Vol. 524 No. 3
93 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will use his influence at EU and UN levels to ensure the fundamental rights of those suffering from oppression in the former Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22637/00]
Ireland has used, and will continue to use, its influence in a constructive and sensitive manner in all relevant international fora, including the EU, UN, OSCE and Council of Europe, to protect and vindicate the fundamental human rights of all the people of the former Yugoslavia. With our active encouragement, most of the successor states have themselves been working with these organisations to improve their human rights standards. With the recent democratic transition in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), there is every prospect that the incoming administration will move in this direction too. At the forthcoming EU-Balkans Summit in Zagreb, on 24 November, this issue will be addressed with a view to achieving more rapid progress.
