Vol. 524 No. 3
85 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed with regard to the trial of Alpha Condé, an opposition candidate for the presidency of the Republic of Guinea; and the steps which have been taken to voice those concerns, either bilaterally or otherwise, with a view to obtaining a fair trial for the accused. [22551/00]
Mr. Alpha Condé, an opposition leader in Guinea, was arrested in 1998 and was subsequently detained for a lengthy period before being charged. His trial on charges of plotting to overthrow the government finally began at the end of May this year and concluded on 12 September when he was sentenced to five years imprisonment. It is now open to the President of Guinea to consider the possibility of the early release of Mr. Condé or of a presidential pardon.
Ireland and our EU partners have made representations to the Government of Guinea expressing concern about the detention and trial of Mr. Condé on a number of occasions since he was first detained. We continue to have concerns in the matter and, with our EU partners, will follow events closely and consider what further steps may be warranted.
