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Foreign Conflicts.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 November 2004

Wednesday, 24 November 2004

Questions (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)

Brendan Howlin

Question:

14 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the action the Security Council of the United Nations, or a delegated organisation on its behalf, should take in relation to the threat to lives in Darfur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30079/04]

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Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

15 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has initiated at EU or UN levels to bring about an improvement of the situation in Darfur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30263/04]

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Brian O'Shea

Question:

17 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he intends to supplement the €500,000 pledge for the African Union peace mission in Darfur with further donations; the way in which this money will be spent in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30087/04]

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Joan Burton

Question:

18 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the latest contributions he has made to the international effort to provide assistance to the Darfur region of Sudan; if he has had further meetings with Irish aid organisations working in the region; the latest efforts he has made to highlight the situation in Darfur internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30086/04]

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Eamon Ryan

Question:

69 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions he has taken to ensure that the worsening situation in Darfur is placed high up on the agenda of both the EU Foreign Ministers meeting and of the EU Council in December 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30271/04]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 15, 17, 18 and 69 together.

I refer the Deputies to my answer to Priority Question No. 3.

As initiated during the Irish Presidency, the situation in Darfur is addressed on an ongoing basis by the General Affairs and External Relations Council. The most recent discussion took place in Brussels on 22 November at which my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, attended. The Council adopted conclusions which, inter alia, condemned the forced displacement of internally displaced persons, IDPs, welcomed the expansion of the African Union mission in Darfur, AMIS II, and the recent progress in the AU-mediated peace talks in Abuja, and expressed grave concern at the continuing humanitarian situation. The Council will further discuss the situation in Darfur at its meeting of 13 December while the issue is also expected to feature on the agenda of the European Council next month.

The UN Security Council also remains closely involved and discussed the situation in Darfur during the special session which it held in Nairobi on 18-19 November. The Security Council is performing an important role in maintaining pressure on both the Government of Sudan and the rebels in Darfur to fulfil all the commitments they have made. Further steps such as sanctions will become unavoidable if clear evidence emerges that either side does not intend to comply.

Security Council Resolution 1564 called on the UNSG to set up an international commission of inquiry which will investigate claims of genocide. The commission was established on 7 October and is due to report back to the UN Security Council in three months. The EU has also tabled a resolution on the human rights situation in Sudan at the current UN General Assembly in New York.

Considerable planning support is being offered by the EU and the UN to the expanded AU mission in Darfur, AMIS II, which is currently being deployed and involves an increase in the strength of the mission to 3,320 personnel. The EU and its member states are also providing a substantial amount of logistical support to assist the deployment of AMIS II.

Ireland has provided over €10 million in funding to Sudan to date in 2004. Over €6 million of this has been emergency assistance for Darfur. Overall, Sudan has received the greatest amount of Irish Government humanitarian support in 2004. There has also been generous and sustained support from the Irish people through their private contributions to aid agencies.

The most recent contribution made by Ireland in response to the situation in Darfur is support of €500,000 to AMIS II. This funding will go towards supporting humanitarian and human rights monitors attached to the mission.

I remain deeply conscious of the challenges faced by the vulnerable people of Darfur — challenges to their very survival. Ireland will continue to respond generously and swiftly to their needs in conjunction with our NGO partners working on the ground in Darfur.

Enda Kenny

Question:

16 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised with the authorities in Burma the continued detention of political activists and representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30022/04]

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Liz McManus

Question:

50 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the benefits he perceives as having flown from the changed position in relation to the Government recognition of the military junta in Burma, in view of the fact that the democratically elected choice of the Burmese people (details supplied) has not been freed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30082/04]

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Ruairí Quinn

Question:

58 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts he has made to secure the release from house arrest of the democratically elected choice of the people of Burma (details supplied); the position with regard to the decision to establish formal diplomatic relations with the Burmese regime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30095/04]

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Liz McManus

Question:

72 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the fact that even though the minimum requirement, set during the Irish Presidency of the EU for Burma’s participation in ASEAN was not met, the EU agreed to the participation of the Burmese military junta at the recent meeting in Hanoi of ASEAN; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30083/04]

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I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 50, 58 and 72 together.

I welcome the announcement by the Burmese Government on 18 November 2004 of the release a number of prisoners, including many political prisoners such as Ko Paw Oo Tun, who has been in jail since he led student protests in 1989, and a member of the central executive of the NLD, Mr. Win Tin. I hope this will lead to the release of other political prisoners in Burma, including Aung San Suu Kyi, who, regrettably, remains under house arrest.

As I have stated to the House on a number of previous occasions, the Government has pursued a strong and consistent line in support of democracy in Burma. Both Ireland, and our EU partners, remain strongly critical of the continued detention under house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi, other activists and a number of MPs elected in the elections of 1990. We have been critical also of the absence of political progress, serious and persistent human rights abuses and the lack of fundamental freedoms in Burma.

The issue of Burma is raised in all our bilateral political contacts with relevant third countries, particularly Burma's Asian neighbours. Most recently, I raised the issue of Burma with Vice Premier Huang Ju of China during official talks on 16 November 2004. The Taoiseach raised our concerns about Burma at the Fifth ASEM Summit, which took place from 7 to 9 October in Hanoi. The Taoiseach, in his intervention, questioned why Aung San Suu Kyi has not been released, and why there has not been greater progress towards democracy in Burma.

During our EU Presidency, the Government ensured that the issue of Burma was regularly discussed in consultations with interested third countries. I am pleased that this practice has been carried forward by the Netherlands Presidency, which has demonstrated a similar commitment to fostering democracy in Burma.

Burma was high on the agenda at the ASEM Foreign Ministers' meeting, which my predecessor hosted in Kildare in April 2004, as well as at the preceding informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers held at Tullamore. There was considerable hope at that time that the Burmese regime was about to release Aung San Su Kyi and allow her party, the NLD, to participate in the national convention. Indeed, the Burmese Foreign Minister at the time, since dismissed, announced publicly that Aung San Su Kyi was about to be released. This optimism was reflected in the decision by EU Ministers at Tullamore to indicate that if Aung San Su Kyi were released, the NLD invited to participate in the National Convention and the Convention permitted to operate free from harassment, the EU would be ready to re-examine its engagement with Burma.

Regrettably, the expected positive developments have not been forthcoming. Lack of support from our Asian partners meant that the EU was not able to prevent Burma's participation in the newly enlarged ASEM short of provoking the collapse of ASEM. Nevertheless, the EU used the recent ASEM Summit to make clear its opposition to the actions of the Burmese regime. Immediately following the summit on 10 October, the Union took the decision to reinforce sanctions against the Burmese regime by adopting a revised and strengthened Common Position. The Government has decided, given the lack of progress in Burma, to put the proposed exchange of ambassadors between Ireland and Burma on hold.

The Government's continuing goal, and that of the EU, remains the release and restoration of liberty to Aung San Suu Kyi, the return of democracy to Burma, an end to human rights violations and the realisation of peace andprosperity for the long suffering people of Burma.

Questions Nos. 17 and 18 answered withQuestion No. 14.
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