Vol. 462 No. 7
37 Mr. D. Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the current status of Ireland's diplomatic relationship with each of the former Soviet Union states and East European communist bloc countries; and the plans, if any, he has to strengthen such links. [5300/96]
The following is the current status of Ireland's diplomatic relationships with the 21 countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltic States and the former USSR.
Resident Irish diplomatic missions have been established in four countries viz. Czech Republic (Prague), Republic of Hungary (Budapest), Republic of Poland (Warsaw) and the Russian Federation (Moscow).
Non-resident diplomatic relations have been established in nine countries viz, the Republic of Bulgaria (from Budapest), Romania (from Athens), Slovak Republic (from Vienna), Republic of Belarus (from Moscow), Republic of Kazakhstan (from Moscow) and Ukraine (from Prague), Republic of Estonia (from Helsinki), Republic of Latvia (from Warsaw), Republic of Lithuania (from Warsaw). In relation to the latter three, it should be noted that Ireland never recognised their annexation by the former Soviet Union.
Possibilities for the extension of diplomatic relations, both resident and non-resident, are examined from time to time in the light of our national and international interests and the availability of the necessary resources. The extension of diplomatic relations is done only by prior agreement with the countries concerned. It would therefore, be inappropriate of me to comment about possible extensions in advance of such agreements.
