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Foreign Conflicts.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2005

Wednesday, 26 January 2005

Questions (408, 409)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

465 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the holding of the Iraqi elections under a state of emergency, which has now been extended to February 2005, and its potential effect on the establishment of democracy in Iraq. [1541/05]

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Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

467 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether the Iraqi elections, scheduled for 30 January 2005, should be delayed and whether, under the circumstances, these elections can be free and fair if they go ahead as planned. [1543/05]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 465 and 467 together.

The holding of elections for a transitional national assembly is the next critical step in the process for the political reconstruction of Iraq laid down in UN Security Council Resolution 1546, which is the basis for the political process in Iraq. The resolution also specifies 31 January as the latest date by which these elections should be held. All reports and polls indicate that the majority of Iraqis would wish to take part in the elections.

It is clearly a matter of concern that the escalating violence may make it very difficult for people to vote in some areas of Iraq, and also that this has led some parties based in the Sunni community, which predominates in these areas, to state that they will boycott the elections unless these are postponed. However, as much of the violence is apparently aimed at making the elections impossible, it is not clear that postponing them would lead to an improvement in the situation. At the same time, parties representing the Shia community have stressed the great importance to their people of holding the elections as scheduled. This is a judgment, which only the Interim Iraqi Government can make, and it has concluded that the elections should go ahead.

The Government hopes that the elections in Iraq are able to proceed in as peaceful an atmosphere as possible, and that Iraqis take this opportunity to come out and vote in these elections which are crucial to the future of their country. These elections should mark an important step towards the establishment of democracy and the rule of law in Iraq. Hopefully, there will not be long delay before elections in Iraq take place in a peaceful atmosphere, with the full participation of all political parties representing all communities.

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