Liz McManus
Question:31 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on assistance offered by the Government to the United States in the fight against terrorism. [10261/02]
Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.
Ivor Callely
Question:44 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the success of the new spirit of international co-operation to address global terrorism in the aftermath of 11 September 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10231/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 44 together.
The response of the international community to the events of 11 September has been impressive. The United Nations has played a central role. On 12 September the Security Council adopted Resolution 1368, which reaffirmed the right to self-defence and called on all states to work together to prevent and suppress international terrorism and to bring to justice the perpetrators of the attacks. On 28 September, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1373, calling on all states to take legislative and financial measures to combat terrorism, including ratification of the 12 existing anti-terrorist conventions, in particular the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. This convention will enter into force on 10 April 2002 having been ratified by 22 countries. Ireland signed the convention on 15 October 2001, and legislation to permit ratification is at an advanced stage of preparation.
The Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), established by the Security Council to monitor the implementation of Resolution 1373, requested all member states to submit reports. To date, 142 reports, including the Irish report, on national implementation of the resolution have been received and are being evaluated by members of the CTC including Ireland. Member states will be asked, as necessary, to follow up with supplementary reports on particular questions raised by the committee. Where required, assistance will be provided to those member states who need to upgrade their capacity for legislative, executive, or judicial action against terrorism.
Under Resolution 1373, the following regional organisations, among others, are playing a key role in the fight against terrorism: the European Union, EU, the Organisation on Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, OIC, the Arab League, the Organisation of American States, OAS, the Rio Group, the Southern African Development Community, SADC, and the Association of South East Asian Nations, ASEAN. The EU, for its part, drew up an action plan, approved by the European Council on 21 September, under the following headings – enhancing police and judicial co-operation, developing international legal instruments, putting an end to the funding of terrorism, and strengthening air security. A wide range of specific measures, both internal and external, are being implemented by the relevant EU councils, including General Affairs, Justice and Home Affairs, ECOFIN and Transport.
In addition to co-operation with the United States under these headings, the Government, acting on foot of Security Council Resolution 1368, and in accordance with the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, opened Irish airspace and airports to US aircraft involved in action aimed at bringing to justice those involved in the terrorist attacks of 11 September. Since 11 September, the following factors are clear. Long-term security, peace and prosperity can never again be taken for granted. The continuing threat from international terrorism can only be met by concerted international co-operation. Both morally and materially, international terrorism calls for a globalised response. This response must not only tackle the manifestations of terrorist activity but also deal with the root causes of conflict.
Ideological, ethnic or religious fanaticism sometimes, of course, requires no motivation beyond itself. The only answer to that kind of terrorism is an adequate security response in the short and medium term, together with the long-term effort of attempting to spread the values of tolerance and mutual respect. The international community needs to develop an integrated approach to conflict prevention and conflict resolution, making imaginative and systematic use of the full range of instruments at our disposal. These include a judicious and flexible application of classical diplomacy, together with an enhanced focus on human rights, economic development, institution building, good government, targeted sanctions, police and judicial co-operation, peacekeeping, and, as a last resort, peace making. The new spirit of international co-operation against terrorism will remain necessary for a long time to come.
Seán Ryan
Question:32 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his discussions with other EU Foreign Ministers during the Barcelona Summit. [10251/02]
Willie Penrose
Question:39 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has discussed the present position in the Middle East with his European Union colleagues; if they propose to take an initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10257/02]
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:40 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if there are steps which can be taken by way of trade sanctions or otherwise, to try and encourage an ending to the wholesale killings and destruction in the Middle East; if a role can be taken directly through the European Union; and his views on whether a much stronger role should be taken by the EU on this issue. [10236/02]
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:45 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he favours the establishment of a United Nations police monitoring group in those areas where Israeli troops and Palestinian protesters are in confrontation; if he supports the proposal for the introduction of an international mission of military and police observers to monitor clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli security forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10259/02]
Austin Deasy
Question:59 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether there is an imbalance amongst EU governments in their attitude, in favour of Israel, in the current Middle East conflict; and his views on whether Ireland should adopt a more independent stance regarding the conflict. [9205/02]
Michael D. Higgins
Question:64 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the present situation in the occupied territories. [10241/02]
Brian O'Shea
Question:70 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the prevention by the Israeli authorities of President Arafat attending at international conferences which are discussing the current situation in the Middle East. [10243/02]
Ivor Callely
Question:79 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the level of support for the Saudi plan in an effort to resolve the Middle East conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10230/02]
Trevor Sargent
Question:88 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's policy on the present Middle East crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10229/02]
John Gormley
Question:100 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's policy in relation to the current Arab-Israeli crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10467/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 39, 40, 45, 59, 64, 70, 79, 88 and 100 together.
This House heard statements on the Barcelona European Council on Wednesday 20 March, during which we reported on the foreign policy issues discussed in Barcelona, namely the situations in the Middle East, in Serbia and Montenegro, in the Federal Republic of Macedonia, in Zimbabwe, in Angola, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC, and a human rights case in Nigeria. Conclusions were adopted on all of these topics by the European Council and a copy of the Barcelona Conclusions was placed in the Oireachtas Library in the usual way.
The Middle East was very much our main focus of concern on this occasion. The European Union adopted a declaration which sets out clearly the Union's expectations of both parties, outlines the steps which the Union considers are necessary to achieve peace and expresses the support of the Union for certain recent initiatives, such as Security Council Resolution 1397, the ideas of Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and the renewed engagement of the special envoy of the US President, General Zinni. The declaration also restates the willingness of the European Union to work with General Zinni and the other members of the so called "quartet"– that is, the Russian Federation and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General. As was reiterated at Barcelona, Ireland and our European partners remain convinced that a third party monitoring mechanism would help both parties to pursue peace. The exact form which a monitoring group might take would be for later decision. We would look favourably on any form of monitoring which was acceptable to both parties.
The EU has an important role in the peace process, notably through regular meetings with the main players involved, visits by EU leaders, the Presidency, High Representative Solana and the activities of the EU Special Envoy for the peace process. The EU also facilitates regional dialogue through the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. The EU is the largest donor of non-military aid to the peace process as well as primary donor of financial and technical assistance to the Palestinian Authority, providing more than 50% of the international community's finance for the West Bank and Gaza Strip in recent years.
There is very little realistic prospect of introducing trade sanctions or similar measures. Furthermore, these could have undesired consequences, such as undercutting any role which the EU might have in the peace process as far as Israel is concerned and blocking Palestinian trade with the EU. There is a range of views among the member states of the European Union on how best to deal with the Middle East conflict, as in many other international issues. However, there is unanimity of view within the European Union on the desired outcome. All of us wish to see the emergence of an independent, viable and democratic Palestinian state which will live beside an Israel which enjoys peace and security within internationally recognised borders. The European Union does have a balanced position which seeks to deal with all the dimensions of this very complex question and to contribute in a practical and realistic way to resolving this dispute.
Ireland has its own independent point of view, based on our own experiences, which we seek to advance both in the EU and at the UN. Our principled and consistent position is well known and respected by the parties and by other actors as well as our partners in the European Union and on the UN Security Council.
The ideas advanced by Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia have been widely welcomed in the Arab world and in the wider international community. The ideas are being considered by Arab leaders at their summit meeting in Beirut today and hope that a consensus will emerge from that meeting which will serve as a basis for negotiations leading to the solution of the Middle East problem. Mr. Javier Solana is in Beirut for the summit as the representative of the European Union.
We greatly regret that the Israeli authorities have imposed conditions which did not permit President Arafat to attend the summit meeting. We consider that his participation in the summit would have provided a major contribution to the discussions. The fact that he has been unable to do so does not benefit the peace process in any way. It is essential that the Palestinian leader should have full freedom to move both within the Palestinian Territories and internationally.