Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 23 Mar 2000

Vol. 516 No. 5

Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

40 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, he is taking unilaterally or through the EU or the UN to secure an end to the conflict between Russia and Chechnya and promote a peaceful settlement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8469/00]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

With regard to the action taken by the EU in relation to Chechnya, I refer the Deputy to the answer I gave to Priority Question No. 5.

With regard to action by the UN, Secretary General Kofi Annan visited Russia for talks with Acting President Putin and the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs. Mary Robinson, is to visit the region on 1 and 2 April. Mrs. Robinson has indicated that she intends to put the issue of Chechnya on the agenda of this year's session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, which opened in Geneva on 20 March.

Ireland is not currently a member of the UN Commission on Human Rights. However we will be attending the session in Geneva as an observer. It is expected that members of the Commission will table a resolution on Chechnya. Ireland could support an appropriate resolution on Chechnya aimed at helping in an effective manner the efforts to press Russia towards a political settlement and a credible investigation of human rights abuses.