Vol. 453 No. 3
11 Kathleen Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, if any, that has been made in international fora towards a code of conduct for conventional arms transfers in view of the Government's commitment that it will work towards such a code of conduct; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9291/95]
At the United Nations Ireland has proposed the elaboration of a code of conduct for conventional arms transfers which would encourage states voluntarily to exercise responsibility and restraint in their exports and imports of conventional arms and set out common principles to be observed in this area. At Ireland's initiative, a draft resolution aimed at putting the work in hand was tabled at the General Assembly last autumn on behalf of the EU and a number of Eastern European countries. The discussions on this draft resolution demonstrated that, while there is growing acceptance of the need for international action in this area, a number of states, notably certain developing countries, remain to be convinced.
In accordance with its commitment in the programme. A Government of Renewal, the Government is now working, together with EU partners and other like-minded countries, to broaden support among UN member states for action in this area. At the current session of the United Nations Disarmament Commission in New York, Ireland has tabled proposals which it is hoped will become the basis of further more detailed work in the Commission. Our twin objectives are, on the one hand, to ease the fears of some developing countries that acceptance of the principles contained in the code might interfere with their legitimate right to provide for their self-defence and on the other, to widen the base of support for reducing over-armament through the voluntary exercise of restraint in conventional arms exports and imports.
While it is clear that much remains to be accomplished, the Government will continue its efforts to achieve the very necessary and worthwhile objective of greater restraint in conventional arms transfers.
I thank the Minister for his very comprehensive reply. There has been much talk about the need to decommission arms and their countries of origin. I put down the question to find out the progress made in this area at an international level, where we probably can have most influence. I also wanted to find out what the wording in the programme. A Government of Renewal, meant and I am glad that the Minister thinks much along the same lines as I do.
The Minister will be able to sleep soundly tonight after the Deputy's remarks.
It is a pity they did not decommission her party's arms.
We are waiting for the Deputy to decommission his mouth.
We are still waiting for her party's arms to come up. It still has a dugout somewhere and they are probably still in use.
They are probably on the Deputy's farm.
The Minister said that the resolution was proposed on behalf of the members of the EU. I fully accept his bona fides in this matter but will he accept that much of the mayhem in Rwanda and other African states has been carried out by people using weapons supplied by France, Belgium, the United Kingdom and other members of the EU? Will he accept that it is totally hypocritical for those countries to talk about the need for restraint and the protection of human rights and life in these countries while at the same time they are supplying arms to both sides in many cases? If these arms were not available these outrages would not have taken place.
In a perfect world there probably would not be a need for arms. I do not intend to be an apologist for any of the countries to which the Deputy referred. What is important — and this reinforces the relevance of the European Union — is that Ireland took the initiative and it got support within the EU. We have taken that resolution to the United Nations, in the same way Mr. Aiken did in regard to nuclear non-proliferation. I hope that the principles on which we have built that resolution will be accepted. These include observing relevant UN or European Union sanctions, refraining from exporting arms to certain areas of actual or potential conflict, taking account of respect for human rights in the country of destination and weighing the risk that arms might be re-exported under undesirable conditions. We have to start somewhere and, while we cannot rewrite the difficult and bitter history of the African continent which has suffered primarily because of colonisation, we are trying to bring it out of this, so to speak. We have made a start by setting down the criteria. We have the support of the European Union and, despite the difficulties highlighted by Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria, India, Cuba and Vietnam, I believe we will be able to bring the resolution to maturity and that it will be accepted at UN level in the foreseeable future.
I encourage the Minister in his efforts in this regard. Will he avail of the opportunity at Foreign Affairs Council meetings to highlight that the vast majority of EU citizens reject the arms trade by certain member states and the argument that jobs will be lost if this trade is stopped? If these jobs depend on mayhem in Africa and elsewhere then they are not worth having and alternative employment should be provided.
I accept the points made by the Deputy. It is time the EU adopted an enlightened approach to this matter and the Government, on behalf of the Irish people, will avail of every opportunity to express the sentiments referred to.
