Seymour Crawford
Question:53 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the EU GAERC has considered the political situation in Georgia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30398/03]
Vol. 577 No. 1
53 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the EU GAERC has considered the political situation in Georgia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30398/03]
On 8 December 2003, my colleagues and I on the General Affairs and External Relations Council, or GAERC, discussed the current political situation in Georgia. The current political crisis is a testing time for democracy, the rule of law and the state institutions there. My colleagues and I expressed our commitment to supporting Georgia through this crisis, and our concern to ensure political and economic reform. We reaffirmed that the European Union attached high priority to the region.
54 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of countries, both EU and non-EU, that are involved in peacekeeping missions in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; if Ireland was requested to participate in those activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30397/03]
Since March 2003, the EU has conducted a military monitoring and stabilisation mission in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, or FYROM, known as "Operation Concordia". In parallel with the conclusion of Operation Concordia on 15 December, and at the invitation of the FYROM authorities, a further EU police mission, "Operation Proxima", will commence. Specific objectives for proxima will include support for the consolidation of law and order, the reform of the Ministry of the Interior and the creation of a border police force in FYROM through monitoring, mentoring and provision of advice to national authorities.
In each case, contributions of personnel were invited from all EU member states and from several non-EU member states. Ireland's replies to those specific invitations have been primarily a matter for the Minister for Defence and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform respectively. In the case of Operation Concordia, 13 EU member states and 14 non-EU member states, comprising accession states, candidate states and non-EU members of NATO, have participated. Ireland did not participate owing to legal advice supplied by the Attorney General which indicated that the particular expression of UN endorsement for the operation as set out in Security Council Resolution No. 1371 does not fully meet the requirements specified in the Defence Acts for participation in missions abroad by Irish Defence Forces personnel.
As regards Operation Proxima, final figures remain unavailable at present, but current indications are that the majority of EU member states and acceding states will be participating. As regards Irish participation, the Garda authorities have assigned one officer to the planning of the operation.
Question No. 55 answered with Question No. 8.