John Deasy
Question:41 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the recent visit of the Vice-President of Colombia to Ireland; and his views on the matters discussed with him during his visit. [10044/04]
View answerWednesday, 31 March 2004
Questions (62)
Written answers
Mr. Francisco Santos Calderón, Vice-President of Colombia, visited Ireland on 22 and 23 March as part of a tour of a number of European countries in preparation for the current session, from 15 March to 23 April, of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. He also wanted to discuss overall EU relations with Colombia.
The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and officials in my Department met him during his visit. I was unable to meet him because of my participation in the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 22 March and meetings in Northern Ireland on 23 March. He also met the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, a number of non-governmental organisations working in Colombia, representatives of the Bring Them Home campaign and family members of the three Irishmen on trial in Colombia.
In the course of the official meetings with Vice-President Santos, the key matter for discussion was the human rights problem in Colombia. He outlined the significant improvement in the security situation in 2003 as evidenced by: a significant reduction in the overall murder rate; in murders of trade unionists and other particularly vulnerable groups; massacres of civilians; forced displacements; attacks against towns; kidnappings and hostage taking. The Vice-President acknowledged that the level and frequency of such grave crimes continues to be extremely high.
The Irish Government took the opportunity to impress upon him our concern at some aspects of the Colombian Government's policies, in line with EU policy, as set out in the conclusions of the GAERC's meeting on 26 January. In the context of the current session of the Commission on Human Rights, we raised, inter alia, EU concerns at the granting of judicial powers to the security forces and the failure by the Colombian Government to implement the specific recommendations on human rights of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The Taoiseach also took the opportunity of his meeting with the Vice-President to raise the case of the three Irishmen on trial in Colombia. He reiterated his concern for their safety and security and conveyed our hope that the trial would be concluded as expeditiously as possible.
Question No. 42 answered with QuestionNo. 26.