Finian McGrath
Question:159 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the positioning regarding the Miami Five case. [14102/04]
View answerTuesday, 18 May 2004
Questions (146, 147)
Written answers
The case raised by the Deputy relates to five Cuban citizens who were convicted in the US in December 2001 on charges ranging from espionage to first degree murder, and whose appeal commenced in March of this year. As I have previously informed the Deputy, the Government has no standing in this matter which is a bilateral consular question between the Cuban and US authorities.
Finian McGrath
Question:160 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he is taking at UN and EU level to stop the torture of Iraqi prisoners; and if he will work hard at an international level to end this practice. [14103/04]
View answerThe Government has publicly and strongly condemned the mistreatment and abuse of prisoners in Iraq by US and UK forces. We made our concerns known directly to the US and UK authorities when the allegations first came to light. Yesterday, the EU Council of Ministers, acting on the initiative of the Irish Presidency, adopted the following conclusions. The Council expressed its abhorrence at recent evidence of the mistreatment of prisoners in Iraqi prisons. The Council condemned any instances of abuse and degradation of prisoners in Iraq, which are contrary to international law, including the Geneva Conventions. The Council welcomed the commitment by the relevant governments to bring to justice any individuals responsible for such acts involving the abuse of Iraqi detainees, and their commitment to rectify any failure to adhere to international humanitarian law.
I have been active in ensuring that similar statements were included in the Presidency conclusions issued after last week's EuroMed ministerial meeting in Dublin and in the joint communiqué adopted at yesterday's meeting between the EU and the Gulf Co-operation Council.
The issue of the abuse of prisoners by US personnel was raised at last Friday's meeting between G8 foreign ministers and President Bush and at the subsequent ministerial meeting, both of which I attended. Both President Bush and Secretary of State Powell condemned the mistreatment of prisoners in the strongest possible terms and expressed the Administration's determination that those responsible should be brought to justice.
The UK Foreign Secretary, Mr. Jack Straw, briefed the EU External Relations Council yesterday on his government's investigation into allegations of prisoner abuse. He made clear that such abuse would not be tolerated, that all allegations were being thoroughly investigated and that anybody found to be responsible for the mistreatment of prisoners would be brought to justice. He confirmed that recent photographs published by the Daily Mirror showing abuse of Iraqi prisoners by British troops were forgeries.
I believe that the recent evidence of prisoner abuse in Iraq has reminded the entire international community of the need to respect and maintain international law in respect of the treatment of prisoners. The Government will continue to work to reinforce this point and thereby ensure that something positive may yet come from this appalling episode.