Jim O'Keeffe
Question:35 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the political situation in Macedonia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18803/04]
View answerThursday, 24 June 2004
Questions (42, 43, 44)
Written answers
In the three years since the violent conflict in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia there has been remarkable progress in the establishment of political stability and the implementation of far-reaching reforms in co-operation with the European Union. On 2 April, the then Prime Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Branko Crvenkovski, was elected President of the country, to replace the late President Boris Trajkovski. Earlier this month, on 2 June, the former Minister of the Interior, Mr. Hari Kostov, was formally approved by Parliament as Prime Minister. His Government represents continuity with its predecessor in terms of policy and personnel. It is a coalition led by the main Slav party, the SDSM, in partnership with the largest ethnic Albanian party, the DUI. It remains fully committed to the implementation of the Ohrid framework agreement, which ended the 2001 conflict and which provides the basis for progress in the development of closer relations between the EU and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
The Taoiseach, in his capacity as President of the European Council, formally accepted the application for membership of the EU from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia at a ceremony in Dublin on 22 March. The application was presented by Prime Minister Crvenkovski leading a delegation representing the two main communities in the country and the cross-party support for closer relations with the European Union. The General Affairs and External Relations Council considered the application at its meeting on 17 May and requested the European Commission to prepare its opinion for presentation to the Council. This process is expected to take about one year. The EU continues to work closely with the Government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to consolidate peace and stability. The Ohrid framework agreement, which was brokered by the EU, has as its objective the creation of a truly multi-ethnic state. It provides for a series of constitutional amendments to safeguard minority rights, strengthen local government and secure equitable representation for the two main ethnic communities at all levels in the state administration. Important progress has been made in implementing the agreement, but the Government recognises that further efforts are needed, especially in relation to the legislative proposals now before Parliament for the decentralisation of authority from central to local government and the revision of municipal boundaries.
In the period ahead, the EU will play a close co-operative role in support of the reform process, politically, economically and in terms of security. The stabilisation and association agreement with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which was concluded in October 2001, entered into force on 1 April, the first of these agreements between the EU and the countries of the region to do so. The EU is continuing to help address the security challenges through the EU police mission, Proxima. The EU will also decide soon on the appointment of a new special representative in Skopje, to replace Mr. Soren Jessen-Petersen, who will take up the position of special representative of the UN Secretary General in Kosovo later in the summer.
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:36 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the political situation in Kosovo; the numbers currently serving with KFOR; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18785/04]
View answerThe security situation in Kosovo has stabilised since the outbreak of ethnically-motivated violence in March. However, the situation remains tense and there have been a number of further violent incidents, including the brutal killing of an ethnic Serb youth on 5 June. It is clear that the recent violence poses a serious challenge to all those working to build a multi-ethnic Kosovo in which all its citizens can live in peace and security, as foreseen in UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999. During Ireland's EU Presidency, the European Council and the General Affairs and External Relations Council have paid close attention to developments in Kosovo. The EU has reiterated its strong support for the UN mission in Kosovo and for the special representative of the UN Secretary General in their efforts to implement Security Council Resolution 1244. The EU has also reaffirmed its commitment to the policy of standards before status and to the standards implementation process and has called on Kosovo's political leaders to demonstrate unambiguously their commitment to a multi-ethnic Kosovo and to the protection of the security and rights of minority communities. It is important that all parties co-operate in order to achieve practical results from the standards process in the months ahead. This must involve the participation of Kosovo Serb representatives and the resumption of the direct dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, which has been suspended since March.
Last week, on 15 June, I chaired the first ever EU Troika ministerial meeting with Serbia and Montenegro. I encouraged Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic to use the influence of the Belgrade authorities to persuade the representatives of the Kosovo Serb population to re-engage in dialogue on reconstruction, security, and the restructuring of local government, in the interests of all the people of Kosovo. On 11 June, the special representative of the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Harri Holkeri, resigned from his position for health reasons. I express the Government's appreciation for his work in Kosovo over the past year, which he undertook with the same sense of dedication and commitment demonstrated when he was one of the co-chairmen of the multi-party talks leading to the Good Friday Agreement. The European Council on 18 June welcomed the announcement by the UN Secretary General that he intends to appoint Mr. Soren Jessen-Petersen as his new special representative. Mr. Jessen-Petersen is currently the EU special representative in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
The year ahead will be a difficult one in Kosovo, which retains the potential to cause instability in the wider region. Elections will be held in October and it is still hoped that sufficient progress will have been made on the UN's standards implementation plan to enable a review of progress in mid-2005. In response to the difficulties of recent months, the UN is examining the issue of how UNMIK might be restructured to better meet the needs of the situation. The EU is considering ways in which it can enhance its role in support of the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1244. Whatever the outcome of eventual consideration of the final status question, it is clear the long term future of Kosovo will be in the context of a multi-ethnic society with its place secure in the region and in Europe.
There are currently 213 Irish troops serving with KFOR, the UN-mandated peacekeeping force in Kosovo. I express again today the appreciation of the Government for the role being played by members of the Permanent Defence Force in Kosovo and especially for their courageous and effective handling of the difficult situation in March. Earlier this week, the Government agreed to continue to provide a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force for service with KFOR for a further period of 12 months beyond June 2004.
David Stanton
Question:37 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on current relations between India and Pakistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18799/04]
View answerAs Deputies will be aware, historically relations between India and Pakistan have often been difficult. Indeed, on two occasions in 2002 these nuclear-armed countries again came close to the brink of conflict. The situation in Kashmir remains serious. There have nonetheless recently been encouraging political developments in this important bilateral relationship. New Delhi and Islamabad have begun a composite dialogue, which includes the issue of Kashmir. A ceasefire along the "line of control" has been in place since 25 November 2003.
Following bilateral talks on the margins of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation, SAARC, summit, held in Islamabad on 5 January 2004, the President of Pakistan and the then-Prime Minister of India announced in a joint statement to the effect that they had agreed to commence a process of composite dialogue. On 18 February 2004, the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan met and agreed to modalities for the composite dialogue, which would lead to a meeting of the two Governments, at the more senior level of Foreign Ministers in August 2004. The recently-elected Government in India, led by Dr. Manmohan Singh, has announced publicly that it is committed to continue the composite dialogue with Pakistan and to discuss all relevant issues, including the Kashmir conflict, terrorism and nuclear questions.
In accordance with the agreed modalities for the composite dialogue, expert level talks on nuclear confidence building measures were held in New Delhi on 19 and 20 June 2004, at which it was agreed to upgrade the existing emergency telephone hotline between the directors general of military operations and to establish a similar system at the level of foreign secretary. The progress achieved at the talks will be reported to the respective foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan, who will meet in Delhi on 27 and 28 June 2004 as foreseen in the agreement on the modalities for the composite dialogue. Discussions will cover the issues of Kashmir and nuclear confidence-building measures. Foreign Ministers Natwar Singh of India and Mahmud Kasuri of Pakistan met on 21 June 2004 and had bilateral discussions in the margins of the third Asia co-operation dialogue in Qingdao, China. The discussions, which have been described as warm and productive by Minister Singh and significant by Pakistan's foreign ministry, indicate the continuing political commitment for the peace process following the change of Government in India. The Foreign Ministers are due to meet within the process of the composite dialogue in August 2004.
Ireland, together with our EU partners, and indeed the broad international community, attaches the greatest importance to these significant and positive developments in relations between India and Pakistan. There is widespread hope that these will lead to progress in resolving long-standing difficulties and that improved relations between New Delhi and Islamabad will advance peace and stability in the region. The EU stands ready to support both countries in their efforts to reduce tension and to seek a lasting solution to their outstanding differences — in any way considered appropriate by both parties. In mid-February 2004, in my capacity as Presidency, I led an EU Troika mission to India and to Pakistan. The troika reiterated the European Union's very positive disposition towards the composite dialogue and the efforts of the two Governments. Following the Troika missions, the General Affairs and External Relations Council adopted conclusions on 23 February. The Council welcomed the start of composite dialogue between Pakistan and India and reiterated that the European Union is ready, at the request of the parties, to assist in any way that may be appropriate.