Vol. 396 No. 9
17 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the preparations for the San José VI meeting in Dublin on 9 and 10 April 1990 have been completed; the level of aid envisaged for the Central American region; and whether the spirit of such preparations reflects the principles of the Hamburg Accord and the Central American regional peace initiatives.
Preparations for the San José VI Ministerial Conference on 9-10 April are progressing satisfactorily. The preparations under way take full account of developments in Central America and in relation to the peace process, as well as the principles of the Hamburg Accord.
The Community is responding to aspects of the emergency plan put forward by the Central American countries at the San José IV Conference held at Hamburg in 1988. A first tranche of a 150 million ECU programme to establish a Central American payments system has been committed, subject to certain assurances by the Central Americans on removal of trade barriers. Discussions on co-operation within the region will continue at the conference in April.
A major document reviewing the whole ambit of co-operation with Asia and Latin America is expected from the Commission.
Will the Minister give an assurance that the conditionalities of the Hamburg Accord will be on the agenda for the meeting of the San José VI meeting on 9-10 April? By that I mean the requirements for compliance with human rights in the broad peace process. With regard to the Minister's remark about the first tranche of EC funding towards the elimination of trade barriers, does he realise that this is conditional on all states in the region agreeing the principles because if one or two states have reservations the money may not be spent at all?
Preparations for this conference are at present underway and due regard will be had to the points made by the Deputy.
That disposes of questions for today.
