Olivia Mitchell
Question:63 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the situation in Liberia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18775/04]
View answerThursday, 24 June 2004
Questions (70)
Written answers
Under the terms of the comprehensive peace agreement of August 2003, Liberia is currently administered by a transitional Government under the chairmanship of Mr. Gyude Bryant until parliamentary and presidential elections are held before the end of 2005. One of the key challenges facing the transitional Government is to pave the way for free and fair elections. In this respect, 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 former 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 the 2005 elections and underlined the need for the National Election Commission to operate effectively.
Despite recent improvements in the security situation in areas which are under the control of the United National Mission in Liberia, UNMIL, and progress in the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement, the peace process remains fragile. 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 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, with a total authorised strength of 15,000. Its current one-year mandate is due to be renewed by the UN Security Council in September 2004.
The Government has deployed a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force to participate in the UN peacekeeping mission UNMIL. The Irish contingent comprises a motorised infantry battalion, of some 430 personnel, including the deployment of a small number of personnel at force headquarters in Monrovia. The Government is of the view that the deployment of UNMIL is critically important in supporting the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement and for the political and economic recovery of Liberia. Our personnel have been widely commended for the professionalism of their work. On 5 and 6 February 2004, the Liberia reconstruction conference was held in New York. The Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, represented the EU and announced $200 million in EC assistance, as well as a further €5 million in funding from Ireland. Ireland 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.