Vol. 350 No. 3
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps that are being taken at the United Nations or Security Council, to try to secure an ending of the prolonged hostilities between Iran and Iraq; and if Ireland has been involved in any initiatives in this connection.
15.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the call by the European Parliament requesting EEC Ministers for Foreign Affairs meeting in political co-operation to take steps to bring about a peace conference of the Governments of Iran and Iraq in order to establish conditions for a cessation of hostilities and for reconciliation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together.
I regret to say that the prospects for an end to the 3½ year long war between Iran and Iraq do not look promising. Various mediators have at different times in the conflict tried to bring about a ceasefire and negotiations but so far to no avail. These have included Mr. Olaf Palme who, as the UN Secretary-General's representative, visited Tehran and Baghdad on a number of occasions. A further UN mission involving an Under Secretary-General of the organisation was to have taken place earlier this year but was postponed following the recent intensification of fighting and disagreement between Iran and Iraq as to its role.
The President of the Security Council, acting on behalf of Council members, issued a statement on recent developments on 30 March. The statement strongly condemned the use of chemical weapons reported by a UN investigatory mission. It also renewed the Council's call for the strict observance of a ceasefire and for a peaceful solution of the conflict. The members of the Security Council requested the Secretary-General to continue his mediatory efforts.
I am aware of the comprehensive resolution on the Iran-Iraq war adopted by the European Parliament on 19 January this year. I am in sympathy with the general thrust of this resolution and note in particular that the call for a supervised ceasefire and withdrawal to internationally recognised frontiers is in line with resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council.
The war and its implications have frequently been discussed in European Political Co-operation. The Ten have publicly expressed their concern about it and their desire to see a ceasefire and negotiations on a number of occasions since hostilities began in September 1980. The most recent statement was prepared at the European Council and issued by Foreign Ministers on 27 March. In it the Ten noted the sufferings of the peoples of both countries and the risk of a new and dangerous escalation in the conflict. They expressed the hope that each of the parties will finally agree to comply with the Security Council resolutions and heed the numerous appeals addressed to them by the international community. They wished to see the parties co-operating in the search for a peaceful solution, honourable for them both.
For its own part Ireland, in contacts with Iranian and Iraqi officials, has emphasised the desirability of a negotiated end to the conflict which is causing such death and destruction in both countries.
There is not much I can add to what I said a minute ago.
Is the Minister aware that the battle of Khormshar in Iran that took place a few weeks ago resulted in the deaths of more people than all the other Middle East battles that have taken place put together and that a contributory factor arises from the fact that not only both super powers but also other powers, in particular France, have been engaged in the continuing and ongoing supply of armaments into that region? Is it not time that the matter was dealt with at United Nations Security Council level, that we should make representations accordingly to try to bring about a cessation of the supply of armaments of any nature to either of those warning parties?
The United Nations Security Council and its Secretary-General in particular have made numerous efforts to try to bring about an end to this war. It defies the efforts of some of the most influential and highest-placed people in the world to bring sense to both these countries to cease their hostilities and withdraw to their own frontiers. The United Nations Secretary-General is involved as have been the Islamic Conference Organisation and the Non-Aligned Movement. Algeria on two occasions has tried to bring about a resolution and the Gulf Co-operation Council has been involved but still the war continues with the horrific effects as outlined by Deputy Taylor and to which I referred in the previous question.
It is something that is engaging the attention of the highest-placed people in the world, of all organisations and movements, but apparently to no avail. Every time there is the prospect of a ceasefire one or other side escalates the conflict again by a further attack — again as Deputy Collins and Deputy Taylor said earlier — using in many cases very young children on one side and, on the other, chemical warfare. It has the potential to suck the whole of the Middle East into a major confrontation and indeed for that confrontation to spill over into the rest of the world. In my mind it is the most serious flashpoint in the whole world at present and well deserves the attention of the United Nations. I do not want to take from what its Secretary-General is doing because I know he is extremely concerned about this; I have spoken to him about it on a number of occasions, but it deserves the full attention of all of the Ten, of the United Nations and of anybody else who has any hope of mediating. I spoke to the Swedish Foreign Minister about it the other day when he was here. Mr. Olaf Palme, the Swedish Prime Minister, has visited Tehran and Baghdad and made an effort to bring it to an end. He is a man acceptable to both countries, a man of peace, whose credentials as a negotiator in matters like these are above reproach, and still he failed.
Does the Minister agree that there seems to be a death wish on both sides in this war? That being so and because of the difficulty of getting through to either side to scale down the war, would the Minister consider using his influence with his colleagues in foreign ministeries to work together to influence countries to reduce the supply of armaments to each side? He should particularly use his influence with the French Foreign Minister, Claude Cheysson, as France is one of the major suppliers of all sorts of armaments to Iraq.
I will certainly avail of any opportunity, formally or informally, to add my voice to those who are concerned about this and who would dearly like to see an end to this disastrous conflict.
In view of our role in the United Nations and the European Commission, would the Minister consider it helpful for the House to have regular debates early in the morning between 9 a.m. and 10.30 a.m. on such matters——
That relates to procedure and has nothing to do with the question.
I should like to see the House discussing matters of this kind.
It is unfortunate that we spent an hour last year discussing foreign affairs and have had nothing since. I should like to take up the question which Deputy Taylor and Deputy Collins raised, the supply of arms to Iraq and Iran. The Minister has not given a precise answer to the request that we should use our voice in encouraging those who are supplying weapons to either side to stop doing so. Wars cannot proceed without weapons. Does the Minister agree that it would be worth while to use our influence in that regard?
I accept that wars cannot continue without weapons. However, each side is getting their supplies from various sources and I should like all arms supplies to be discontinued in the interests of peace.
Are the British suplying either side?
I do not know.
Is the Minister aware that when we speak about armaments we are not just referring to the dreadful carnage which is the result of so-called conventional weapons or chemical warfare? It is now alleged that both those countries have the capacity to build nuclear weapons and, in agreeing with the Minister that this is now one of the flash points in the world, should it not be a matter of grave concern both in the forum of the United Nations and the forum of Europe that such a potential nuclear warfare disaster seems to exist outside the discipline and structures of the other super powers who are also dealing in nuclear weapons?
There is concern about this matter but I am not competent to judge whether these two countries are capable of developing nuclear weapons. I would be very disturbed if they added such weapons to their arsenal of conventional and chemical weapons.
Does the Minister know if West Germany are involved in helping Iran to develop nuclear arms?
I am sure the Germans are not involved with nuclear weapons.
They have nuclear reactors.
They are there for peaceful purposes.
16.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the reports of the use of chemicals and chemical warfare by Iraq against Iran and the steps that are being taken by the international agencies in the matter.
I am extremely concerned by the numerous reports that Iraq has used chemical weapons in its war with Iran. The International Committee of the Red Cross has stated on the basis of investigations by one of its medical teams in Tehran, that the injuries they have seen lead to the presumption of the recent use of such weapons. An investigation of the allegations has been carried out by a group of specialists sent to Iran by the UN Secretary-General. These specialists have concluded that chemical weapons have been used in Iran in the areas inspected by the team. These were of the mustard gas and nerve agent types.
A statement issued on 30 March by the President of the UN Security Council on behalf of its members strongly condemned the use of chemical weapons reported by the specialists.
The Ten have, in a public statement, recorded their distress at the allegations of the use of chemical weapons and have recalled their unreserved condemnation of any such use. Foreign Ministers of the Ten meeting in Political Co-operation in Luxembourg on 9 April decided to introduce controls on the export of certain chemicals which can be used to manufacture chemical weapons. Following consultations among experts, member states of the Ten have introduced, or are in the process of introducing, controls on chemical substances which might be used for the production of chemical warfare agents. In the case of Ireland export restrictions are being introduced by the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism on key precursors for super toxic lethal chemicals and other harmful chemicals.
Ireland deplores any use of chemical or biological weapons. The use of such weapons is clearly prohibited under the Geneva Protocol of 1925 of which Iraq is a signatory.
Could the Minister say what the current position is with regard to international agreements on the development of chemical and biological weaponry and if the super powers, including the Soviet Union, are signatures to such an agreement?
That is another question.
The question on the Order Paper relates to the use of chemicals and I am trying to find——
This question relates to Iraq so you will have to put down another question.
It is a very important question.
They are all important questions but they must be relevant.
The question refers to the use of chemicals and chemical warfare by Iraq and Iran. There is an international agreement and I am trying to find out who the parties are to that agreement so that we can find out who is supplying the chemicals.
Iraq is a signatory to the Geneva Protocol of 1925 which controls the use of chemical and biological weapons. I do not know who else is involved but I can get that information for the Deputy.
