Vol. 373 No. 8
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Irish Government will use its own influence, and request other countries to persuade the Sri Lankan Government to permit the Red Cross to visit Jaffna to provide urgently needed medical relief and if he will make a statement on the matter.
38.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has asked the Secretary General of the United Nations to intervene in the Tamil dispute in Sri Lanka and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 38 together.
Along with our partners in the Community, we are following the situation in Sri Lanka with concern. Ireland supported this year's resolution adopted at the UN Commission on Human Rights inviting the Government of Sri Lanka to intensify its co-operation with the International Committee of the Red Cross and to consider favourably the offer of the services of the ICRC to fulfil its functions of protection of humanitarian standards, including the provision of assistance and protection to victims of all affected parties.
In their statement on 5 June on the tensions between India and Sri Lanka the 12 member states of the European Community stated their belief that whatever the motives for the actions undertaken on either side, the parties must avoid any increase of tension in the region. They expressed their strong wish for improvement in India-Sri Lanka relations without which the central problem, namely the ethnical conflict within Sri Lanka, will not be resolved. The Twelve also noted that the Government of Sri Lanka has the responsibility for maintaining law and order in that country. There is, therefore, no question of urging the United Nations to intervene in the dispute in Sri Lanka.
The Twelve recalled their previous statements and regretted that it has proved impossible up to now to find a peaceful solution to this internal conflict. They reiterated their condemnation of terrorist actions with numerous civilian casualties. They are deeply shocked by the recent brutal massacre of Buddhist monks.
The Twelve noted the responsibility of the Government of Sri Lanka for maintaining law and order and shared its conviction that a negotiated settlement is the only way to reach a lasting solution acceptable to all parties concerned.
The UN Secretary General has been in contact with both India and Sri Lanka in the light of recent developments.
