John Perry
Question:120 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in the Balkans. [21517/02]
Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.
This year so far has been the first in over a decade without violent conflict in the western Balkans. Democratic elections have been held in recent months in most of the countries of the region. General elections were held in the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia on 15 September. They were the first elections since the Ohrid peace agreement of August 2002 and resulted in the peaceful transfer of power to a new coalition Government. I welcome the formation of the new Government, led by Prime Minister Crvenkovski, which was sworn in on 1 November. It comprises the pan-Slav SDSM coalition and the majority Albanian party, the DUI, which is the political wing of the former rebel National Liberation Army.
Elections at presidential, parliamentary, and cantonal levels were held in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 5 October. These were the first elections to have been organised by the Bosnian authorities themselves since independence. It is also the first time since the Dayton Agreement that those elected have received mandates valid for a four year term. Voter turnout was lower than had been hoped for, and this has been widely interpreted as an indication of popular dissatisfaction with the slow pace of the reform process. Because of the complexity of the political arrangements for Bosnia and Herzegovina, the process of government formation is ongoing. I would hope that governments can be formed at all levels in the country in the near future.
Elections in Montenegro on 20 October took place without incident and resulted in the re-election of the outgoing Government led by President Djukanovic. The result is seen as supporting the Governments negotiating position on Montenegro's place within the proposed new state union of Serbia and Montenegro, which is due to succeed the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Municipal elections were held in Kosovo on 26 October. They are generally regarded as having been successful, except for the disappointingly low turn-out by the minority Serb community.
Presidential elections in Serbia have not reached a conclusion but agreement has been reached between the parties to allow a rerun on 8 December. The second round of the elections, on 13 October, was invalidated because of the low turnout of 45.5%. The electoral law stipulated that at least 50% of the registered electorate must vote for the result to be valid. The current President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Vojislav Kostunica, won around 67% of ballots cast in the now-invalidated poll. I welcome the agreement which makes new elections possible. It is important for the stability of the country, and of the wider region, that the process be completed successfully.
Overall, it is a positive development that all of the elections across the region were conducted in accordance with international standards. The results have been seen generally as underlining the support of the people of the countries of the region for greater progress in the political and economic reform process. I am pleased that Ireland contributed to this process through the provision of monitors for the elections in each of the countries and territories I have mentioned.
On 30 October, the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Mr. Goran Svilanovic, visited Dublin for discussions on developments in his country and in the wider region. I expressed our appreciation of the progress made by his government in the internal reform process and towards the reintegration of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia into the international community. We discussed in particular the importance of reaching agreement in the delayed negotiations on the constitutional charter for the new state union of Serbia and Montenegro. I also stressed Irelands support for the work of the international tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the obligation on all countries concerned to cooperate fully with the tribunal. The president of the tribunal last month wrote to the UN Security Council to complain that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has not been providing full cooperation. The Government of Croatia is also under pressure from the international community to improve the level of its cooperation with the tribunal.
The situation in Kosovo remains perhaps the most uncertain in the region. However, some progress is being made towards the achievement of a multi-ethnic Kosovo, in line with the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1244. I welcome the establishment of the provisional institutions of self-government in February this year. Ireland wholeheartedly supports the activities of the UN mission in Kosovo, led by the special representative of the Secretary General, Mr. Michael Steiner. Ireland participates in the UN Force, KFOR, which plays an essential role in guaranteeing the security of ethnic minorities in Kosovo.
In recent weeks, a number of investigations have been undertaken into reports of illegal arms sales to Iraq and Liberia from Bosnia and Herzegovina, specifically from its Serb entity, Republika Srpska, and from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. A number of senior figures have already been dismissed and the authorities have stated their commitment to further action when the investigations have been completed. These developments underline the urgent need to pursue the reform process and to establish civilian control of the military in both countries.
It is a central priority of the European Union to continue to work closely with the governments and the people of the region to establish stability, prosperity and respect for human rights and the rule of law throughout the western Balkans. Organised crime and corruption remain serious problems throughout the western Balkans. The conference on organised crime in southeastern Europe, which will take place in London on 25 November, will provide an important political message on the need for improved coordination of action against organised crime within and emanating from the Western Balkan region. The conference will be led by the EU and will involve all of the governments of southeastern Europe.
I hope that it will result in improved cooperation in the fight against organised crime and in a full recognition of their responsibilities by the Governments of the region. This problem must be tackled urgently and effectively if it is not to undermine the reform and stability of the Western Balkans region.