Billy Timmins
Question:53 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give an overview of economic and human rights development in Asia. [20967/99]
Written Answers. - Asian Economies.
In my reply, I propose to address economic developments in the region first, before turning to human rights developments in Asia.
The economic upheaval in a number of Asian economies in 1997 and 1998, coming on top of other adverse developments, such as the Russian and Brazilian economic crises, had a ripple effect worldwide.
World output growth in 1998, at just over 2 per cent, was only half what it was before the economic crisis in Asia broke and is expected to rebound only moderately in 1999. The crises in Asia and elsewhere have underscored the vulnerability of economies with policy shortcomings to abrupt shifts in capital flows and unmasked weaknesses in policies and institutions in the affected economies. However, economic analysts are now less concerned at the possibility of a wider downturn being triggered by the ongoing difficulties in Asia, Russia and in South America. In recent months the turmoil in financial markets has subsided and global macroeconomic conditions have improved following a period of great uncertainty in the second half of 1998.
There has recently been a marked improvement in financial market conditions and most of the affected economies in Asia have begun to recover. In south east Asia, where the first crises occurred, the countries most directly affected – the Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand – are all showing signs of recovery. But despite the signs of progress, many challenges remain. Continuing recovery will depend on sound policies at national level and also on a healthy global economic environment.
In an update of the Asian development bank's outlook for 1999, which was issued in September, the bank raised its growth forecasts for most countries in the region. In the case of the newly industrialised economies of Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, it now suggests that the growth rate for 1999 will be 5.2 per cent. The report pointed to the rise in industrial production and exports in most of the crisis-affected economies and the fact that in many cases capital outflows have reversed. It added that while risks to the recovery outlook for Asia were lower than at this time last year they had not disappeared; it pointed also to the debt and structural problems still facing a number of countries in the region.
Where co-operation between the European Union and the countries of Asia is concerned, ASEM, or the Asia-Europe Meeting, provides a framework for economic, political, social and cultural exchanges and contacts. ASEM comprises the 15 EU states and members of the ASEAN group, as well as Japan, China and the Republic of Korea. The first ASEM summit was held in Bangkok on 1-2 March 1996 and the second summit – ASEM II – took place in London on 2-4 April 1998. The third summit meeting will be held in Seoul, Republic of Korea next year, while the fourth is scheduled to take place in Denmark in 2002.
The second ASEM economic Ministers' meeting took place in Berlin on 9 and 10 October 1999. Ireland was represented at this meeting by the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Kitt. The Ministers had a very useful exchange of views on matters of mutual interest. I am arranging to place in the Oireachtas library a copy of the statement issued following that meeting, in which the Ministers participating noted the increasingly positive signals indicating that the recent economic and financial crisis had been overcome.
Despite the recent economic turmoil the economies of east and south east Asia are likely to remain major engines of world output and economic growth over the next half century. Ireland will not ignore the foreign earnings opportunities in the region. The Deputy may be aware that the Government recently adopted a strategy for the development of foreign earnings in Asia with the objective of increasing trade and investment levels and raising awareness of Ireland in the region as an investment location and source of high quality goods and services.
Turning to the other element of this question, it is our belief that human rights have a direct impact on, and close relationship with, issues of peace, security and, indeed, economic development and prosperity. Therefore, when examining both the economic developments in a particular region and the potential for deepening our economic contacts there, it is important that we do not lose sight of human rights issues as well.
In addressing current human rights developments in the Asian region, it is appropriate to note both positive and negative aspects. Undoubtedly, the horrific events of the past few months in East Timor must rank among the most grave human rights situations in the world today. Likewise, events in Afghanistan, Burma-Myanmar and China, among other countries in the region, also give cause for serious concern. Efforts are being made, however, to engage in a dialogue on human rights questions with certain Asian countries in a number of different fora. For example, an informal seminar on human rights was held in Beijing in June under the auspices of ASEM which brought together official, academic and NGO representatives from the ASEM countries. We strongly encourage and support such endeavours.
I have already spoken in some detail today about current developments in East Timor and I would not propose to do so again. I would like, however, to welcome the recent appointment of members to the International Commission of Inquiry set up to investigate human rights violations which have taken place in the territory. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs. Robinson, announced these appointments on 15 October last and the Commission is due to report to the UN Secretary General by the end of the year.
I have also addressed the human rights situation in China on a number of occasions in the House, most recently on 29 September last. Since then, a formal round of the EU-China human rights dialogue took place in Beijing on 19 October. Among the issues addressed were the death penalty, administrative detention, and co-operation with UN mechanisms. A list of individual cases of concern was also handed over by the Presidency to the Chinese authorities prior to the meeting itself. The EU Presidency sought to focus on these particular issues and to press for concrete results. We are awaiting a report on this round of the dialogue.
Together with our partners in the European Union, Ireland continues to monitor a number of worrying human rights situations in Asia. We have raised our concerns about these situations at the UN and other appropriate fora and we will do so again at the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, currently meeting in New York.
Through such combined efforts, through dialogue and through concerted action at the multilateral level, we will continue to work for positive developments in the field of human rights in Asia.