Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 29 Nov 2001

Vol. 545 No. 3

Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

66 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the situation in Algeria; if an improvement has been achieved regarding the human rights situation; if he will use his influence at EU and UN level to bring about an improvement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30313/01]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

The Government is deeply concerned at the suffering caused by the civil conflict in Algeria.

Efforts by the Algerian authorities and a number of opposition groups to end the conflict continue, despite opposition by some forces to any settlement or reconciliation between the Government and its Islamist opponents. The situation has deteriorated in recent months after an improvement following the implementation of the general amnesty announced by President Bouteflika last year. Ireland, together with our EU partners, supports efforts to achieve a process of genuine political dialogue in Algeria. In a statement during the UN Third Committee debate on human rights, the EU expressed cautious support for initiatives by the Algerian authorities in the areas of political, social and economic reform, but also underlined the need for a greater respect for human rights by the security forces.

The EU supports economic and social reforms which tackle poverty, deprivation and exclusion, all of which serve to perpetuate the violence. To this end it is working with Algeria through the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and has urged Algeria to implement the commitments it accepted in the Barcelona Declaration for the development of democracy and the rule of law, and to respect and protect human rights. These are priority areas in negotiations with Algeria on a draft Association Agreement under the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. Ireland would like to see an Agreement in which closer economic cooperation is linked to the process of political reform and respect for human rights.

Ireland attaches particular importance to human rights issues in our bilateral relations with Algeria. We have urged the Algerian authorities to establish independent mechanisms for the investigation of human rights violations and to bring those responsible to justice. We would like to see Algeria accede to the requests for visits by the UN Special Human Rights Rapporteurs on Torture and Extrajudicial Executions.

The Government have noted the constructive action taken by the Algerian authorities in response to the recent critical report and recommendations of an independent inquiry established by President Bouteflika into the causes of the unrest in the Berber region of Kabylie. The Government hope there will be further follow-up action to those recommendations. We hope that the Algerian authorities will now go on to establish similar, independent mechanisms to investigate allegations of human rights abuses arising from the wider civil conflict in the country.