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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 May 2003

Vol. 566 No. 1

Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

265 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider putting pressure on the Ugandan, Rwandan and Burundi Governments to withdraw their troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo and ask them to respect the Pretoria and Luanda agreements that they have signed; and if he will call upon the international community to seek an investigation into the atrocities carried out throughout the five year war and bring the perpetrators to justice. [11844/03]

In July 2002, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo signed the Pretoria Agreement, which saw the full withdrawal of Rwandan troops from the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In August 2002, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo signed a similar agreement – the Luanda Agreement – which paved the way for a reduction of Ugandan troops to just two battalions providing local security in the Ituri region, with a commitment to withdraw fully as soon as the security situation permitted.

Since then, ethnic fighting in the region has seen the Ugandan presence increase again. However, a full withdrawal of troops is now under way. The withdrawal of Ugandan troops is being monitored by the Ituri Pacification Commission, under the chairmanship of the UN Secretary General's Deputy Special Representative to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On 30 April 2003, the EU issued a declaration calling on Uganda to honour its commitment to the Luanda agreement through the complete and immediate withdrawal of its troops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Towards the end of March, the European Union démarched the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda about the situation in Ituri. The European Union expressed grave concern about the situation there, and called on the countries concerned to use their influence to reduce tensions in the region.
Burundi has no military presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, although rebel groups fighting in Burundi are receiving support from groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is to be hoped that the improving political situation in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo will reduce, and eventually eliminate, cross-border incursions by rebel groups from both countries.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has reported that all parties to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been implicated in gross violations of human rights. The Security Council has condemned systematic violations of international humanitarian law and human rights in Ituri and declared that those responsible should be brought to justice. The council has encouraged the transitional government to establish, as soon as possible, a truth and reconciliation commission, to be charged with determining responsibility for serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. The council has also requested the Secretary General, in consultation with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, to make recommendations on other ways to help the transitional government to address the issue of impunity. The Government fully supports these actions.
I should also add that at the Commission on Human Rights, which completed deliberations last week, Ireland took a strong line on the need to deal with impunity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly on the importance of investigating serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. The commission adopted, by unanimity, a resolution on the human rights situation there which had been initially drafted by the EU, and Ireland was very active in the drafting process. The resolution,inter alia, called on the Government of the DRC to take specific measures to put an end to impunity and ensure that those responsible for human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law are brought to justice in accordance with due process.
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