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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 1985

Vol. 361 No. 5

Written Answers. - Representations on Behalf of Prisoners.

20.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the representations he has made or will make in connection with the continuing imprisonment of Nelson Mandela in South Africa and of Anatoli Sharansky in the Soviet Union.

The Government are deeply concerned at the continued imprisonment of Mr. Nelson Mandela in South Africa and Mr. Anatoli Sharansky in the Soviet Union.

Our concern about Mr. Mandela has frequently been reflected in our public statements on South Africa. Ireland has been closely associated in numerous moves by the Ten on behalf of Mr. Mandela and other detainees in South Africa. Indeed during the speech by the Luxembourg representative to the United Nations on the occasion of the Day of Solidarity with South African Political Prisoners, a fresh appeal was made on behalf of the Ten for the release of Mr. Mandela. Foreign Ministers of the Ten also appealed for Mr. Mandela's release after their meetings of 22 July and 10 September.

Most recently, on 29 October, our representative to the United Nations has drawn attention to the plight of Mr. Mandela in his speech during the debate on apartheid at the United Nations General Assembly. I would also refer the Deputy to my remarks in the Seanad on 27 March where I outlined the Irish position on South African political prisoners.

Similarly the Government have, both bilaterally and together with our partners in the Ten, made known on a number of occasions our concern at the situation of Dr. Anatoli Sharansky, a founder member of the Moscow Helsinki Monitoring Group. I would again appeal to the Soviet authorities, in conformity with the spirit of the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act and of the Madrid Concluding Document, to release Dr. Sharansky and to allow him to be reunited with his wife in Israel.

Question No. 21 taken for oral reply.

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