Ivan Yates
Question:24 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the likelihood of progress in relation to the Cyprus issue. [12830/00]
Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.
The Government fully supports the efforts of the UN to advance the process towards a political settlement in Cyprus in the current round of talks between both sides. Although the backdrop to the talks has improved following the recent improvement in Greek-Turkish relations, it is difficult to predict the likelihood of substantial progress being achieved. The Government has urged the parties to make every effort to move the process forward. It has also been made clear to them and to the United Nations that Ireland is ready to provide any assistance which would be considered useful in promoting progress.
In November 1999, Turkish-Cypriot leader Denktash agreed to take part in UN-sponsored indirect or proximity talks with Cypriot President Glafeos Clerides. These proximity talks took place from 3 to 14 December. A second round of talks was held from 31 January to 8 February this year. The purpose of these two rounds of talks was to prepare the groundwork for comprehensive negotiations. Four core issues are on the table in these discussions: security, territory, property, including compensation, and distribution of powers. The talks are due to restart in New York later this month, but they may be postponed due to the illness of President Clerides. The UN mediator, Alvaro De Soto, has confirmed that the next round of talks will also be based on indirect meetings.
The Government believes that the UN framework of a bi-zonal, bi-communal, federal approach remains the appropriate one for an eventual settlement to the Cyprus issue. We have a particular interest in a successful outcome to the peace process. Ireland has contributed from the outset to the UN peacekeeping operation in Cyprus and we currently have 20 personnel with UNFICYP. The Government hopes that the recent positive developments in Greek-Turkish relations can be built upon and that these developments will help to facilitate concrete progress towards a settlement in Cyprus.
Michael Noonan
Question:25 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Chechnya. [12858/00]
Liz McManus
Question:68 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he is taking unilaterally or through the EU or the UN to secure an end to the conflict and promote a peaceful settlement between Russia and Chechnya; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13075/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 68 together.
The Government remains concerned at the situation in Chechnya. The main military campaign appears to be over but sporadic fighting continues, particularly in the southern mountains.
At the centre of our concerns are the innocent civilians who have been caught up in this conflict. According to rough estimates, approximately 20,000 civilians remain in the devastated Chechen capital, Grozny, where a second UNHCR aid convoy arrived recently. An estimated 185,000 Chechens are still in the neighbouring Russian Republic of Ingushetia. The ICRC is scheduled to gain access to detention centres within the next ten days. Ireland has allocated £310,000 in humanitarian assistance to Chechen internally displaced persons, to augment Ireland's share of the European Union aid package of £7.4 million. We will continue to do everything possible to alleviate the plight of civilians.
Efforts continue by the international community to promote a peaceful settlement to the conflict. The EU has repeatedly emphasised to Russia the seriousness with which it views the situation in Chechnya, as has been outlined to the House in previous replies. There have been a number of high level discussions of the issue with the Russian authorities, including at the EU-Russia Co-operation Council on 10 April. The EU-Russia Summit on 29 May will provide a further opportunity to review developments and examine how to promote progress towards a settlement.
The OSCE has reached agreement with Russia for the return of the OSCE assistance mission to the region and 62 OSCE monitors are being deployed on the Chechnya/Georgia border to prevent conflict spillover.
Considerable emphasis has been placed, particularly by last month's session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, on the need for a thorough and transparent investigation of allegations of human rights abuses.
Russia has taken a number of steps in response to international concerns. President Putin has appointed a Special Representative for Human Rights in Chechnya, Mr Kalamanov. A Commission on Human Rights, Displaced Persons and the Normalisation of the Social, Political and Economic situation in the Chechen Republic has been established in the Duma. In addition, a National Public Commission for Investigating Crimes and Monitoring Respect for Human Rights in the North Caucasus has been established, under the chairmanship of the former Minister for Justice, Mr. Krascheninnkov.
As Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, I successfully negotiated the assignment of a number of Council of Europe experts to work in the office of the Special Representative for Human Rights in Chechnya, Mr. Kalamanov. It is hoped that these experts will be able to be deployed shortly. I also continually stressed to the Russian authorities, most recently in the course of two bilateral meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov in Luxembourg on 10 April and in New York on 24 April, the importance of opening dialogue with elected Chechen representatives and the need for a credible and transparent investigation of allegations of human rights abuses with effective procedures for bringing the perpetrators to justice. I discussed these matters again with Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov informally last night in Strasbourg.
The discussion continued this morning in Strasbourg at the meeting of the Committee of Ministers which I chaired. At the close of their discussions, the Ministers concluded that steps were being taken by Russia towards meeting the concerns of the Council of Europe, including those raised by the Parliamentary Assembly. The Ministers will keep the issue of Chechnya on their agenda and follow developments with the closest attention, also with a view to reporting to the June part-session of the Parliamentary Assembly, as requested in Recommendation 1456.
I will, of course, keep the House informed of developments.