Vol. 571 No. 1
439 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if State-sponsored terrorism, including assassinations, is illegal internationally; and the Government's position in relation to the threats against President Yasser Arafat. [20315/03]
Assassinations of the type carried out by Israeli forces against Palestinian figures are a breach of Israel's obligations in international law. The Deputy will recall that, in my press statement of 9 September last, I identified an end to this practise as one of the immediate steps which need to be taken if the peace process is to be revived.
The Israeli security cabinet's decision to expel President Arafat poses a serious threat to the Middle East peace process. President Arafat is the elected leader of the Palestinian people and should, therefore, play a central role in negotiations that would lead to a comprehensive settlement of the conflict. Any attempts by the Israelis to forcibly remove President Arafat would lead to a major upsurge in violence. Our concerns were expressed in the press statement which I issued on 12 September. We also voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly resolution on 19 September, which demanded that Israel cease any threat to remove President Arafat. This concern was further reiterated in the Taoiseach's address to the UN General Assembly on 25 September when he told the world leaders assembled in New York that: "Threats to expel or assassinate President Arafat are deeply misguided and dangerous and can only further delay efforts to achieve a settlement."
440 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's position on the brutal occupation of Iraq. [20316/03]
In its Resolution 1483 adopted on 22 May 2003, the UN Security Council noted the letter of 8 May 2003 from the permanent representatives of the US and UK to the President of the Security Council and recognised the specific authorities, responsibilities, and obligations under applicable international law of these states as occupying powers under unified command, the "authority".
The resolution called upon the authority, consistent with the charter of the United Nations and other relevant international law, to promote the welfare of the Iraqi people through the effective administration of the territory, including in particular working towards the restoration of conditions of security and stability and the creation of conditions in which the Iraqi people can freely determine their own political future. It called upon all concerned to comply fully with their obligations under international law, including in particular the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Hague Regulations of 1907.
This is also the position strongly supported by the Government and expressed on numerous occasions. The occupying powers, in their support for Resolution 1483, have accepted fully their obligations and responsibilities under international law.
The Government would like to see the earliest possible restoration of Iraq to the international community under a representative government . We hope that discussions at the UN will result in the adoption of a Security Council Resolution that will lead to this.
