Vol. 453 No. 3
15 Mr. Molloy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, the Government proposes to take within the European Union to ensure the security of the so-called safe areas in Bosnia which have been frequently attacked, resulting in loss of life and numerous injuries to civilians. [9320/95]
24 Ms Keogh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, the Government proposes to take to ensure the restoration of human rights in Kosovo where the majority population continues to be seriously ill-treated by the Serbs. [9321/95]
32 Miss Quill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the border between Serbia and the Bosnian Serb-held territories is not closed and that regular supplies of weapons are still reaching the Bosnian Serbs from Serbia for use against the lawful government of Bosnia. [9322/95]
42 Mr. Clohessy asked the asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, in view of the recent serious outbreaks of heavy fighting in both Croatia and Bosnia, the steps, if any, the Government proposes to take with the EU and the United Nations to bring this fighting to an end and to promote a just settlement in the former Yugoslavia which would ensure that the Serbs are not rewarded for their aggression. [
52 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government supports the legitimate Bosnian government which is committed to a pluralistic and democratic policy and is fighting to reverse systematic ethnic cleansing and to recover its territory to permit its people to return home. [9334/95]
58 Mr. Callely asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the length of time there has been unrest in Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia and other areas of the former Yugoslavia; the measures, if any, to which Ireland has been a party in trying to resolve the unrest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9265/95]
72 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government has tried to include peace groups in the former Yugoslavia in negotiations for a resolution to the conflict rather than just talking to the warring factions, some of whom are named war criminals. [9439/95]
73 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to reports from peacekeepers in former Yugoslavia that arms are being sent across the Serbia/Bosnia border in spite of he UN blockade. [9440/95]
74 Mr. Sargent asked the asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposals, if any, he has to ensure protection of the safe areas in Bosnia. [
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 24, 32, 42, 52, 58, 72, 73 and 74 together.
Before doing so, I wish to take this opportunity to convey my condolences to the family of Sergeant Paul Reid of the Garda Síochána who was tragically killed in Sarajevo on 18 May while working with the United Nations in the cause of peace. I also wish Garda Philip Carr a speedy recovery from his injuries.
The conflict in former Yugoslavia is now entering its fifth year since the outbreak of hostilities in Slovenia in the middle of 1991. Since then, Ireland has been involved in the efforts of all the bodies which have been promoting negotiated settlements — the United Nations, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the European Union and the Western European Union. Ireland is a member of the International Conference on Former Yugoslavia which, since August 1992, has provided a framework for the collective effort to establish a comprehensive settlement for the region. The Contact Group — UK, France and Germany for the EU, Russia and the United States, works under the auspices of the International Conference.
All these organisations are engaged in a major and substained political, diplomatic, peacekeeping operation which is pursued not only through contacts with the Governments of Bosnia, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and those who have influence and control in the region, but also through dialogue with a wide range of peace groups and non-governmental organisations.
In general, the Government is seriously concerned at the deteriorating situation in former Yugoslavia. Following the expiry of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in Bosnia there has been a dramatic increase in fighting in and around Sarajevo and some of the other designated safe areas. Zagreb's military actions in Western Slavonia have jeopardised the progress towards peace and reconciliation in Croatia. The continuing widespread abuses of human rights of the ethnic Albanians in the Serbian province of Kosovo remains a cause for very serious concern.
These developments underline the imperative need for political solutions, most immediately in Bosnia and Croatia, but also for a comprehensive settlement for the range of problems of former Yugoslavia based on two key objectives — the mutual recognition of the States in the region within their internationally recognised borders, and full protection of the rights of minorities.
As to Bosnia the Government recognises and supports the commitment of the Bosnian government to pluralistic and democratic society. We, with our European Union partners, wish to see an end to the policy of ethnic cleansing and agreement on a settlement under which all the displaced peoples of Bosnia will be able to return to their homes. These objectives constitute an essential element of the contact group's approach, which has been fully endorsed by the Bosnian government.
The prospects for political solutions will not be advanced by further fighting, in which the civilian population of the region will continue to be the principal victim. Further military activities run the risk of precipitating a withdrawal of UNPROFOR from Bosnia, with disastrous consequences for the civilian population as a whole and, in particular, for the beleaguered communities in the safe areas. The attacks on UNPROFOR personnel, which are of the gravest concern to the troop contributing countries, must be brought to an end if the continuing presence of that peacekeeping force is to be assured. Withdrawal of the UN peace-keeping presence would increase dramatically the possibility of a wider and more deadly war in the Balkan region.
An intolerable situation exists for the inhabitants of the designated safe areas in Bosnia and for the UN personnel stationed in these towns, because of Bosnian Serb shelling and sniping in reprisal for government military actions initiated from within the safe areas and government offensives elsewhere in Bosnia. The Secretary General has prepared a detailed report which is to be considered shortly by the Security Council on the options for the UN peacekeeping presence in Bosnia. While I understand the grave concerns of troop contributing countries because of the high level of casualties which they are sustaining, I earnestly hope that the Security Council's review will not lead to a UN withdrawal from the safe areas or, indeed, from Bosnia generally.
It is vital, therefore, that we continue to make clear to the Bosnian government and the Bosnian Serbs that military operations should cease and that negotiations should begin on the basis of the contact group's plan. The proposed territorial arrangements outlined in the plan have been accepted by the Bosnian government, by Bosnia's Croats and by Belgrade on behalf of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, but not by the Bosnian Serbs. Pressure must be intensified on the Bosnian Serbs to accept the contact group's plan and the international community must continue the process of isolating the Bosnian Serbs politically, diplomatically and militarily until they do so.
In the light of the reports that unauthorised and highly suspicious flights which may have carried arms have taken place from Serbia into Bosnian Serb-held territories, we with our EU partners are working to reinforce the Mission of the International Conference on Former Yugoslavia which is monitoring the closure of Belgrade's border with Bosnia. Ireland is contributing four personnel to this mission.
In Croatia, the authorities in Zagreb recently took military action in the Western Slavonia sector. We deplore this. They have compromised the efforts currently being made under the auspices of the International Conference on Former Yugoslavia, which is co-chaired by the European Union and the United Nations, to promote a peaceful solution which would preserve Croatia's sovereignty within its internationally recognised borders, while taking account of the rights of its Serbian minorities. We are urging the Croatian authorities and the Croatian Serbs to honour their responsibilities under the March 1994 Ceasefire Agreement, to resume work on implementing the December 1994 Economic Agreement on the restoration of Croatia's war damaged infrastructure, and to begin negotiations on a political solution on the basis of the plan put forward by the International Conference in January 1995.
At the wider level, the European Union and the international community generally are working to advance the peace process, by promoting the mutual recognition of the former Yugoslav States. If achieved, this would be a major contribution to peace as it would demonstrate to the Bosnian and Croatian Serbs that the objective of a "greater Serbia", is not attainable. Mutual recognition would also improve the prospects for political settlements in Bosnia and Croatia. There have been encouraging indications that Belgrade, having declared an end to its support for the Bosnian Serbs in August 1994, is now prepared to recognise Bosnia.
The restoration of genuine autonomy in Kosovo and an end to the flagrant violation of human rights there by the Serbian authorities is essential to a global solution in former Yugoslavia. The European Union continues to urge the authorities in Belgrade to permit the redeployment of the OSCE's Long-Term Mission in Kosovo, which was expelled in July 1993. This mission is an essential instrument for the restoration of respect for human rights and the prevention of the spill-over of conflict in the region.
Ultimately, peace and full respect for the rights of minorities, including the fundamental rights of all refugees and displaced persons to return to their homes in safety, can only be brought to the region when the parties themselves demonstrate clearly that this also is their objective.
I join the Tánaiste in expressing my condolences to the relatives of the late Sergeant Reid who, unfortunately, died in the last few days in Sarajevo, one of the so-called safe areas referred to in Question No. 15 — this shows how unsafe it is. Are recent reports, as of this morning, that either Sergeant Reid or his vehicle may have been struck by a sniper's bullet and that this contributed to the accident which caused his death correct and, if so, will the Minister and the Government make a strong protest to the representatives of those who are likely to have fired the bullet? Does the Minister agree that Sarajevo and the other so-called safe areas are extremely vulnerable if they are only being defended by troops on the ground who, in the particular configuration of the land, cannot defend them effectively? Would he recommend the use of air power to ensure that the hills around these safe areas are not used for the purpose of attacking civilians, UN troops and police within them?
I only became aware this morning of the information the Deputy has given relating to the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Sergeant Reid. I have discussed the matter with the Minister for Justice who I am sure will present the Government with a full report as soon as all the information is available. If, as the Deputy suggests, a sniper's bullet hit the wheel of the car the Government will take the appropriate action, in terms of the condemnation that is necessary.
The safe areas are in a tragic state at present. I am sure that UNPROFOR and the United Nations, in the context of the report to be made by the Secretary General, will be assessing the matter to see what is necessary to protect citizens and UN personnel who have been under continuous fire for many weeks within the safe areas. When the Secretary General reports to the United Nations it may be necessary to review the methods and equipment used by military personnel in recent months.
While I welcome the Minister's response he made the point that it should be the aim of the United Nations and the European Union to return refugees and displaced persons to their own areas. This is a direct contradiction of the policy of the Contact Group which, as the Minister correctly said, the Bosnian Government has accepted but under duress as it would result in the partitioning of the country. Many hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced persons will not be able to return to their own areas if the policy of the Contact Group is implemented. Given our experience of partition as a long term solution to any problem the last thing we should do is lend our voice to the partitioning of the independent state of Bosnia-Hercegovina which is recognised by the United Nations and whose citizens have been subject to the activities of the war criminals on the Serbian side.
The Contact Group's proposals in relation to territorial delimitation involve the preservation of Bosnia as a single union within its internationally recognised borders. As I am sure the Deputy is aware, it was agreed earlier that the territorial division would be 51 per cent for the Croat and Muslim communities and 49 per cent for the Bosnian Serbs. Agreement was also reached on the continuation of Bosnia's international legal personality and the right of refugees and displaced persons to return freely to their homes of origin. A meeting took place recently between the European Union and the Bosnian Government which underlined its view that the plan was not partitionist, that it addressed the internal arrangements within Bosnia's internationally recognised borders. This plan has the full support of the UN Security Council and has been accepted by three of the four key participants to the conflict — the Bosnian Government, the Bosnian Croats and the authorities in Belgrade who represent the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Unfortunately, it has not been accepted by the Serbs in Bosnia. It is a key objective of the international effort to obtain their agreement. It is important that the European Union supports the Contact Group's plans which have been accepted by the Bosnian Government which has to contend with the realities of the horrors of war in the region.
It has accepted them reluctantly with its back to the wall. The Serbs in Krajina, Bosnia and the rump state of Yugoslavia are attempting to put together a Greater Serbia. Will the Minister reassure the House that the European Union will not allow the war criminals to succeed in their objectives? At a meeting of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs on Friday I raised the question of overflights. In Srebenica, for example, 15 to 20 helicopters at a time, bringing armaments from Serbia to the Serb warlords in the Bosnian region, have been seen by the Dutch contingent. What action is the European Union taking in this regard? Will the Minister assure the House that every step that can be taken will be taken to prevent the formation of a Greater Serbia? This also applies to Kosovo.
It is important that the European Union and the wider international community work to promote and advance the peace process and mutual recognition of the former Yugoslav states. This would be a major contribution to our efforts to convince the Serbs that the objective of a Greater Serbia is unattainable. There also has to be a restoration of genuine autonomy in Kosovo to bring about an end to the violation of human rights by the Serbian authorities. As the Deputy said, they are the short term goals that must be attained. Overall, the parties to the conflict have to reach agreement.
On Friday last I took the opportunity at the meeting of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs to pay my respects and offer my condolences to the family of the late Sergeant Reid. I do so again in this plenary session of the House and acknowledge the contribution he made and that being made by the Garda Síochána and the Army in our peacekeeping operations worldwide. It is one more tragedy; he was a brave man and it is a great loss.
On Question No. 32, while the Minister is apparently aware that the border between Serbia and Bosnia is not closed and that regular supplies of weapons pass from Serbia to the Bosnian Serbs he does not appear to have indicated any determination to stop this. Will he seek to ensure, through the European Union and the United Nations, that it is effectively stopped since it is a breach of the arrangements made and demonstrates how hypocritical Serbia is in agreeing to the plan put to them while apparently flagrantly breaching it almost daily and contributing to the continuation and intensification of the war in Bosnia?
It is essential that the border monitoring mission should increase its capacity to monitor more effectively the closure of the air border. Along with our European Union partners we are working to increase the size of that border mission to 400 personnel, more than double its current strength. These concerns have been raised at the committee and other concerns in relation to the supplying of weapons from Serbia to Bosnia. The overall assessment of the international border monitoring mission has led to the authorities in Belgrade effectively closing the border with Bosnia, but there are concerns which have been investigated on the tracking of air flight patterns between Belgrade and Bosnia. If we can double the size of the international border monitoring mission it may go some way to addressing the problem to which Deputy O'Malley referred.
