Conor Lenihan
Question:207 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the UN resolutions in relation to Cuba; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9486/98]
Written Answers. - Embargo Against Cuba.
Conor Lenihan
Question:208 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the US blockade of Cuba; and the representations, if any, he has made to the American authorities on this issue. [9487/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together.
As I have previously stated in this House, the Government wish to see an end to the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed against Cuba. We are working to that end in concert with our EU partners. On 5 November 1997, Ireland, along with our European Union partners, voted in the United Nations General Assembly in favour of a Resolution which called for an end to the embargo. The General Assembly adopted the Resolution with 143 votes in favour, three against and 17 abstentions. The US Administration has been made fully aware of Ireland's concerns, and that of our EU partners, about the embargo and its extra-territorial effects.
The Government accordingly have welcomed the statement by President Clinton on 20 March which announced a number of openings in US contacts with Cuba. These are primarily of a humanitarian nature. President Clinton has made it clear that these measures are a response to the outcome of the Pope's visit to Cuba.
The Government also wish to see the Cuban Government undertake sustained action to respect human rights and promote democracy within Cuba. On 12 December 1997, Ireland and its EU partners voted in the UN General Assembly in favour of a Resolution on the Human Rights Situation in Cuba. The General Assembly adopted the Resolution with 64 votes in favour, 29 against and 75 abstentions. The Resolution calls on the Government of Cuba to bring its observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba into conformity with international standards and to end the violations of human rights, in particular, the detention and imprisonment of human rights defenders. Ireland intends to support a resolution on the human rights situation in Cuba which is expected to come to a vote imminently, at the current Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
In reviewing the implementation of the European Union's Common Position on Cuba in December last, the EU General Affairs Council reiterated that the EU's objective towards Cuba remained the encouragement of a process of peaceful transition to pluralist democracy, the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as sustainable economic recovery and improvement in the living standards of the Cuban people. Our twin objectives are to see an end to the US embargo against Cuba and also to see the Cuban Government make concrete moves towards pluralist democracy and respect for human rights in that country.