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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 1997

Vol. 480 No. 6

Written Answers - War Criminals.

Ivan Yates

Question:

79 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, the Government has taken to ensure that war criminals, especially in the former Yugoslavia, are pro-actively pursued. [14612/97]

The Government believes that all persons indicted of war crimes by international criminal tribunals should appear before them to answer such charges.

In the case of former Yugoslavia, full co-operation with the Hague Tribunal by all parties to the peace agreements, in the effort to bring war criminals to justice, is a fundamental obligation which must be honoured if genuine stability and lasting peace are to be consolidated.

As specified in the peace agreements, it is primarily the responsibility of the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, to ensure that indicted persons are handed over to the tribunal. The Government has availed, and will continue to avail, of every opportunity to press these governments to fulfil their obligations towards the Hague Tribunal.
Our EU partners fully share our concern about the need for the parties to co-operate with the Hague Tribunal. For that reason, the issue has been kept at the top of the EU's agenda both in dialogue with the countries in question, and also in the context of international conferences concerned with the peace process. Co-operation by the parties with the tribunal has been made a key political condition in the EU's regional approach, which will govern any and every improvement in relations with the countries involved.
Recent developments in the region indicate that those with the responsibility to hand over indicted persons have gained a better understanding of the approach of the EU on this issue.
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