asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland recognises, as legally valid, the Israeli's occupation of territories conquered by it in the 1967 war, formerly part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Recognition of Territorial Claims.
49.
Ireland does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over the territories conquered by Israel in the 1967 war. The occupation by Israel of these Arab territories, on the West Bank of the Jordan, in the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem, is contrary to the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force. Ireland, in common with its partners in the Twelve, has repeatedly called for an end to the occupation of these territories in accordance with Resolutions 242 and 338 of the United Nations Security Council. We have also made clear our view that any changes in the status and demographic structure of these territories, including the establishment of settlements, are illegal under international law.
50.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland recognises, as legally valid, the occupation by Indonesia of the territory, formerly Portuguese East Timor; if he regards this territory as now part of Indonesia; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The question of East Timor is a matter of dispute between Indonesia and Portugal with both of which Ireland maintains friendly relations. It is currently on the agenda of the United Nations and the Secretary General of the United Nations is engaged in providing his good offices so as to help in resolving some of the issues in dispute between the two countries. Ireland takes the view that the question can best be solved by negotiations between Portugal and Indonesia. Accordingly we support the efforts of the UN Secretary General and we welcome the discussions between the two countries under UN auspices.
51.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland recognises, as legally valid, the division between Morocco and Mauritania of the territory formerly constituting the Spanish Sahara; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ireland's position regarding the status of the territory formerly constituting the Spanish Sahara is based on the principle that the people of that territory should have the right to self-determination. We have not, however, been in a position to recognise an independent state in the Western Sahara, or indeed any other arrangement affecting the future of the territory, before the people of the territory themselves have decided the issue of self-determination through a referendum. Our efforts at the United Nations have been directed towards a peaceful settlement of the conflict and to this end we, together with our partners in the Twelve, have encouraged a consensus approach which, in our view, is most likely to assist progress towards a solution. We have also supported fully the efforts of the UN Secretary General to work out with the parties involved a basis for agreement on the holding of a referendum. These efforts are continuing and it is our earnest hope that they will prove fruitful.
The Deputy will wish to be aware that on 10 August 1979, Mauritania signed a peace agreement with representatives of the resistance movement popularly known as the Polisario renouncing all claims to the territory of the Western Sahara.
52.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland recognises, as legally valid, the ending of the independence of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia and the incorporation of the former territories of these states within the USSR; and if he will make a statement on the matter
The recognition by Ireland of the Soviet Union predates the Soviet annexation of the Baltic States of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Ireland has never recognised the incorporation of these states into the Soviet Union.