Written Answers - Foreign Conflicts.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
110
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the position regarding Sierra Leone; if it has been possible to positively influence the situation there with a view to the safeguarding of human rights and the protection of life; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13289/01]
The situation within Sierra Leone has not deteriorated further since the signing of the Abuja Agreement of 10 November 2000. However, the Government remains deeply concerned at the continuing incursions and violence at the borders of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. With our EU and UN partners, we have called on the Governments of these three countries to end the current crisis and create conditions for peace in Sierra Leone and in the region. In this connection we strongly support the efforts by regional leaders and the United Nations mission in Sierra Leone aimed at stabilising the security situation, restoring the peace process and helping to rebuild Sierra Leone.
The rebel movement, the Revolutionary Armed Force, has begun to have serious and meaningful contact with UNAMSIL which has yielded some important results. These include the return of weapons seized from some UNAMSIL contingents and the reopening of roads to facilitate the free movement of people and goods in RUF held areas. The slow pace at which the RUF is implementing aspects of the Abuja Agreement and their continuing reluctance to disarm and allow the Government of Sierra Leone to extend its authority to areas held by the rebels raises serious doubts about its intentions.
The humanitarian situation remains fragile in Sierra Leone. Reports continue to be received about the RUF allegedly harassing civilians and forcibly recruiting adults and children for fighting and forced labour. In the Security Council, Ireland has strongly condemned such activities and has supported UNAMSIL's investigation of any allegations of human rights abuses committed by other military groups, including the Sierra Leone Army and the Civil Defence Force.
A recent UN Security Council resolution has extended UNAMSIL's mandate to 30 September 2001. The strength of the mission will be raised to 17,500 over the forthcoming months.
The Government will continue to support efforts aimed at securing lasting peace and stability in Sierra Leone and at alleviating the suffering caused to the people there by the nine years of civil war in the country. The current cessation of hostilities provides a unique opportunity for all parties to pursue confidence building measures and restore dialogue.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
111
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will give an update on the situation in Mozambique; if he has contributed or will contribute positively to the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13290/01]
Considerable progress has been achieved in Mozambique over the past decade. The end of the brutal civil war and the establishment of a multi-party democracy have provided a strong basis for future political development. At the same time, the country's economy has experienced significant expansion with GDP growth rates averaging more than 10% in recent years. While disastrous weather, including severe floods, reduced that figure to 3.8% in 2000, growth rates are expected to increase again this year.
I am conscious that this political and economic progress remains fragile. Mozambique's economic performance is heavily dependent upon massive inflows of international assistance. The International Monetary Fund, for example, estimates that without the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative debt relief, Mozambique's debt service ratio would have been more than 31% in 2000; with HIPC, it was just 4.4%.
I am also concerned at the increase in political tension between Frelimo, the ruling party of President Chissano, and the opposition Renamo led by Alfonso Dhlakama. The current difficulties can be traced to the presidential and parliamentary elections of December 1999 which were disputed and challenged by Renamo. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that the results were valid, a verdict also reached by international election observers. Mr. Dhlakama and his party never formally accepted the results and his party boycotted Parliament until October 2000.
These difficulties exacerbated long-standing political tensions and gave rise to several outbreaks of violence. Last November the most serious incident occurred when at least 28 people were killed in clashes between police and Renamo supporters in northern and central parts of the country. The opposition has also complained of police raids on their offices in recent months. The Government has responded by accusing Renamo of building up supplies of weapons and explosives. Renamo continues to demand more political concessions from President Chissano in exchange for its agreement to accept its opposition status. In recent months a series of negotiations aimed at ending the political tension have taken place between the President and Mr. Dhlakama. While some progress has been made at these talks, they have so far failed to resolve all outstanding matters.
Along with our EU colleagues, Ireland condemned the violence that took place last November and the excesses which accompanied the demonstrations. We have made clear our strong support for the dialogue between the two main parties as the only viable way of overcoming the present political difficulties. It is essential that the considerable progress achieved since the end of the civil war is not jeopardised. We will continue to monitor developments closely and to make known our views where appropriate.
Mozambique is a priority country for Ireland Aid. A total of £15.5 million has been allocated for the programme budget for 2001. The Government has provided over £1 million in emergency assistance to meet the humanitarian needs caused by extensive flooding in 2000 and 2001.
Question No. 112 answered with Question No. 88.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
113
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will give his assessment of the situation in Ethiopia; his efforts through the EU or UN to improve the situation there; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13292/01]
The signing of a comprehensive peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea on 12 December 2000 brought an end to their brutal border war. The Government warmly welcomed this development and believes that the agreement provides the real prospect of lasting peace for their war weary peoples.
It is essential that the terms of the agreement be fully implemented without delay. I therefore welcome the progress that has been made to date. The formal establishment of the temporary security zone on 18 April was an important development. However, I am concerned at recent indications that Ethiopia may no longer accept the TSZ as presently constituted and I am seeking clarification of the position from our embassy in Addis Ababa and from the United Nations.
Ireland has actively contributed to Security Council deliberations on the situation since becoming a member of the Council in January. Along with our EU partners, we will continue to support the peace process and promote initiatives aimed at creating long-term reconciliation between the two countries.
Last month 38 people were killed and over 200 were injured when protests by students at the University of Addis Ababa escalated into violence. The Government accused opposition forces of being behind the disturbances and a number of leading opposition figures were subsequently arrested. Internal difficulties within the main governing coalition party, the TPLF, have exacerbated existing political tensions.
On 27 April an EU Troika delegation met with the Ethiopian Government to express our deep concern at the violence and at reports of excessive use of force by the security forces, mass arrests and other human rights abuses. The delegation called for an investigation into the events.
Along with our EU colleagues, we will continue to monitor developments closely and express our concerns where appropriate.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
114
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the situation in East Timor; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13293/01]
The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor is in the process of preparing the territory for independence with elections to a constituent assembly scheduled for the end of August 2001. Work also continues across the full spectrum of requirements to develop indigenous capacity in order to deal with the questions and demands which independence will bring. While the immediate priority is for UNTAET to continue with its work to enable independence to take place at the earliest date, East Timor's requirement for further assistance, on a reduced basis, after that date is also being examined and initial planning to cater for this has already started.
Ireland participates in the UNTAET mission and has been fully involved in discussions and debates on the issue of East Timor in the context of our membership of the UN Security Council.
Although there have been considerable improvements in the security situation in East Timor, the continuing presence of militias in West Timor remains a threat. The large number of East Timorese refugees still in West Timor is a further problem which needs to be resolved, not least to allow those who wish to return to East Timor to participate in the elections.
Ireland, both bilaterally and through the EU and the Security Council, has made known to the Indonesian authorities our concerns at their failure to deal decisively with the militias and the refugee problem in West Timor. These concerns were highlighted most recently at the annual session of the UN Commission on Human Rights.
Ireland is fully committed to supporting the East Timorese people during the current phase of intense political and economic transition into and beyond independence. This commitment has been underlined by the opening of an Ireland Aid office in Dili last November by the Government to manage Ireland's bilateral programme of assistance. A transitional country strategy programme to cover the period until the end of 2002 has been developed and will provide targeted assistance to meet basic needs. Direct financial assistance which complements Ireland's other initiatives will continue to be provided to the World Bank and United Nations trust funds, as appropriate. This will be augmented by support for quick impact programmes at local level. During 2000 £1.1 million was spent by Ireland in East Timor and support in excess of this amount is anticipated for this year.
Ireland, in conjunction with the EU and at the United Nations, will continue to contribute positively to the transition to independence of East Timor.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
115
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the extent to which he has taken initiatives through the UN or the EU to bring about a stabilisation and restoration of order in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[13294/01]
The United Nations Security Council has devoted considerable attention to attempting to resolve the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Efforts to end the war have met with considerable success in recent months and there are now grounds for optimism that a peaceful resolution of the DRC conflict may finally be in prospect. The disengagement of opposing troops from front lines in eastern DRC in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1341 has proceeded well and is being observed by United Nations monitors.
Three major issues now remain to be resolved. First, the parties involved in the war must draw up a timetable by 15 May for their full withdrawal from the DRC. Second, the parties must draw up plans, also by 15 May, to neutralise irregular armed groups operating within the DRC, including the forces which carried out the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Third, progress is required on the national dialogue provided for in the Lusaka ceasefire agreement to ensure that there is representative government in the DRC.
The UN Secretary General has set out the challenges in the period ahead in his latest report on the United Nations mission in the DRC, also known as MONUC. As the withdrawal of foreign forces proceeds, it is envisaged that MONUC will be transformed from an observation mission into a fully fledged peacekeeping operation.
The appalling humanitarian situation and the security of local populations in the areas to be evacuated by foreign forces will also require particular attention.
The report of the United Nation's panel of experts on the illegal exploitation of natural resources and other forms of wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which was released in mid-April, makes a number of extremely serious allegations against countries involved in the DRC war. Rwanda and Uganda are singled out for particular criticism in relation to the mass scale looting and illegal exploitation of resources such as gold, diamonds, coltan and timber that has taken place in the DRC since the outbreak of war in 1998.
The allegations are of a sufficiently serious nature to merit thorough investigation by the relevant national authorities. The Government expects the parties concerned to do so and to extend every co-operation to the panel of experts in its future work. No effort must be spared by the relevant authorities to ensure that activities which undermine the peace process in the DRC are halted and that the Congolese people can finally be allowed to benefit directly from the natural wealth of their own country.
As a member of the UN Security Council, Ireland has contributed actively to efforts to end the DRC crisis. Ireland will participate in a Security Council mission to the Great Lakes region in mid-May which will assess the situation on the ground, propose concrete ways to advance the peace process, and attempt to give a boost to the holding of the interCongolese dialogue. In terms of a national contribution towards the peace process, Ireland has provided £100,000 to support the office of the facilitator of the interCongolese dialogue.
