Vol. 393 No. 2
asked the Taoiseach if he has any plans, either before or immediately when he assumes the Presidency of the European Council, to visit the Chancellor of the German Federal Republic and/or the Leader of the German Democratic Republic to discuss the role, if any, to be played by and the implications for the EC of recent and ongoing events in Germany; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
2.
asked the Taoiseach if, in anticipation of his Presidency of the European Council, he has prepared or is in the course of preparing Community policy proposals for the Council in relation to developments in Germany, in particular, if he will outline the approach of the Irish Presidency in regard to the question of German re-unification; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
3.
asked the Taoiseach, in view of the enormous public interest in the matter, if he will make a statement on the forthcoming European Community summit which has been called at short notice by President Mitterrand to discuss the momentous developments in Eastern Europe; and if he will outline the attitude he proposes to take at the meeting towards those developments.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1, 2 and 3 together.
I already sent a message last Sunday to Chancellor Kohl offering my support and good wishes at this time of change which brings new hope for all of us in Europe. I should also recall the statement which we, together with our EC partners, issued on Friday last calling for far-reaching reforms to allow the people of the German Democratic Republic to define their own future and to enjoy their democratic rights in full freedom. As the House will probably be aware, I shall be taking part in the informal dinner meeting of EC leaders which has been convened by President Mitterrand on Saturday next in Paris to consider these and other developments.
Changes in the German Democratic Republic and elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe and the position of the Community are likely to be to the forefront of the agenda at the European Council in Strasbourg and during our EC Presidency beginning next January. Given the pace of events it would be unwise to seek to anticipate the outcome of the Paris meeting and the Strasbourg Council which will, of course, have a major impact on the range of priorities for the Irish Presidency.
Would the Taoiseach agree that the tact, wisdom and vision of President Gorbachev that lies behind the developments in Eastern Europe ought to be reciprocated in full by Western leaders, and that it is unhelpful for them to talk of cold war victories and so on? If the Taoiseach agrees with that sentiment, would he emphasise it to his colleagues in the European Council on Saturday and communicate the same message to Washington? Has the Taoiseach sent any message to President Gorbachev in support of his initiatives which are so exciting for the world?
I fully agree with the Deputy about the basic contribution President Gorbachev has made in all these developments. We could all agree that if it had not been for President Gorbachev and for the concepts which he has advocated and put into practice, very few of these developments would have taken place. The feeling, I think, is shared by the leaders of Western Europe and I doubt very much if any would be speaking in terms of triumphalism or victory in the cold war. There would be a general welcome for all that has taken place in Eastern Europe and for the progress there towards democratic freedom. To that extent it will not be necessary for me to drive that message home to my fellow Heads of State in Paris on Saturday, or later in Strasbourg. I assure the Deputy that I share the sentiments being expressed.
Is the Taoiseach not aware of the angry comments made by President Gorbachev in Moscow along those lines this morning, and about the gloating, especially from Washington, about cold war victory? In view of that and of the delicacy of the situation, will the Taoiseach at least express that sentiment to ensure that it is indeed shared by all our western colleagues?
I certainly made quite clear to President Gorbachev, when I met him in Shannon, my great admiration for and appreciation of his achievements. We have on a number of other occasions conveyed similar sentiments to the Soviets, but I will avail of any further opportunity that presents itself to continue along those lines.
I am aware from press reports this morning that the Taoiseach was instrumental, or he has certainly been attributed with the credit, for the meeting that will take place next Saturday evening. I compliment the Taoiseach on his role in that. Because of the momentous events that are taking place in Eastern Europe, perhaps the Taoiseach will assure the House that in his role as President of the European Community from January next, the approach will be a totally positive one in relation to the opening up of Eastern Europe and in relation to the major advances taking place in terms of the democratisation of Eastern Europe?
I can give the Deputy a full assurance on that point. It is early yet to anticipate what will happen in Paris or Strasbourg but I am reasonably confident that the shared opinion among the member states will be that we should proceed as rapidly as possible with European integration so that the Community can be in an even better position to play a significant role in development in Europe but at the same time will be able to take aboard in some positive structural way what is happening in Eastern Europe.
In joining with the previous two speakers in welcoming the developments towards democracy in Eastern Europe, particularly in the German Democratic Republic, as that is the subject of the question, I would also ask the Taoiseach in acknowledging the restraint and the constructive attitude taken by the Government of the German Democratic Republic in response to the demands for democracy there if he would, in a sense of balance, convey the views of this House and our good wishes for the development towards democracy to the Government of the German Democratic Republic, in addition to having contacted Chancellor Kohl?
We hope not to neglect any opportunity to help the cause of the development of democratic freedom throughout Eastern Europe.
Will the Taoiseach ensure that this occasion will not be used to any extent by other partners in the Community, particularly by the UK Prime Minister, to serve as a pretext for slowing down the unification of the European Community? The Taoiseach will be aware of indications of recent days that there is a danger that these developments might be used to deflect attention from the necessary process of getting on with the job of unifying the Community.
We could all agree, and I feel reasonably confident that the same feeling would prevail throughout Europe, that the events in Eastern Europe accentuate the need to expedite integration of the Community rather than the reverse.
