David Stanton
Question:31 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the recent terrorist attacks in Istanbul, Turkey. [30417/03]
Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.
I have strongly condemned the bomb attacks in Istanbul on 15 and 20 November, in which 62 people were killed and more than 450 injured. These attacks are a further manifestation of the evil of international terrorism. They targeted two synagogues, where innocent people were at worship, the British consulate general and the HSBC Bank. The Government conveyed sympathy on behalf of the Irish people to the government and people of Turkey. We also conveyed sympathy to the British Government on the unjustifiable attack on its mission and the tragic deaths of a number of personnel, including the consul general, Mr. Roger Short.
When I met the Turkish Foreign Minister, Mr. Gul, in Naples on 29 November, I extended my personal condolences and assured him of our solidarity with the Turkish Government in these difficult days. Mr. Gul briefed me on the investigations into the attacks, which the Turkish authorities believe were carried out by a small terrorist cell with links to Al Qaida. He stressed that there was no support within Turkey for the attackers or for their methods.
The attacks came at an important point in the development of relations between the EU and Turkey. Mr. Gul assured me of the determination of the Turkish Government to proceed with the reform process in preparation for the decision to be taken by the European Council in December 2004 on Turkey's fulfilment of the Copenhagen political criteria. I welcomed the significant advances achieved to date in a wide range of legislative reforms. Implementation of these reforms will be the key for the decision to be taken by the European Council, on the basis of a report and recommendation from the Commission.
During our Presidency, Ireland will encourage Turkey to build on the substantial progress achieved so far. The EU will continue to work closely with Turkey through the accession partnership. In line with the commitment given at the Copenhagen European Council in December 2002, if the European Council next December decides that Turkey has fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria, the EU will open accession negotiations without delay.
Michael Ring
Question:32 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Kashmir; and his views on relations between India and Pakistan. [30419/03]
I made a statement to the House on 5 March 2003 on India and Pakistan. On 2 November 2002, the new government of Jammu and Kashmir was sworn in following elections in September and October. The government is a coalition involving the Congress Party and the People's Democratic Party. The new administration is committed to dialogue as a means of resolving the problem in Jammu and Kashmir.
There is a long-running history of conflict between India and Pakistan. These two nuclear armed countries came close to the brink of war on two occasions in 2002. However, while the situation remains serious, there have recently been encouraging political developments. Full diplomatic relations have been restored and civil aviation and communications links are in the process of being restored. However, these developments have taken place against the background of ongoing violent incidents on the ground.
On 23 November 2003, Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali announced a ceasefire along the international border with India and the line of control in Kashmir. Following a positive response from India, both countries agreed to observe the ceasefire from 25 November 2003. This development follows the initiatives taken by the government of India on 22 October when a range of confidence building measures were proposed, including restoring transport links between India and Pakistan and people to people contacts. On the same day, the Indian Government invited the all-party Hurriyat alliance of Kashmir separatist parties, which had boycotted recent state elections, to talks at the level of deputy prime minister. These recent developments will help to reduce tensions ahead of the South Asia Association for Regional Co-operation, SAARC, summit in Islamabad scheduled to take place in January 2004, which India has confirmed it will attend.
At every opportunity, the EU has been ready to lend what encouragement it can to assist both countries to find a way out of the present stalemate. An EU troika visit to Kashmir, which Ireland participated in, took place in September 2003 at the level of heads of mission in New Delhi. An EU troika to Islamabad on 21 October 2003, in which Ireland also participated, included a discussion of the Kashmir issue as a core element of the mission. At the fourth EU-India summit, held in New Delhi on 29 November 2003, the EU welcomed recent steps and expressed the hope that differences could be resolved peacefully through dialogue. During Ireland's Presidency of the European Union, an EU-Pakistan ministerial troika is provisionally scheduled to take place in Islamabad on 2 February 2004, and EU-India ministerial troika, part of a regular series, is also scheduled to take place in New Delhi on 3 February 2004. The EU will use these meetings to encourage both sides to maintain their commitment to finding a solution to the Kashmir issue.
The question of Kashmir is regularly discussed by officials of EU member states. EU heads of mission in both New Delhi and Islamabad also regularly engage with Indian and Pakistani officials on this issue. With our EU partners, Ireland remains fully committed to supporting every advance in this critical dialogue.
Question No. 33 answered with Question No. 13.