Enda Kenny
Question:98 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the level of Japanese and European Union co-operation in the Balkans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14510/04]
View answerWednesday, 19 May 2004
Questions (105)
Written answers
The EU has taken the lead role internationally in working with the countries of the western Balkans to consolidate peace, democracy and stability in the region and to promote the development of societies based on respect for human rights and the rule of law. The EU-western Balkans summit, which was held in Thessaloniki in June 2003 confirmed that the future of the region lies in its eventual integration in to EU structures. It agreed that the achievement of this shared objective will be based on the fulfilment of clear and objective political and economic criteria, supported by the European Union's stabilisation and association process.
Throughout the tragic conflicts in the 1990s, Japan played a very important role in assisting the people of the western Balkans. It has to date contributed some $1.8 billion in assistance to the south east Europe region, and has co-operated very closely with the European Union especially through the stability pact for south eastern Europe, which was established in 1999 at the initiative of the EU. The pact aims to ensure maximum co-ordination of international efforts to assist the region in the transition from conflict to stability and democracy.
The situation in the western Balkans remains as an item on the agenda for the ongoing political dialogue between the EU and Japan. The Government warmly welcomed the initiative of the Government of Japan in organising a ministerial conference on peace consolidation and economic development in the western Balkans, and, as holder of the EU Presidency, Ireland readily agreed to co-chair the conference on behalf of the European Union. The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Kitt, represented the Presidency at the conference, which was held in Tokyo on 5 April. He delivered the keynote speech on behalf of the EU. Other important statements were delivered by the Foreign Minister of Japan, Mrs. Yoriko Kawaguchi and by the former UN High Commissioner for Refugees and current President of the Japan International Co-operation Agency, Mrs. Sadako Ogata.
The conference brought together foreign and economy ministers from each of the countries of the western Balkans and representatives of the wider international community. There was full agreement that the future stability of the region will be promoted through its gradual integration into European structures on the basis agreed at the Thessaloniki summit.
The General Affairs and External Relations Council which I chaired on 26 April endorsed the joint conclusions adopted by the conference. The Council welcomed the sustained engagement of Japan with the western Balkans and the close co-operative relationship between the EU and Japan in support of the region and of its European perspective. The EU and Japan will continue to co-operate and co-ordinate their efforts in the interests of the people of the western Balkans, and I expect that this will be noted at the forthcoming EU-Japan summit in Tokyo on 22 June.
Question No. 99 answered with QuestionNo. 37.