Vol. 472 No. 7
20 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions and action, if any, taken at EU level on the commitment to establishing respect for human rights in Nigeria; the steps, if any, the international community will take in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23834/96]
The Government and our EU partners continue to have serious concerns about the human rights situation and the pace and manner of the transition to democratic rule in Nigeria.
The Government, with its partners in the European Union, has consistently acted to express its serious concern to the Nigerian authorities about human rights violations in their country.
As the House will be aware, Ireland strongly supported the adoption of the EU Common Positions of 20 November and 4 December 1995 on Nigeria which imposed an arms embargo, visa restrictions and the suspension of EU development assistance with immediate effect. We also fully supported the recent extension of the Common Position measures for a further six months from 4 December 1996. During the current Presidency, I have conveyed the Union's ongoing human rights concerns to the Nigerian authorities directly and through our Ambassador in Lagos, thus ensuring that our human rights concerns have been kept to the fore.
At the EU General Affairs Council meeting in July under my chairmanship, it was agreed that the Union would continue its identification and examination of further measures that could be taken against Nigeria and to keep developments in the country under close review in consultation with other interested countries and bodies. Since then, as Presidency, we have been actively engaged with the EU and other interested parties in this ongoing process of consultation and close review, which includes within its remit the continuing human rights situation in Ogoniland and throughout Nigeria.
While the European Union has welcomed a number of potentially positive developments in relation to human rights in Nigeria such as the resumption of dialogue with the Commonwealth, the release of a number of political prisoners and the establishment of a Commission on Human Rights, serious cause for concern remains. This has been reflected in the terms of the resolution on the human rights situation in Nigeria which was co-sponsored by the European Union and duly adopted by the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly on 29 November.
The situation in Nigeria continues to be monitored closely under the review framework of the EU Common Positions with the additional focus agreed under the Irish Presidency at the General Affairs Council in July. The Government will continue to work, both bilaterally and with our EU partners, for the early restoration of democracy and full respect for human rights and the rule of law in Nigeria and we will pursue our concerns in the United Nations and other appropriate international fora.
Is the Minister satisfied with the pace of transition to civilian rule in Nigeria? Given the detention of supporters of the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, what efforts has he made, as President of the Council of Ministers, to guarantee a fair and prompt trial for all political prisoners with a right of appeal to an independent judicial body?
With our EU partners, we have been closely monitoring developments in Nigeria and will press for the presence of EU monitors at any relevant hearings. That is one of the most direct ways of ensuring fair trials. We will also give strong support to any measures which may prove necessary, including further sanctions, to ensure full respect for human rights and international legal norms. The undertakings given by Nigeria to the United Nations Secretary General and the Commonwealth will have a bearing on future Ogoni hearings. I cannot give the Deputy any guarantees on a timescale for the re-establishment of democracy in Nigeria.
The Minister referred to the arms embargo. I understand he favours the introduction of an oil embargo. What efforts has he made to obtain EU and international support for such an embargo? Will he agree that there is an onus on Shell and other oil companies to consider the environmental impact of their business operations in Nigeria?
I have outlined my own views on the question of an oil embargo to the House on a number of occasions. Ireland and a number of our EU partners favour the introduction of such an embargo in furtherance of democracy and human rights in Nigeria. As I said to the Deputy previously, to be effective it would have to have global support. A unilateral EU oil embargo would not have a great impact as it would not extend to the major markets for Nigerian oil. That is why the Government supports the idea of EU consultations with other states on such an embargo. There are different views within the European Union on that matter and some member states were prepared to go no further than the agreed position. To the best of my knowledge, we do not import oil from Nigeria and therefore we are not affected. The common position we have adopted, which was repeated recently, is the strongest position attainable by the 15 member states.
The Nigerian Government would not allow a delegation of three Dáil Deputies to accompany a Trócaire delegation on its visit to Nigeria last June. Will the Tánaiste take up the issue of allowing a delegation from this Parliament to visit Nigeria?
I will take up that matter with the Nigerian authorities, although success cannot be guaranteed, and I will communicate with the Deputy.
