Written Answers. - Cambodian Iniatives.
Nora Owen
Ceist:
42
Mrs. Owen
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will give details of the allocation of £50,000 to Cambodia, as announced in Dáil Éireann on 14 November 1989; and if this allocation has been used for relief within Cambodia, as promised in his statement on 14 November 1989.
Proinsias De Rossa
Ceist:
49
Proinsias De Rossa
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if, in view of the recent comprehensive resolution on Cambodia passed by the European Parliament, which included a declaration that the main aim of EC policy towards Cambodia must be to re-establish the independence of the country and prevent the return to power of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge and which called on member states to intensify humanitarian aid to the people of Cambodia, the Government intend to (a) review its policy on the question of the seating of the Cambodian delegation at the United Nations and (b) increase the level of Irish food and development aid; if, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Council of Ministers, he accepts the content of the motion as reflecting the wishes of the people of the Community in regard to Cambodia; the steps, if any, he intends to take arising from the motion; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Peter Barry
Ceist:
59
Mr. Barry
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will outline the Irish Government's position regarding the present initiatives being taken in Cambodia; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:
85
Mr. Gilmore
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if his attention has been drawn to reports that the Khmer Rouge have made military advances against the Hun Sen Government in Cambodia and that they have captured the second largest city, Battamband; if he has taken any steps in this regard through the United Nations; and if, through his Presidency of the EC Council of Ministers, he will take initiatives to exert international influence to prevent a return of the Khmer Rouge and a repeat of a Killing Fields situation.
Richard Bruton
Ceist:
86
Mr. R. Bruton
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the plans, if any, he has during Ireland's Presidency of the EC to focus international attention on the problems of the Cambodian people and the imminent danger that the Khmer Rouge may return to Government in that country.
Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:
87
Mr. Gilmore
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the number of persons who wrote to or telephoned either himself or his Department in November, 1989 concerning the vote on Cambodia in the United Nations.
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:
88
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if his attention has been drawn to recent developments in relation to internal political change within Cambodia and the threat to stability posed by the armed aggression of the Khmer Rouge armed forces; if the Irish Government will change the policy position which it has adopted in relation to the recognition of the existing Government in Kampuchea; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Tom Kitt
Ceist:
96
Mr. T. Kitt
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will ensure that development aid is granted to Cambodia through the United Nations and the EC.
Tom Kitt
Ceist:
97
Mr. T. Kitt
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will outline the response of the Irish Government and the EC to the new international peace initiative in relation to Cambodia; and the current attitude of the United Nations to this development.
Roger T. Garland
Ceist:
98
Mr. Garland
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if the Government has sent or if it has any plans to send aid to non-governmental aid organisations in Cambodia.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 49, 59, 85, 86, 87, 88, 96, 97 and 98 together.
I would refer the Deputies to my statement to Dáil Éireann on 14 November 1989 in which I set out clearly the Government's policy in relation to the Cambodian question as it arose last year at the United Nations. The Government are greatly concerned at reports of Khmer Rouge successes after the Vietnamese withdrawal from Cambodia. An essential part of Ireland's approach to the question of Cambodia is that everything must be done to prevent the return to power of the Pol Pot Khmer Rouge regime which has been guilty of outrageous crimes against the people of Cambodia.
Government policy calls for a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement based on the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia. This settlement must be based on a process of self-determination by the people of Cambodia in internationally-supervised, free and fair elections. Neither the Hun Sen administration in Cambodia, which was installed by the Vietnamese invaders, nor the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea, which includes the Khmer Rouge, has received any form of endorsement from the people of Cambodia. In the absence of such endorsement, the Government of this country have not given their support to either of the two contenders for government power. Neither have the Government given recognition to any of the contenders for the government of Cambodia, indeed, it is Ireland's general policy that we recognise states, not governments.
The withdrawal of Vietnamese invading forces from Cambodia offers an important opportunity for the international community to embark on a sustained effort to achieve a just and lasting settlement. I believe that the recent Australian initiative, calling for a central role for the United Nations in the administration of Cambodia in the lead-up to free elections, offers a promising way forward towards the goal of restoring peace in Cambodia. This enhanced UN role would be part of an overall international settlement which would exclude any possibility of a return to power by the genocidal Pol Pot Khmer Rouge. The Australian proposal also calls for a change in the current unsatisfactory situation regarding the Cambodian seat at the United Nations. I arranged to meet my Australian counterpart, Senator Gareth Evans, in December last and conveyed to him my support for his initiative. I subsequently wrote to him confirming this support.
I am happy to note that the Australian initiative is gaining increasing international support. The Australian proposals were central to the discussions which the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council held in Paris on 15-16 January. They have also been commented on favourably by a number of the Cambodian parties as well as by a number of countries in the region. The United Nations General Assembly has not yet had an opportunity to consider the Australian proposals.
The Twelve member states of the European Community, under Ireland's Presidency, have called on all concerned parties to examine in a positive spirit proposals, such as those put forward by Australia, which would involve the strengthening of the role envisaged for the UN in a comprehensive political settlement of the Cambodian conflict. In a public statement issued on 18 January, the Twelve also expressed their deep concern at the ongoing conflict in Cambodia and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the ending of all forms of external military assistance. The Twelve called on all concerned parties to turn to dialogue and negotiation as the means to find a comprehensive, just and lasting political solution to the Cambodian problem. They made clear their total rejection of the genocidal policies of the Pol Pot Khmer Rouge and stated explicitly that their non-return to power remains a central element of Twelve policy on Cambodia. I was happy to note that the Twelve's statement addressed most of the issues raised in the Resolution on Cambodia adopted by the European Parliament on 19 January.
I intend, during the Irish Presidency, to avail of every opportunity open to me to increase the prospects for a just settlement in Cambodia which would finally bring to an end the suffering of the Cambodian people. Cambodia will be discussed at the ministerial-level meeting between the European Community and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) later this month. I intend to avail of the occasion to convey to the Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN countries the urgent need to find a peaceful resolution in Cambodia and I am hopeful that our discussions there can advance the cause of peace in Cambodia.
I am very conscious of the depth of public feeling on Cambodia in this country and indeed in many other countries. Since the beginning of November last, my personal office and my Department together have received over 600 communications, by letter or phone, expressing concern at the conflict in Cambodia. Ireland's policy on Cambodia, including our strong conviction that everything must be done to prevent the return to power of the Pol Pot Khmer Rouge, was explained to all inquirers.
The welfare of the Cambodian people is central to the Government's concerns. The achievement of peace and of a lasting political settlement is, I believe, the key issue for the people of Cambodia, especially for the many Cambodians who are living in squalor in camps on the border between Thailand and Cambodia. Without peace, Cambodia will not be enabled to set about the task of economic and social development which is so badly needed to ensure the future welfare of all its people. When the peace settlement we so earnestly desire has been achieved, I have no doubt that the international community, through the United Nations, and the European Community will be anxious to assist the Cambodian people, through their duly-elected government, in the reconstruction and development of their country. I can assure Deputies that I will fully support the provision of such aid.
Pending the achievement of a peace settlement, I believe that it is important that aid of a humanitarian nature be provided to the people of Cambodia, both to those inside the country and to those living in camps in Thailand. Such aid is already being provided to people in both categories by the EC and the United Nations. The Government last November provided a sum of £50,000 for humanitarian assistance for people inside Cambodia. This aid was channelled to the Irish voluntary agency, Concern, which had made an application for humanitarian relief for Cambodia. The funds were provided for water supplies, child nutrition and logistics. The implementation of this programme is currently being organised by Concern.
Applications for co-financing by Irish non-governmental organisations will be considered on their merits and in the light of the availability of resources.
