Bernard Allen
Question:105 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the concerns regarding human rights abuses in Serbia and Montenegro as expressed by Amnesty International. [9964/03]
Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.
I refer to my replies to Questions No. 172 of 5 March and 242 of 25 March 2003.
In recent reports, Amnesty International expressed its concern regarding the human rights in Serbia and Montenegro, focusing in particular on the unsatisfactory level of co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and continuing allegations of torture and ill-treatment by police. The authorities in Belgrade are aware of the Government's concern on both of these serious issues.
Full co-operation with the tribunal in the Hague is an obligation on all states and parties in the western Balkans. The tribunal itself has stated clearly that, despite the transfer to the Hague of Slobodan Milosevic and a number of other prominent suspects, the level of co-operation by Serbia and Montenegro remains unsatisfactory, both in relation to the transfer of indicted persons and access to evidence. Improvement in the area of human rights is an essential element of the reform process required for the further development of relations with the EU. This includes full co-operation with the international tribunal. I welcome the commitments to improved co-operation given by the President of Serbia and Montenegro and Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic in the context of the accession of Serbia and Montenegro to the Council of Europe on 3 April. I hope the renewed commitment by the Government of Serbia to the reform process and to the fight against organised crime in the wake of the tragic assassination of Prime Minister Djindjic will enable early progress in improving co-operation with the international tribunal, in the interests of the consolidation of democracy, stability and respect for human rights in Serbia and Montenegro.
The persistence of allegations of police torture and ill-treatment remains of concern. I recognise, that there has been some progress in recent months. Article 9 of the Constitutional Charter of the new state union of Serbia and Montenegro commits the authorities to ensuring the protection of human rights and minority rights. One of the first acts of the new federal parliament was the adoption of a charter on human rights and minorities. Membership of the Council of Europe imposes obligations on respect for human rights, which the Government of Serbia and Montenegro has formally accepted.
Following the assassination of Prime Minister Djindjic on 12 March, a state of emergency has been declared in Serbia. I welcome the determination of the new Serbian Government under Prime Minister Zivkovic, and of the federal authorities, to continue to pursue the reform process. They will have the full support of the EU. I look forward to the early stabilisation of the situation in Serbia and to the lifting of the state of emergency.
The continued implementation of policing and judicial reforms will be essential for the ending of all torture and ill-treatment by police. The international community is assisting in a number of ways, including an OSCE programme of police training in Montenegro, southern Serbia and Belgrade. Ireland is also playing its part bilaterally, as the major donor for a three-year Council of Europe programme of human rights training for all judges and prosecutors in Serbia and Montenegro, and for lawyers and NGO experts. Ireland Aid has committed €500,000 to the programme, which focuses on the development of expertise in international human rights law, in particular the European Convention on Human Rights and the application of its principles in Serbia and Montenegro.