P. J. Sheehan
Question:55 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Algeria. [11997/99]
Written Answers. - Algerian Conflict.
Seán Ryan
Question:70 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's position on the continuing violence in Algeria; the steps, if any, being taken to secure an end to the conflict; if his attention has been drawn to allegations of fraud in the recent elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12042/99]
Austin Deasy
Question:90 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will visit Algeria with a view to creating closer diplomatic and trade links; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a delegation from the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs visited Algeria recently and was impressed with efforts by the main political parties to foster a truly democratic system. [12084/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 70 and 90 together.
I remain most concerned at the current situation in Algeria which remains tense. While the scale of the violence and unrest has abated, reports indicate that serious outbreaks of violence have not yet ceased.
I share the dismay of others at the manner in which the recent presidential election process was conducted. The withdrawal of six of the seven candidates just before the election, because of their concerns about the probity of the electoral process, was a serious setback for the process of democratisation in Algeria.
Following an approach by Ireland, the Presidency, with the approval of EU partners, issued a statement on 21 April which stated the Union's belief that it is by promoting democracy and the rule of law and by continuing with economic and social reforms that Algeria will be able to emerge from the crisis in which it has been embroiled for a number of years. The Union went on to state that it would attach the greatest importance to initiatives along these lines by the newly elected President Bouteflika. The Union confirmed its readiness to support the reform process in Algeria, particularly by way of Euro-Mediterranean co-operation, and to continue the political dialogue entered into with the Algerian authorities.
I am aware of the successful recent visit to Algeria by the delegation from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs. I noted the extensive series of contacts which they had with Algerian political parties while there and was impressed with the spirit in which the exchanges of views took place. Contacts such as this are a most important means of encouraging the processes of normalisation and democracy in Algeria and I would like to congratulate the members of the committee on their initiative in this matter.
As the members of the House are aware, I visited Algeria in December 1997 to see the situation there at first hand. Since then, I have had further discussions with my Algerian counterpart on several occasions – at the Euro-Mediterranean foreign ministers conference last June and at the UN General Assembly last September. I am currently planning to attend the OAU summit which will be taking place in Algiers from 12 to 14 July, and I hope to meet my Algerian counterpart on that occasion.