Ivor Callely
Question:120 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the political and economic position that prevails in Kosovo; the level of human rights abuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16990/01]
Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.
The most significant political development in Kosovo has been the announcement by the Head of the UN Interim Administration in Kosovo, UNMIK, Hans Haekkerup, that province-wide elections will be held on 17 November. This accompanied the finalisation of the constitutional framework for provisional self-government in Kosovo on 15 May. The framework sets out the structure and functions of new institutions for provisional self-government in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1244. The elections are being organised by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE.
UNMIK has been conducting meetings with the authorities in Belgrade to give assurances regarding the nature of the new institutions and to secure support of the Kosovo-Serb community. The Serbian Parliament has judged the framework to be unacceptable but has given encouragement for Kosovo-Serbs to register as voters. The major ethnic Albanian political parties have criticised the framework but all will participate in the elections. The issue of the final status of Kosovo is expected to figure prominently in the election campaign with all ethnic Albanian parties supporting full independence from Serbia.
Concern for the rights of individuals and communities are integral to the framework document. The framework incorporates the provisions of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and its Protocols. Chapter 4 of the framework sets out the rights to which members of the different communities of Kosovo are entitled. These include linguistic, religious, educational, associational and employment rights. The right of refugee return and property recovery are also enshrined in the framework.
As a further safeguard for fundamental rights, ten seats in the assembly will be reserved for representatives of the Serb community and ten for the representatives of the Roma, Ashkaeli and Egyptian communities. The special representative of the UN Secretary General will retain the authority to intervene as necessary to protect the rights of communities and their members.
The influx of refugees displaced by the conflicts in southern Serbia and in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, FYROM, has been an urgent concern for the authorities in Kosovo. Approximately 8,000 people fled to Kosovo from southern Serbia, although with the re-entry of Yugoslav forces to the demilitarised zone and the demobilisation of ethnic Albanian armed groups, the process of return has already begun. On the other hand, the number of refugees from the conflict in FYROM are estimated at over 30,000 and will probably increase.
Economically, Kosovo has been recovering from a very low base. Unemployment remains very high. UNMIK has been working to establish the functioning tax system necessary for a self-sustaining budget for the province. Tax collection points at Kosovo's boundaries prompted roadblocks and demonstrations by the Kosovo Serb community which interpreted them as customs points. An IMF report in February 2001 assessed agricultural production to have reached three-quarters of pre-conflict levels, with a high level of construction activity but with the industrial sector remaining depressed.
Ethnically and politically motivated violence continues to be a serious threat to stability and reconciliation in Kosovo. In the past three months, UNMIK has reported a general increase in tensions in Mitrovica, Gnjilane and Pristina regions. UNMIK has enacted new anti-terrorism measures to prevent armed violence within Kosovo and the support of violence across its boundaries.
While fully supporting process of transferring ownership of the political and economic institutions of Kosovo to its people in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1244, Ireland believes the continued engagement of the inter national community in Kosovo to be of vital importance. Ireland will continue to work actively, particularly through the structures of the UN and the European Union, to promote peaceful development in the province.
Ivor Callely
Question:121 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the regime and stability that exists in Afghanistan; the issues about which his Department and the EU are concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16991/01]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:130 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he has taken to influence and mobilise international opinion regarding the treatment of women in Afghanistan; if he has planned particular initiatives to highlight this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18168/01]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:131 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he has taken at UN or EU level to influence the situation in Afghanistan, with particular reference to the alleviation of starvation and recognition for human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18169/01]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 121, 130 and 131 together.
The situation in Afghanistan remains extremely grim with no sign of any political solution to end the civil war there in the near future. With approximately 90% of the territory under the control of the Taliban and the remainder under the control of the opposition – the United Front-Northern Alliance – there are increasing fears that the summer period will be used by both sides, which have reinforced their positions, for a further round of fighting. The Taliban continue to refuse any peace negotiations with direct or even indirect UN involvement. The various involvements of a number of regional states constitute a further obstacle to peace.
Within the territory controlled by the Taliban the imposition of an extreme form of Sharia law and increasing harassment of aid organisations, make the delivery of humanitarian aid more difficult. The plight of the civilian population, already made difficult by the ongoing conflict, has become even more serious through the effects of drought and there are fears that the already high number of internally displaced persons could increase.
The situation, therefore, is one of the most profound concern to the international community and this is the background against which Ireland, both at the UN Security Council and through the EU, is seeking to work towards an alleviation of these problems. The priorities remain the search for a way to bring about peace negotiations, the continuation of the effort to deliver humanitarian aid to those in need and the implementation of UN sanctions to control the illegal flow of arms and other materials. Ireland endeavours at all relevant fora to ensure that the question of human rights is also properly addressed. At Ireland's initiative the specific aspect of the treatment of women was included in the common position adopted by the EU in January 2001, and Ireland has also raised this aspect in our interventions at the UN Security Council.