Ciarán Cuffe
Question:428 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he has taken and intends to take to address the ongoing tragedy in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [19821/03]
Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.
Progress continues to be made towards the establishment of peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC. In July, the new transitional government comprising representatives of the government of President Kabila and of the main Congolese armed groups met for the first time and in August, the interim parliament was officially inaugurated. I welcome the meeting on 25 September between the DRC, Burundi, Uganda and Rwanda in the presence of UN Secretary General Annan in which the countries agreed to refrain from interference in each other's affairs and to prevent arms shipments to warring groups in the eastern area of the DRC.
In June, Operation Artemis was deployed to the eastern town of Bunia to stabilise the situation there as at the time it was spiralling downwards with serious consequences for the civilian population. This EU-led operation, the first to undertake implementation of Petersberg Tasks outside Europe, was deployed at the request of the United Nations Secretary General and on foot of UN Security Council Resolution 1484. In September, the EU-led emergency multinational force, Operation Artemis, handed over control of Bunia to a strengthened United Nations Mission in the DRC, MONUC, having fulfilled its mandate of restoring stability to the town. Ireland contributed five army officers to Operation Artemis and a proportionate share of the costs.
At the same time, the situation in the Ituri region and the North and South Kivus continues to be a source of concern. It is imperative that the newly formed transitional government establish its presence throughout the country and, in particular, in this north-eastern region of the DRC. To this end, I welcome the decision by the transitional government to send 3,000 police officers to the Ituri region. I also welcome the release of European development funds totalling €205 million to support the transitional government in institution-building, constitutional reform and the strengthening of the rule of law, as well as funding for health services and debt relief.
In July, the General Affairs and External Relations Council reiterated its determination to deploy all its instruments in support of the political process under way in the DRC. To this end, the EU is committed to providing support for the work of the Ituri interim administration and the Ituri pacification commission, support for the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration process and the launch of a local reconciliation process. The Council also asked High Representative Solana, and the Commission to consider, inter alia, support for the police force in Kinshasa and support for the electoral process. The Council issued a reminder that perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide cannot go unpunished and urged all parties to refrain from any act contrary to the cease-fires agreement, in particular in the eastern part of the Congo.
On 28 July, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1493 which provides MONUC with a stronger, peace enforcement mandate and a substantially increased force level of 10,800 personnel. This demonstrates a strong commitment by the international community to resolve the crisis in the DRC. I welcome the strengthened mandate of MONUC, which will greatly contribute to the stabilisation of the situation in the Ituri region and will provide greater protection to ordinary citizens there.
My Department continues to avail itself of bilateral meetings with regional and pan-African parties to stress Ireland's support for the peace process in the DRC and to encourage others to fully support the transitional institutions in that country. In August, the Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, met the Ugandan Foreign Minister, Mr. James Wapakhabulo, and his colleague, Investment Minister, Mr. Sam Kutesa, to discuss the situation in the DRC. Mr. Wapakhabulo emphasised the government of Uganda's support for the peace process in the DRC and its commitment to a complete disengagement from that country. The foreign minister pledged that Uganda would use its influence with all parties to positive effect and would bring to account those implicated in human rights abuses and illegal exploitation of mineral wealth in the DRC. Discussions have also taken place between my Department and the Rwandan High Commission in London at which my officials stressed the importance of Rwanda's full commitment to the peace process in the DRC as a linchpin of lasting peace in the region.
The Government has provided substantial humanitarian assistance in response to the enormous suffering caused by conflict and natural disasters in DRC. Development Co-operation Ireland, DCI, the official development assistance programme of the Government, has delivered almost €5 million in emergency humanitarian aid for the people of the DRC since 2000. Much of this humanitarian aid was provided to assist the estimated 350,000 people affected by the volcanic eruptions in Goma at the beginning of 2002. Funding was provided to Irish humanitarian NGOs such as Concern, GOAL, Trócaire, as well to the Red Cross and UN agencies for the provision of food, clean water and medical supplies. In addition, under DCI's multiannual programme scheme, an estimated €1.1 million is being provided to Concern for a three year development assistance programme in the sectors of health and livelihood security.
Together with its EU partners, Ireland will continue to ensure that the situation in the DRC is a priority issue in its relations with Africa and will remain so during its forthcoming Presidency of the European Union.