Derek McDowell
Question:33 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the Ethiopian-Eritrian conflict. [16834/00]
Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.
Paul McGrath
Question:71 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Ethiopia and Eritrea. [16918/00]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:94 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he has influenced the international community in efforts to bring about a cessation of the war in Eritrea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17025/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 71 and 94 together.
The Government remains extremely concerned at the failure to resolve the ongoing conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. It has conveyed its views about the need to put an immediate end to the fighting and to resume peace negotiations under the aegis of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) mediation to both the Ethiopian and Eritrean authorities on a number of occasions. The current situation is not only causing immense suffering for the civilian population, it is also destabilising for both countries and for the wider region of east Africa, including Sudan.
In July 1999, at the OAU summit in Algiers, OAU Heads of State and Government approved the modalities for the implementation of a framework agreement on the settlement of the conflict between the two countries. With its partners in the European Union Ireland welcomed this agreement and urged both sides to immediately support it. Unfortunately, differences between the two sides on the technical arrangements for the Implementation of the framework agreement persisted and, consequently, no progress was made on implementing the agreement.
Following intensive negotiations earlier this year led by OAU special representative Ahmed Ouyahia, representing OAU chairperson President Bouteflika of Algeria, with the support of the US, the UN and the EU, represented by the presidency's special representative to Ethiopia and Eritrea, Senator Rino Serri, both countries returned to proximity talks in Algiers at the end of April. Unfortunately, the talks collapsed almost immediately. Ireland called on the Governments of the two countries to enter immediately and without preconditions into further negotiations in order to reach agreement and to refrain from taking any military action which would have disastrous consequences for both countries. The European Union also reiterated its readiness to support the implementation of the OAU peace settlement.
In spite of international appeals, renewed hostilities broke out on 12 May. The United Nations Security Council strongly condemned the renewed fighting, demanded that both parties cease all military action and return to the OAU negotiations and called on those concerned to ensure the safety of civilian populations and fully respect human rights and international humanitarian law. In May, the United Nations imposed an embargo on the sale or supply to Ethiopia and Eritrea of arms and related material of all types including weapons, ammunition and military equipment, for a period of twelve months at the end of which the situation will be reviewed.
Together with its partners in the European Union, Ireland deeply deplores the resumption of hostilities between Ethiopia and Eritrea and has condemned the continuation of a conflict which endangers the security and development of the region, particularly in view of the food crisis. Ireland has appealed to both sides to put an immediate end to the fighting and to resume peace negotiations in order to reach agreement on the technical arrangements for the implementation of the framework agreement and the modalities accepted by both sides. Ireland reiterated its support for the peace efforts of the OAU and its willingness to assist with the implementation of the peace agreement that it hopes will be achieved as quickly as possible.
Recalling the responsibility of any government for its people, Ireland has noted that the fighting has dramatic humanitarian consequences for the civilian population of the two countries and deplores the fact that, against a severe food crisis in the region, precious resources were being diverted to the conflict. Together with EU colleagues, Ireland has confirmed its willingness to provide emergency and humanitarian aid carefully targeted to the people most seriously in need, in order to avoid any possible diversion of such aid.
The Government will continue to support all international efforts, notably those of the OAU and the UN, vigorously to pursue the peace process and to achieve a comprehensive settlement to this futile conflict, the political and economic costs of which neither country can afford.
The Ireland Aid country programme for Ethiopia for this year is valued at £16.184 million and is set to rise to £18.935 million in 2001. The programme is focused on the long-term needs of the rural poor, although £2 million has been re-allocated from this year's budget to help offset the more immediate impact of the drought induced crisis. Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, visited Ethiopia from 2-7 May to assess the humanitarian situation, the status of the emergency relief response and Ireland aid's long-term development activities. During her visit, the Minister of State was also briefed on political developments, including the conflict with Eritrea, and stressed Ireland's support for the OAU peace process. Minister of State, O'Donnell, briefed the EU Council of Development Ministers on the situation on her return. An official delegation from the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs is also scheduled to travel to Ethiopia from 17 to 24 June.
Louis J. Belton
Question:34 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Sri Lanka. [16920/00]
The Government is seriously concerned at the escalating conflict between the forces of the Government of Sri Lanka and secessionist Tamil forces. Since the fighting began in 1983 more than 60,000 deaths have resulted. Many of these casualties have been caused by indiscriminate terrorist attacks by Tamil fighters – the so-called Tamil Tigers or LTTE – often carried out by suicide bombers and against the civilian population.
Fighting renewed in intensity in April when the Government forces suffered a number of setbacks in the northern region of the country, notably in Elephant Pass which links the Jaffna peninsula to the rest of the country and around the city of Jaffna itself. Sporadic attacks against Government forces and the civilian population also continue elsewhere throughout the country and the Minister for Industrial Development and 21 other innocent people were killed, with 60 injured, in a suicide bomb attack in the capital Colombo on 7 June.
The conflict is not only a tragedy for the people of Sri Lanka, but has serious implications for the region, including India, where there is a large Tamil population in the south of the country.
The EU has called on the secessionist forces, the LTTE, to end its indiscriminate acts of violence and to enter into negotiations with the Sri Lankan Government. The EU has also urged the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the framework of Sri Lanka's territorial integrity.
The conflict in Sri Lanka will only be solved ultimately through a political solution, reflecting the fact that although the Tamils are a minority in the country as whole, they are in the majority in the North. It is, therefore, incumbent on the Government and opposition parties of Sri Lanka to reach a consensus on how to address this problem. Such a consensus has not existed in the past but I hope that recent reports that one may now be imminent will be substantiated. I am also encouraged that the Prime Minister of India has forged a consensus among political parties in his country about the stance that India should adopt in regard to the situation, and in support of a solution respecting the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.
While the conflict in Sri Lanka has not been amenable so far to international mediation, the Government of Norway has offered its good offices as mediator of the talks. The EU fully supports Norway in this endeavour.