our foreign policy. While Ireland abstained in the vote on the draft resolution on Cuba at the General Assembly last year, we availed of the opportunity to explain that our abstention did not mean Ireland supported the continuation of the embargo. The Government agrees with the call on all states to refrain from promulgating and applying lawa and measures of the kind referred to in the resolution. As stated in the explanation on the vote at the General Assembly, Ireland also believes that states which apply such laws and measures should urgently consider their repeal. I hope that the situation prior to this year's General Assembly in September will have changed sufficiently as a result of the dialogue taking place between Cuba and the United States to allow the United States to lift the embargo, thus removing one of the last vestiges of the cold war.
Will the Minister undertake to clearly inform our representatives at the UN that the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs reached a unanimous decision on this matter? Does he accept that people who are not deeply involved in politics find the argument that abstention really means support for the removal of the embargo very difficult to understand?
I have explained the situation to the individuals and groups I have met. In effect, the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs made a recommendation, which is not binding on the Government. I was mindful of that and hopefully we and the United States will be in a position at the next General Assembly to agree to the removal of the embargo. That is what we are all aiming to achieve and we should work in that direction.
Will the Minister explain why, if the Government is against this trade embargo — a view with which I fully concur — we abstained in the vote at the United Nations? Why did we not vote for its removal? If countries like Ireland vote for its removal in sufficient numbers obviously it will be removed more quickly. There is no justification for a continuation of this embargo at this stage, 33 years after it was first imposed, against a country which is now extremely weak and in need of aid.
I welcome Deputy O'Malley's views on Cuba, views which I have not heard before. However, I would point out that in deciding Ireland's position on this vote consideration was given to all the facts of the situation. Having weighed up all the elements, it was considered by the Government that, on balance, Ireland could best encourage positive development in the US-Cuba situation by abstaining in the vote at the General Assembly and making our position very well known.
In order to assist the UN in deciding to do away with this embargo it would probably be helpful if encouragement was given to the Cubans to improve their record on human rights.
I hope that at the next General Assembly meeting in New York in September the position will have sufficiently advanced. The position which has obtained since 1962, is a vestige of the Cold War. There are huge human rights and economic difficulties in Cuba and in our discussions I will encourage the US administration to lift the embargo and to allow for normal relations between the US and Cuba.
The sooner the better.
With regard to the vote was the Minister afraid of offending the US authorities? I agree with Deputy O'Malley that "abstaining and explaining" is a very weak way of dealing with this issue — one is either for or against the embargo. There will be serious implications for our foreign policy position if we do not have the courage to speak out. Perhaps the Minister will consult his colleague, the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Higgins, on this issue.
I assure Deputy Kitt that I will consult all my colleagues before September.
That disposes of questions for today.