Roger T. Garland
Ceist:8 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government recognised the Soviet Union's 1940 annexation of the Republics of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions Oral Answers (Resumed). - Baltic Republics.
Austin Deasy
Ceist:18 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action the Government are taking and the protest which they are making with regard to the present economic blockade on Lithuania; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Nora Owen
Ceist:25 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs , as Council of EC Foreign Ministers President, the efforts which he is employing to ensure that the people of Lithuania can achieve full independence, freely and without interference.
Peter Barry
Ceist:41 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether President Mitterrand or Chancellor Kohl discussed, with the European Community Presidency, the statement they issued recently regarding Lithuania.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 18, 25 and 41 together.
Ireland has never recognised the incorporation into the Soviet Union of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Together with our partners in the Twelve, we have been following carefully developments in the Baltic region. The member states of the Community have issued a number of statements on the question. In their most recent, issued on 21 April, they expressed their serious concern at the economic measures introduced by Moscow in relation to Lithuania and their belief that measures of a coercive nature can make no contribution to the search for a solution through dialogue. They underlined the obligation to exercise maximum restraint and to avoid actions that could only lead to a further deterioration of the situation. The Twelve are firmly of the view that an outcome acceptable to all must be sought and that this is possible only by means of discussion.
On behalf of the Twelve, the Presidency, through our Ambassador in Moscow, made representations to the Soviet authorities setting out our concerns. Our views have also been made known to the Lithuanians.
As regards the letter sent by President Mitterrand and Chancellor Kohl to the Lithuanian leaders, the President and Chancellor did not consult with the Presidency prior to taking their initiative.
I have two supplementary questions for the Minister. First: the Baltic Republics lost their independence as a result of an agreement between two major powers, Russia and Germany. Would the Minister agree that the reluctance of the American and European powers to defend these Republics — lest they upset President Gorbachev, a policy with which Ireland complies, — indicates there is a danger that these Republics will be the victim once again of deals between major powers? Second: everyone agrees that the problem should be resolved by way of negotiation. However, the Soviet Union has shown no interest in negotiating but instead threatens the Republics both militarily and economically. How long will our Government tolerate this intimidation before providing diplomatic and economic support?
The Deputy knows that we must proceed by way of supplementary question. He has embarked on a long statement.
Known as the green crusade.
The answer to the first part of the Deputy's question is "no". The answer to the second part can be found in the statement issued on behalf of the Twelve mentioned in my reply.
A Cheann Comhairle, it is extremely regrettable that Deputy McCartan finds great amusement any time I attempt to raise this issue in this House. Perhaps it is in keeping with the policy of The Workers' Party that people should be suppressed by Communist regimes.
We must not personalise matters, Deputy.
It is about the umpteenth time I have noticed this sniggering attitude. Has the Minister, in his capacity as President of the European Council of Foreign Ministers, or as Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, at any time in recent months, publicly or privately, given support and encouragement to the Lithuanian Government elected by popular vote?
I have had no meeting with any of the representatives of the Lithuanian Government. I have had no indirect communication with them. I might say that, on any occasion that this subject is discussed between the Twelve, with regard to the matter of European political co-operation — we are fully briefed on the Lithuanian position by Foreign Ministers who live quite close to Lithuania, in particular by the Danish Foreign Minister, Mr. Elleman Jensen. I might also say to Deputy Deasy that, after our most recent discussion on the question — when I said that our Ambassador conveyed our message to the Soviets in Moscow — on that occasion also the Danish Foreign Minister was asked to convey, on behalf of the Twelve, our views on the issue to the Lithuanians.
In view of the fact that the American President met the Lithuanian Prime Minister as late as last week, would the Minister — in his capacity as President of the European Council — consider that he might do likewise and appraise us of the position from the Lithuanian point of view?
That is something I would be prepared to consider and, having done so, I will advise the Deputy of my intentions.
——because time is running out.
I wanted to take the matter somewhat further and ask the Minister, as the most senior Foreign Minister in the Community at present, whether he would offer himself as an arbitrator to assist in resolving the problem in Lithuania because he has, a number of times today, for example, espoused the democratic will of the Cambodian people. Therefore the Minister has to cease playing a passive role and perhaps offer himself as someone who can be taken seriously——
He could bring Mr. Brooke along as an adviser.
——rather than continuing to say that he speaks on behalf of all the others. Would the Minister not take the initiative and offer himself as an arbitrator?
That is a matter worthy of consideration.
Given his statement that the Government did not recognise the annexation of Lithuania in 1940, would the Minister confirm whether the Government now accord either de facto or de jure recognition to the present Government of Lithuania which has been declared an independent state?
We have a deep understanding of and sympathy with the wish of the people of Lithuania to gain independence. We are firmly of the view that discussions should start as soon as possible between Moscow and Vilnius to reach agreement on the future status of Lithuania, and the question of recognition does not arise at this stage.
May I ask the Minister——
Order. May I say, Deputies, that we have made very little progress at questions today.
Is the Minister sidetracking the question I asked?
Order, please.
The Minister sidetracked that question and I want to ask him which country——
Deputy Taylor, I am on my feet. The Deputy will resume his seat. I was about to say that we have only disposed of eight questions in an hour. That is simply not good enough for Members of this House.
May I ask a brief supplementary?
This highlights the need for a committee to discuss these matters.
The Minister did not answer my question of whether he accords de jure or de facto recognition to the Government of Lithuania. Would he say what his relationship with the present Government of Lithuania is and which country does the Government deal with as the appropriate government authority for the country of Lithuania? Is it the Soviet Union or the present Government in Lithuania? Would he tell us which one it is?
I have already indicated to the Deputy and the other Members of this House that we do not have direct contact with Vilnius and that the views of the Twelve have been or will be made known to the Lithuanians by those partners who have had or will have occasion to meet them. I think I have already answered Deputy Taylor's supplementary question of whether or not the Government recognise the Republic of Lithuania.
May I ask——
Let us proceed to another question. Question No. 9, please. Let the Chair be obeyed at some stage during Question Time.
I only wanted to ask a brief question.