I will be more than happy to deal with the Presidency priorities, particularly in relation to the Begg report. I am in your hands, Chairman, as to when we should do that.
I am pleased to have the opportunity to meet with the committee today in the absence of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, who is attending the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York and to speak to you about the agenda for the General Affairs and External Relations Council, which takes place next Monday. I propose to begin with some introductory remarks on the agenda of the general affairs session and then turn to the session on external relations.
At the General Affairs Council, Ministers will take the formal decision to launch the intergovernmental conference on 4 October, as is required by Article 48 of the treaty establishing the European Community. It is not anticipated that there will be a substantive discussion of Intergovernmental Conference issues, which will, after all, be discussed at the end of the week by Heads of State, Heads of Government and Foreign Ministers. As the Minister made clear here earlier this month, Ireland is strongly supportive of the Italian Presidency and of its approach to the Intergovernmental Conference while standing ready to carry forward the work, if need be. Moreover, we remain broadly happy with the outcome of the convention and are not seeking or expecting fundamental revision. That said, the Intergovernmental Conference cannot be a rubber-stamp and we, like others, have a small number of key concerns which we will be pressing. We will also play a constructive role in debate generally, including debate on the items with which the Presidency has indicated it wishes to begin. These are the question of a single legislative council and how the Presidency of council formations should be organised.
In accordance with the Seville European Council conclusions, the General Affairs and External Relations Council, acting on a Presidency proposal, shall draw up an annotated draft agenda at least four weeks before the meeting of the European Council. The European Council is due to meet in Brussels on 16 and 17 October and is expected to consider the following issues: relaunching growth and competitiveness of the European economy, managing migratory flows in the interest of security and freedom and external relations issues. Heads of State and Government will also consider the Intergovernmental Conference. These issues are due to be elaborated upon in the course of the coming weeks, in advance of the European Council itself. Ministers will consider the annotated draft agenda of the European Council at their meeting on 29 and 30 September and again at the meeting of the Council on 13 and 14 October.
I now turn now to external relations and will first deal with the western Balkans. The Council will review recent developments in the western Balkans, focusing in particular this month on Kosovo. Considerable progress has been made under UN Security Council Resolution 1244 in the transfer of powers to the democratically elected provisional institutions of self-government in Kosovo. However, it is clear that further work is needed across a range of issues to create the conditions for a multi-ethnic, democratic and stable Kosovo.
There is broad agreement that it would be premature at this point to open up the question of the final status of Kosovo. However, it is clear to all sides that the eventual resolution of this question, and the guarantee for the future of all the people of Kosovo, will be provided in the context of the EU perspective of the western Balkans region. This was confirmed by the EU-western Balkans summit in Thessaloniki in June, which was attended by democratically elected representatives of the ethnic Albanian and ethnic Serb communities, as part of the UNMIK delegation.
The former Prime Minister of Finland, Mr. Harri Holkeri has just taken up the position of new special representative of the UN Secretary General in Kosovo and head of UNMIK. I know that Mr. Holkeri will bring to this demanding job the qualities of determination and patience which served us all so well in his role as co-chairman of the multi-party talks leading the Good Friday Agreement. His immediate priority is the launching as soon as possible of a direct dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina on practical issues of mutual concern. Mr. Holkeri is consulting widely on the arrangements for direct dialogue which involve difficult and complex issues. I hope the details can be agreed in the very near future. The EU will play an important role supporting and facilitating this process, which is aimed at achieving practical results and building much needed confidence between the two sides.
Foreign Ministers will discuss Iraq at the Council. The primary focus of those discussions will be on developments at the UN and we will maintain our position of support for a central UN role. While negotiations in New York will be of primary interest, we believe it is important that the EU should agree a united position in support of the UN role in Iraq. Commissioner Patten is also expected to report on his visit to Iraq.
A major donor conference is being convened in Madrid for 24 October. The purpose of this conference is to discuss the reconstruction needs of Iraq and to pledge funding towards the reconstruction costs. I expect either to be present at that conference or to be represented by a senior official from my Department. A decision regarding Irish funding for reconstruction in Iraq has not yet been taken. Funding requests for recovery and reconstruction will be carefully examined in the light of developments within Iraq, the role of the UN and the use of oil revenues.
I strongly condemn the further attack on the UN in Baghdad. Such attacks can serve no purpose other than to delay the time when the Iraqi people can go about their lives in peace and security. The international community will not be deterred from playing its role in the political and physical reconstruction of Iraq. This attack highlights once again the importance of the international community working together in Iraq. Hence the Government welcomes the decision of President Bush to return to the Security Council to seek the assistance of the UN in Iraq. It has always been our view that a central role for the UN in the reconstruction of Iraq is essential. We look to the Security Council to ensure that the United Nations is seen to maintain its proper role as acting on behalf of the entire international community. This is essential in relation both to the UN's ability to contribute to defusing the situation in Iraq and to the UN's future credibility. Efforts continue in the Security Council to agree a resolution. The draft resolution that has been put forward by the US Administration contains a number of useful points, but it needs to go further in providing a UN role and in giving an impetus to the restoration of Iraqi sovereignty.
Foreign Ministers will consider recent developments in Iran at the Council. There are a number of issues that have arisen in recent months which are a cause of concern for us and our EU partners. We remain deeply disturbed at the failure to see any significant progress in human rights in Iran. We are further disappointed with the lack of progress in the EU-Iran dialogue on human rights. In the absence of adequate progress in Iran, we have not ruled out the possibility that we would support other measures, such as a resolution at the General Assembly on human rights in Iran. We believe the reality on the ground should be reflected at the UN.
We continue to be concerned about minorities in Iran, in particular women and the treatment of the Baha'i. We wish to see greater institutional and legal safeguards for their protection, in particular an end to the harsh penalties imposed on the Baha'i. The rights of the Baha'i, including access to education and right of assembly, must be respected. We also want a moratorium on the death penalty and amputations. Our hope is that our continuing dialogue will lead to a genuine and sustained change in human rights in Iran.
Ireland considers that there are a number of questions still outstanding over the Iranian nuclear programme which give cause for serious concern. We call on Iran to provide continued and accelerated co-operation and full transparency on all aspects of its nuclear programme. We are also concerned that this issue could seriously affect Iran's international relations, something we do not wish to see happen. Ireland wishes instead to see Iran engaged in a constructive developing relationship with the rest of the world. We also wish to see a reduction of tensions in the region.
Ireland and our EU partners are strongly committed to progress in the continuing negotiations on the trade and co-operation agreement. It is the EU's stated view that progress in economic and political relations with Iran should be evaluated in parallel. Iran is resisting the conclusion of agreements on the political sphere, especially on human rights, non-proliferation, terrorism and the Middle East peace process. At its meeting on 21 July 2003, the Council expressed serious concern over developments in Iran in relation to these issues and decided to review future steps in the co-operation between the EU and Iran in September. The forthcoming Council will consider this.
The Middle East peace process will be discussed by ministers over lunch during the Council. Frankly, the situation on the ground is now as grave as it has been at any time this year. There has been an almost complete breakdown in communications between the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships. The ceasefire announced on 29 June by Palestinian militant groups has collapsed. There has been a resurgence in both terrorist attacks against Israeli targets and targeted assassinations of leaders of Palestinian militant groups by the Israeli defence forces.
The discussions at the Council will be informed by the contacts which Ministers are having during the General Assembly session taking place in New York this week. The Minister, Deputy Cowen, is meeting his counterparts from Israel and Egypt. He is also taking the opportunity to meet other major players in the peace process both bilaterally and as a member of the European Union Troika. A meeting of the Quartet at ministerial level is also scheduled. This should give a clearer picture of prospects for a renewal of the roadmap for a comprehensive settlement.
The question of the Middle East will, as always, be one of the major items considered by the General Assembly during the current session. Last Friday, 19 September, the Assembly, meeting in emergency special session, passed a resolution demanding that Israel cease any threats to the safety of the Palestinian President, reiterating the support of the international community for the work of the Quartet and demanding that the two sides fully implement their obligations under the roadmap. This followed the vetoing of a very similar resolution in the Security Council by the United States.
The Council is also expected to consider EU-Canada relations. The EU and Canada enjoy a close and productive working relationship based on shared values including respect for human rights, democracy, free trade among nations and a firm attachment to the UN and the multilateral system. The next EU-Canada summit, scheduled to take place in Ottawa in December, will review the overall EU-Canada relationship. This comprehensive review process was initiated at the EU-Canada summit in December 2002 and is set to be concluded at the Ottawa Summit this year. Ministers are expected to adopt conclusions, which will set out the EU approach to this review ahead of an EU-Canada meeting at foreign ministerial level on 6 October. An EU-Canada summit is also scheduled to take place under the Irish Presidency.
It is not yet clear if the EU-Ukraine summit in Yalta on 7 October will be discussed by ministers at the Council as preparations for the summit may be agreed in advance at COREPER. However, it is clear that the summit will be an important meeting, not least because there is only one EU-Ukraine summit every year. The October meeting will set out the direction of EU-Ukraine policies through the period of the Irish Presidency.
In addition to discussion of a number of important issues in the area of economic co-operation, the Union will be stressing to Ukraine the importance of the fight against organised crime and the need to conclude negotiations on a readmission agreement. We will also wish to reach an understanding with Ukraine on the creation of an action plan under the "Wider Europe" initiative as well as to encourage Ukraine to make significant progress on the path to reform. This would include progress where media freedoms are concerned. September 16 marked the third anniversary of the murder of the journalist, Georgy Gongadze. I believe it is especially important that our interest in media freedom in Ukraine should be strongly registered at the Yalta meeting.
The European security and defence policy agenda item will be focused on modalities for a proposed EU police mission in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, FYROM. This will be the second civilian operation under ESDP, the first being the EU police mission currently under way in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The mission will be unarmed and advisory in nature. Its overall aims will be to help ensure fair and multi-ethnic policing and to contribute to a stable and secure environment in FYROM. The mission is deploying at the request of the FYROM authorities. Specific tasks will include support for the consolidation of law and order, reform of the Ministry of the Interior and the creation of a border police force.
The police mission is expected to commence on 15 December, the date on which Operation Concordia, the current EU military operation in FYROM, is due to terminate. Ireland fully supports the proposed EU police mission as part of a comprehensive EU approach to promoting security and stability in FYROM. The mission is a good example of ESDP being put to useful practical effect. Irish participation in the force remains under consideration by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda authorities. A Garda officer is expected to participate in the mission planning team where he will contribute to drawing up the operation plan and developing the technical instruments necessary to execute the mission.
I also draw attention to the fact that today, in New York, a joint declaration will be signed by the UN Secretary General and the EU Presidency which recognises the progress achieved in co-operation between the EU and UN in crisis management and commits both organisations to further practical steps for a strengthened partnership. The declaration provides for the establishment of a joint consultative mechanism at working level which will examine means of enhancing mutual co-ordination and compatibility in the areas of planning, training, communications and best practices.
The EU initiative on weapons of mass destruction is an important step in demonstrating the high priority which the EU affords to meeting the serious challenges posed by the proliferation of such weapons. The basic principles document gives proper recognition to the importance of disarmament and disarmament instruments in the context of non-proliferation efforts. As it makes clear, disarmament measures can lead to a vicious circle, just as weapons programmes can lead to an arms race. Disarmament and non-proliferation are mutually reinforcing and it is appropriate that the EU reaffirms this principle as well as its commitment to multilateralism. We hope the work under way will provide us with a rich and comprehensive basis for the elaboration of a coherent EU strategy which will enable us to better address a growing threat to international peace and security.
In relation to the World Trade Organisation, Ministers will also consider the ministerial meeting of the Doha development round, which I attended in Cancún Mexico on 10-14 September, together with the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Joe Walsh, and the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Michael Ahern. Members will be aware that the meeting failed to reach agreement on a framework for the continuation of negotiations under the Doha development agenda. Instead, it concluded with a ministerial declaration which instructed officials to continue work on the outstanding issues and to convene a meeting in Geneva on 15 December "to take the action necessary to enable us to move towards a successful and timely conclusion to the negotiations".
The failure to reach agreement at Cancún is, in my view, very regrettable. We in Ireland believe firmly in a multilateral, rules based trading system. We will continue to work with our EU partners to support that and achieve a positive outcome to the Doha round of negotiations. Ireland has benefited greatly from a liberalised global trade regime and we believe that developing countries would also stand to gain from further trade liberalisation and tariff reduction. In particular, we believe the interests of the least developed countries have not been served by this outcome as they would have been substantial beneficiaries of any improved market access for agricultural goods as well as reductions in agricultural subsidies by, for example, the EU and the US.
On the agenda item "Funding for the Special Court of Sierra Leone", the UK will appeal to member states to provide additional voluntary funding for the work of the court in bringing to justice those most responsible for human rights atrocities in Sierra Leone since 1996. There is concern that progress by the court is being threatened due to a shortfall in voluntary contributions of $15 million for this year. Ireland fully supports the appeal by the UK. We see the work of the court as being a vital part of the healing process in Sierra Leone and an important challenge to the culture of impunity which exists in conflict situations in Africa. Ireland has made a voluntary contribution of $500,000 to the special court and we will urge other member states to also make contributions.
I am happy to take questions from members of the committee on any of the items due for discussion at the forthcoming Council.
