Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.
Joe Sherlock
Question:
74
Mr. Sherlock
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the number of prisoners held by occupying forces in Iraq and their conditions; and if he has satisfied himself that they are being held in accordance with the conditions of the Geneva Convention.
[30467/03]
The Government has from the outset called on all parties in the conflict to respect their obligations under international law both in regard to the status of civilians and in regard to prisoners of war. The Government's calls are in keeping with the public pronouncements of UN Secretary General Annan. Moreover, Security Council Resolution 1483 of 22 May 2003 calls 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. The treatment of prisoners of war is specifically covered by the Third Geneva Convention. The US and UK have publicly committed themselves to honouring their obligations in this regard. I have no knowledge of the numbers of prisoners being held in Iraq.
Question No. 75 answered with Question No. 12.
Pat Breen
Question:
76
Mr. P. Breen
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
his views on the current political situation in Kosovo; and his further views on the proposed opening of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.
[30399/03]
Despite progress in recent years under the administration of the UN mission in Kosovo, the situation in Kosovo remains tense and retains the potential to influence the stability of the wider region. Together with its EU partners, the Government fully supports the work of the special representative of the UN Secretary General, Harri Holkeri, who is preparing a work plan in consultation with the provisional institutions of self-government to operationalise the UN policy of standards before status based on Security Council Resolution 1244. The objective remains the establishment of a multiethnic and democratic Kosovo in which the rights of all communities are fully observed.
An important step towards this objective, and an essential element of the policy of standards before status, was the launch in Vienna in October of a process of direct dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina on practical matters of mutual concern. Progress is now urgently needed in the technical working groups which have yet to meet under the dialogue. I hope the groups can begin work without further delay with a view to producing practical results next year.
The future of the people of a multiethnic and democratic Kosovo lies in the full implementation of Resolution 1244 and the eventual integration of the western Balkans region into EU structures. It is agreed that progress under the strengthened policy of standards before status will be the subject of an overall review by mid-2005.
The question of Kosovo will require close attention by the EU during Ireland's Presidency next year. The Government will work to ensure the closest possible co-operation between the EU, the wider international community and special representative Holkeri. We will consult with Mr. Holkeri in Dublin before the Presidency. Early next year, I will look forward to discussing in the General Affairs and External Relations Council the report being prepared by high representative Solana, at the request of the Council, on ways and means of further enhancing the EU's contribution to the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1244.
Question No. 77 answered with Question No. 69.
Paul Connaughton
Question:
78
Mr. Connaughton
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will make a statement on the postponement of hearings at the Hague in the case concerning armed activities on the territory of the Congo.
[30408/03]
The Government has taken note of the fact that, in response to a request from the new transitional Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC, and with the agreement of the Government of Uganda, the International Court of Justice announced on 7 November 2003 that it was postponing hearings due to open three days later in the case concerning armed activities on the territory of the Congo which the then Government of the DRC had instituted against Uganda in 1999. The reason for seeking the postponement, according to the Government of the DRC, is to allow the diplomatic negotiations now under way between the DRC and Uganda to be conducted in an atmosphere of calm.
As the case taken by the DRC against Uganda still remains before the court, with hearings being simply adjourned until a later date, it would not be appropriate for the Government to make any comment on the substance of the claims made by either of the parties to this case. However, the Government views the decision of the Government of the DRC to seek a postponement of the hearings as a positive development which demonstrates the progress being made in the peace process in that country as well as in the efforts to normalise relations between the DRC and its neighbours, including Uganda.
Ireland, both nationally and in its upcoming EU Presidency, will work actively to ensure that the necessary political support continues to be offered to the countries of the Great Lakes region as they work to consolidate peace in their countries and move out of the destructive cycle of conflict and dispute which has characterised that region for too long.
Enda Kenny
Question:
79
Mr. Kenny
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will make a statement on the current political situation in Sri Lanka and the status of the Sri Lankan peace process.
[30420/03]
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:
84
Mr. J. O'Keeffe
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
his views on the political situation in Sri Lanka; and if Ireland has a role to play in encouraging a peaceful solution.
[30222/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 84 together.
On 13 November 2003 I made a statement to the House concerning the situation in Sri Lanka. On 23 February 2002 a formal ceasefire agreement was signed, with Norwegian facilitation, between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, also known as the LTTE or the Tamil Tigers, and the Sri Lankan Government. Despite mounting political difficulties on the island, the ceasefire has continued to hold. There have been six rounds of peace talks between the parties which were brokered by the Norwegian Government. However, on 21 April 2003 the LTTE suspended its participation in the peace process and demanded that an interim administration be established to govern the conflict zone. The LTTE claimed that it was not receiving sufficient dividends from the peace process.
On 31 October 2003, following rounds of internal talks held in France and Ireland with the facilitation of the respective governments, the LTTE presented proposals to the Sri Lankan Government on an interim administration for the north and east of the country. The proposed interim administration would almost certainly require constitutional change and that, in turn, would need the support of the opposition parties as well as the government.
On 4 November 2003 President Kumaratunga relieved three senior Ministers of office and personally assumed their powers. Reportedly, the president acted out of concern over the three Ministers' handling of the peace process with the LTTE. President Kumaratunga was evidently concerned about the LTTE proposals and claimed that the Government, led by Prime Minister Wickramasinghe, was making too many concessions. She announced that talks with the LTTE had been postponed indefinitely. A state of emergency was declared and parliament was prorogued for two weeks. Although President Kumaratunga holds the presidency, her party constitutes the official opposition, having lost parliamentary elections to Prime Minister Wickramasinghe two years ago.
The prime minister reportedly rejected as unworkable a power-sharing offer from the president which was leaked to the media on 28 November. This would have involved the division of responsibilities in the defence ministry. Although President Kumaratunga has now lifted the state of emergency and the suspension of parliament and called on all parties to join her in forming a government of national reconstruction and reconciliation, there are concerns that a prolonged political confrontation between the prime minister and the president could ultimately jeopardise the peace process with the LTTE. Meanwhile, the LTTE has, to date, declared that it will merely observe developments.
On 4 November the Presidency of the European Union, in conjunction with the European Commission, issued a statement urging the parties involved to continue to work together in support of a negotiated political solution. On 14 November 2003 Norway announced that it had suspended its involvement in the peace process until such time as the political crisis is resolved. From 24 to 27 November 2003 the EU External Relations Commissioner, Mr. Chris Patten, visited Sri Lanka where he held meetings with both government representatives and the LTTE. Commissioner Patten urged both sides to resume the peace process and warned against the extremely negative consequences that a resumption of violence could bring.
Ireland supports the mediation efforts of the Sri Lanka monitoring mission, made up of a number of Nordic countries, as well as the negotiating efforts by representatives of both sides in the peace process. The Government, together with its EU partners, continues to monitor the situation closely. Through various channels, the Government will continue to take all appropriate opportunities to encourage the parties concerned to bring the peace process to an early, successful conclusion.
