John Gormley
Question:255 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to restore relations between the EU and Cuba during Ireland's Presidency of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22115/03]
Written Answers. - Diplomatic Representation.
Irish and EU policy towards Cuba is defined by the EU common position adopted in December 1996. This policy, which has not changed since then, aims to encourage and not to enforce by external coercion of any kind, a peaceful transition to democratic pluralism, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as a sustainable increase in the living standards of the Cuban people. In line with this policy, the EU remains steadfastly opposed to the unilateral US economic embargo against Cuba. This opposition is reflected in Ireland's voting record when the issue has arisen at the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Also consistent with the basic policy set out in the EU common position and, indeed, in implementation of that policy, the EU was obliged in June 2003 to take a number of diplomatic steps following the summary trial and lengthy prison sentences imposed on 75 dissidents for exercising their right to freedom of speech, as well as the summary trial and rapid execution of three ferry-boat hijackers in breach of international minimum standards for the implementation of the death penalty. The measures adopted on 5 June 2003 were: to limit bilateral high level governmental visits; to reduce participation in cultural events; to invite Cuban dissidents to national day events at EU embassies in Havana and to proceed to an early re-evaluation of the EU common position, which had not been due to take place until December 2003.
On 21 July 2003, the General Affairs and External Relations Council, GAERC, confirmed the objectives of the common position. The Council noted that, since the previous evaluation of December 2002, not only had there been no positive steps by the Cuban Government in terms of improved respect for human rights, but that the human rights situation had severely deteriorated, as demonstrated by the large-scale arrests of dissidents, summary and arbitrary judicial processes and severe sentences for the exercise of the right to freedom of speech and participation in public affairs, as well as the breach of minimum standards for the administration of the death penalty.
The Council also noted that, since the beginning of 2003, the Cuban authorities had clamped down on private small businesses, further curtailed access to the Internet, impounded satellite televisions and confiscated foreign newspapers and radios. The Council could not fail to note also that, in the previous month, the Cuban authorities had mounted official mass demonstrations, headed by President Castro, against the embassies of two EU member states in Havana and that the Cuban state media had conducted an unacceptable campaign of personal vilification against certain EU Heads of Government. Nevertheless, the Council reaffirmed the validity of the common position's constructive engagement with Cuba as the basis of EU policy towards that country, to be pursued through continuing political dialogue with a view to producing tangible results in the political, economic and civil rights spheres, as well as by means of development co-operation in order,inter alia, to improve the living standards of the Cuban people.
The last political dialogue meeting between the EU and Cuba took place on 4 November 2002. As I have already mentioned, the EU has made it clear that we are willing to continue the dialogue. It remains to be seen whether a meeting will take place during the Italian Presidency. In the light of developments, the Irish Presidency will assess the situation prevailing in the New Year and, in any case, will continue with the implementation of the provisions of the EU common position.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:256 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the embassies here which have military attachés; and the purpose of a military attaché. [22427/03]
Three embassies in Dublin have resident military attaches or their equivalent – they are sometimes referred to as defence attachés – accredited to Ireland. These are the embassies of the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States. The following 21 embassies although based in Dublin, have non-resident military attachés or the equivalent accredited from London: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey. The purpose and role of military attachés is to provide appropriate liaison between the military authorities of both countries.