Gay Mitchell
Question:4 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps taken by him in the situation in Zimbabwe. [12864/00]
Ceisteanna–Questions. Priority Questions. - Foreign Conflicts.
The Government is extremely concerned at the breakdown in the rule of law in Zimbabwe, and the ongoing violence, loss of life, illegal occupation of property and continuing political intimidation in the run-up to Zimbabwe's parliamentary elections. We have brought our serious concern at these tragic events to the attention of the authorities in Zimbabwe on a number of occasions.
The Irish Ambassador in South Africa is also accredited to Zimbabwe. He maintains close con sultations with his EU counterparts and has kept the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Government informed of developments. We have instructed that an embassy officer remain in the country to provide the necessary consular protection for the Irish community there. The Ambassador is in Harare at present. All possible steps to ensure the safety of Irish citizens are being taken.
About 2,000 Irish passport holders live in Zimbabwe. Irish citizens have been asked to update the information about them which our embassy in Pretoria has and to register with the British High Commission in Harare as well. The British High Commission is including Irish citizens in its contingency planning, but evacuations are not envisaged by them or by any of the EU missions at this stage. Irish citizens visiting Zimbabwe are being advised to exercise caution and not to visit commercial farms, venture off main roads nor travel by night.
In recent months, together with our EU partners, the Government has expressed its concern at the situation to the authorities on a number of occasions. In March, following the illegal occupation of farms and the escalation of outbreaks of violence, we called on the Government of Zimbabwe to ensure respect for the law and maintain public order and civil protection. In April, diplomatic efforts to resolve the differences between Britain and Zimbabwe took place at the Africa-Europe Summit in Cairo, which I attended with the Taoiseach. Since the conflict began, EU Foreign Ministers have called on the Government of Zimbabwe, both in April and most recently at the informal meeting in Portugal last weekend, to take the steps necessary to resolve the deteriorating situation as a matter of urgency.
The European Union is Zimbabwe's principal development partner. Together with other member states the Government has reaffirmed its commitment to orderly and transparent agrarian reform which respects the rights of all citizens and is compatible with the economic and development requirements of the country. The illegal occupation of farms has already led to tragic acts of violence. It seriously undermines the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and is unacceptable in a democratic country. In this context, we condemned the legislation passed in the Zimbabwe Parliament allowing confiscation of farmland without compensation, and called on the Government of Zimbabwe to comply with the Court order of 17 March to end the illegal occupation. We have also reiterated our support for land resettlement within the rule of law and on the basis of the principles and conclusions of the 1998 Land Reform and Resettlement Conference, which were agreed by the parties concerned at that time.
Additional Information.The Government has stressed the fundamental importance of respect for democratic principles, human rights and the rule of law, and has appealed, together with its EU partners, to the Government of Zimbabwe to create the conditions for holding free and fair elections in the near future, within the timetable prescribed by the Zimbabwean constitution. We have offered our assistance towards ensuring that these electoral conditions are fully met. In this context, we welcome the recent announcement by the Government of Zimbabwe that it will accept international election observers and have underlined the importance of these observers being present in sufficient numbers at as early a date as possible to observe the pre-election process, and to ensure that democratic principles are respected.
Ireland was a long-standing supporter of the Zimbabwean independence movement. The Government will continue to support all peaceful efforts to resolve the current difficulties, and to ensure that the democracy which the people of Zimbabwe worked so hard to achieve will continue to grow and prosper.
Would the Minister of State agree that, in addition to the 2,000 Irish passport holders living in Zimbabwe, it is likely that there are a number of others who surrendered their Irish passports and took Zimbabwean citizenship in the belief that that was the right thing to do with the new horizons which they thought would arise in Zimbabwe? Would she agree that 40 or 50 of those passport holders are white farmers or are in the employment of white farmers? Would she further agree that the behaviour of President Mugabe is totally reprehensible and unacceptable; and would she consider calling in the Zimbabwean Ambassador to Ireland with a view to making clear the Government's concerns?
I am not aware of those former Irish citizens to which the Deputy refers. My notes tell me that there are 2,000 Irish citizens undertaking a number of occupations, of whom fewer than 20 are farmers. As I already mentioned, an Irish diplomatic officer remains in Harare with a view to liaising with the Irish community and the authorities there. I assure the Deputy that every effort will be made by our staff to assist any Irish person or even an Irish person who has taken on Zimbabwean citizenship.
We would be very concerned about the safety of citizens while the political situation remains unstable. We are carefully monitoring the position. We are concerned about the activities, statements and aggressive political activity of President Mugabe and, in common with our EU partners, we are carefully watching the situation hoping it will not deteriorate.
Farmers are being beaten and murdered in Zimbabwe based on the colour of their skin and it is only a matter of lottery as to whether they are British, Irish or other nationals, including Zimbabwean nationals for that matter. Therefore, Irish citizens are in as much danger as anybody else. Will the Minister of State call in the Zimbabwean Ambassador to Ireland and ensure that he is directly apprised of the concerns of the Government regarding what is happening there?
There is nothing in my briefing about contacts with the Ambassador here. Regarding any on-going activity, we are working in co-operation with the British Government, in particular, and with other EU representatives in Zimbabwe and, therefore, I am not in a position to state that the Government will take the action proposed by the Deputy.
As Deputy Durkan is not present, Question No. 5 falls. That concludes Priority Questions.