Austin Deasy
Ceist:57 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has lodged a protest with the Albanian Government over the violent treatment there recently of peaceful protestors.
Written Answers. - Albanian Developments.
Enda Kenny
Ceist:58 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he is taking to assist in the granting of freedom of movement of citizens of Albania; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 58 together.
Ireland is fully associated with the Twelve reaction to current developments in Albania. The Twelve are concerned that human rights and the fundamental principles of international law are being violated there. On 5 July the Twelve issued a statement expressing their deep concern at the gravity of the situation which has led to thousands of Albanians seeking refuge in foreign embassies in Tirana.
In this statement, the Twelve "strongly urge the Albanian Government, first, to take the necessary measures to ensure the physical safety of the persons who have taken refuge in embassies, to refrain from reprisals against their families, to allow them to receive such assistance as is necessary and to guarantee their free departure from Albanian territory, and secondly, to respect international law and the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations as regards the inviolability of diplomatic missions."
The statement adds that "moreover, the Twelve express the hope that the Albanian authorities will rapidly adopt the reforms and measures necessary for Albania to become engaged in a process of democratisation bringing about a situation in which human rights are fully respected."
The Twelve recall in the statement that respect for human rights and the principles of international law is an essential condition for the establishment of normal relations with the Community. The statement also makes clear that the events taking place in Tirana are in contradiction with the expressed wish of the Albanian authorities for their country to draw closer to the CSCE process.