Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 May 2004
101 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the political situation in Liberia; if he will report on the number of Irish Defence Force personnel now taking part in the mission to Liberia; the types of activities in which they have been involved to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14524/04]
View answerUnder the comprehensive peace agreement of 18 August 2003, the Liberian parties committed themselves to a peaceful, democratic Liberia, to be administered by a transitional government until parliamentary and presidential elections are held before the end of 2005. The agreement, which had been brokered by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, was subsequently endorsed by the United Nations Security Council. On 14 October, Mr. Gyude Bryant was inaugurated as chairman of the transitional government. The Irish Government was represented at his inauguration by Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Kitt. Mr Bryant pledged to introduce transparency in government and respect for human rights. The process of selecting members of the transitional government and legislative assembly has only recently been completed.
Preparations for the elections in 2005 have commenced. The National Electoral Commission, NEC, of Liberia was reconstituted under the terms of the comprehensive peace agreement to take account of the new situation obtaining in Liberia since the departure into exile in August 2003 of ex-President Charles Taylor. The NEC is currently engaged in voter registration and civic education programmes in collaboration with international organisations and under the supervision of the United Nations. On 11 May 2004, the international contact group on Liberia — of which the EU is a member alongside, among others, the UN and the African Union — urged all Liberian parties to engage constructively in preparations for 2005 and underlined the need for the National Election Commission to operate effectively.
The Liberian peace process remains fragile, despite recent improvements in the security situation in UN-controlled areas and progress in the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement. Monrovia is now a weapons-free zone but the situation is less stable in other areas. Sporadic outbreaks of fighting in rebel strongholds highlight the need for a comprehensive process of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration. The programme of disarmament, demobilisation and rehabilitation, DDR, for rebel groups, co-ordinated by the United Nations Mission in Liberia, UNMIL, recommenced on 15 April 2004, after an earlier launch last December had been postponed. UNMIL is currently operating with approximately 14,500 military personnel on the ground, out of a force ceiling of 15,000. Its current one-year mandate is due to be renewed by the UN Security Council in September 2004.
Ireland, including through our Presidency of the EU, will continue to encourage all parties in and around Liberia to carry out their commitments and obligations under the comprehensive peace agreement. We will lend active support to the work of the United Nations Special Representative in Liberia, Jacques Klein, and to the EU Special Representative for the region, Hans Dahlgren of Sweden.
The Irish Defence Force contingent in UNMIL, deployed since December 2003, comprises a motorised infantry battalion with 427 Irish Defence Force personnel, as well as a further eight personnel who are serving at force headquarters in Monrovia. The main Irish contingent operates as the force commander's rapid reaction reserve, and in that role provides an immediate response capability, deployable in sufficient strength and with the required level of force to provide a swift and decisive military reaction to any crisis situation.
To date, the Irish battalion in UNMIL has mainly operated in a path-finding and reconnaissance role supporting the deployment of other UN contingents. It has also conducted long-range patrols beyond Monrovia and well into the interior of Liberia in order to display a strong UN presence, deter lawlessness and protect local populations. The contingent also undertakes regular daily patrols within the Monrovia area. While the UN contingents have now deployed to their areas of operation throughout Liberia, the Irish battalion remains available to the force commander to provide support and a rapid response capability in the event of a breakdown in law and order or further conflict.
The Irish battalion in Liberia also assists with a number of local humanitarian projects such as a local AIDS hospice. Development Co-operation Ireland is contributing €15,000 to the humanitarian work of the current contingent in this regard.
102 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the political situation in Chechnya following the assassination of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14527/04]
View answerI would like to reiterate my condemnation of the bomb attack at the victory day celebrations in Grozny on 9 May last, in which the person to whom the Deputy refers was killed. I also condemn the attack on Monday which killed eight Russian soldiers and three local policemen. No cause can ever justify this kind of violence.
This attack is a negative development in relation to political stability in Chechnya. It is clear that the security situation in the republic is still very serious. Over the past year and a half, the Russian authorities have made a concerted effort to build up a political system in Chechnya. This policy has included the adoption of a new Chechen constitution in March 2003, and a Chechen presidential election in October 2003, in which Akhmad Kadyrov was elected President. On 14 March, Chechnya took part in the Russian presidential election, which was won by President Putin. Turnout in Chechnya was recorded at 94.99% of voters.
An extraordinary presidential election is scheduled to take place in Chechnya in September 2004. I hope that OSCE and Council of Europe standards will be observed in the conduct of this election, and that the outcome will reflect the will of the Chechen people, freely expressed. The EU welcomes Russian efforts aiming at a political settlement of the conflict in Chechnya. The EU wants to see a durable settlement put in place which respects Russia's territorial integrity, which has the support and confidence of the population of Chechnya, and which restores security, the rule of law, and respect for human rights in the republic. The Union acknowledges the right and responsibility of the Russian Government to combat terrorism and crime and to protect its citizens. We strongly condemn the terrorist attacks which have caused significant loss of life in Chechnya and throughout Russia in recent years. However, the EU has consistently stated that the fight against terrorism, in the Russian Federation as elsewhere, must be conducted in accordance with internationally-accepted human rights standards. If the situation in Chechnya improves, the European Union stands ready to assist further in the reconstruction effort there.
