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Middle East Peace Process.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2004

Tuesday, 11 May 2004

Questions (134, 135)

Pat Carey

Question:

165 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he intends to request the Council of the EU and the Council of Ministers to exert pressure on Israel to carry out UN Assembly Resolution A/RES-I/L.15 of 21 October 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13742/04]

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Finian McGrath

Question:

166 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will urge the Council of the EU and the Council of Ministers to exert strong pressure on Israel to carry out UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES-I/L.15 of 21 October 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13174/04]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together.

The resolution of 21 October 2003 with which the Deputies are concerned requested the Secretary General of the United Nations to report on Israeli compliance one month after its adoption. The Secretary General reported on 24 November 2003 that Israel had not complied with the terms of the resolution and, as a consequence, the General Assembly decided in Resolution A/RES-ES/10-14 of 8 December 2003 to seek an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the question of the legal consequences of the construction in question.

The EU agreed a common submission to the International Court of Justice, which was presented by Ireland as holder of the Presidency. In addition, Ireland submitted a national statement to the court, as did many EU member states, which stressed the illegality of the construction of the separation barrier. The advisory opinion of the court is expected soon and will be considered carefully by the Department in consultation with our EU partners. The EU remains firmly opposed to the construction of the separation barrier and will continue to make this known to the Israeli Government. The matter of this construction was addressed in the statement issued by the international quartet after its meeting in New York on 4 May, of which the House has been made aware.

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