Written Answers. - Unification of Germany.
Toddy O'Sullivan
Ceist:
31
Mr. T. O'Sullivan
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he has made it clear to his EC colleague Ministers that Ireland wishes to pursue a policy of military neutrality in so far as a unified Germany is concerend; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:
34
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
, in light of the forthcoming EC Leaders' Summit in Dublin next month, if he will outline the Irish Government's policy regarding the eastern border between East Germany and Poland being permanently fixed at the Oder-Neisse line; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 34 together.
As Deputies will recall, and as I already pointed out here on 7 February in answer to another question, the Government's policy on German unification was set out by the Taoiseach in reply to a question on 13 December last.
As the Taoiseach noted on that occasion, the right to self-determination is a principle endorsed by the Charter of the United Nations. Ireland supports the right of the peoples of the Federal Republic of Germany and of the German Democratic Republic to determine their own future by a free democratic process.
As the Taoiseach also pointed out on 13 December, the Twelve Heads of State or Government of the Europen Community at their summit meeting in Strasbourg indicated their support for unity of the German people in the two states and said that it should be achieved in accordance with the principles of self-determination and with due regard to the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act. The Taoiseach confirmed the Government's position in reply to questions on 20 February.
The question of the borders of a united Germany must be seen in the context of the Helsinki Final Act, which both the Federal Republic and the German Democratic Republic have subscribed. That document, to which Ireland and all other European countries, except Albania, together with the United States and Canada, have also subscribed, provides that "The participating states regard as inviolable all one another's frontiers". It also provides that "their frontiers can be changed, in accordance with international law, by peaceful means and by agreement". The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany itself has declared that a solution to the German question can only be achieved within the framework of the CSCE process. Obviously, we welcome this declaration.
Ireland does not regard the unification of Germany as such as having implications for our policy of military neutrality, which we are intent upon pursuing.
The question of the status of a united Germany is one for that country to pursue. The Helsinki Final Act provides that states have the right to belong, or not to belong, to treaties of alliance; they also have the right to neutrality.
