Vol. 410 No. 2
52 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise the issue of (1) the plight of Mozambican refugees in South Africa and (2) the ongoing destabilisation of Mozambique by South Africa, with President De Klerk, as soon as possible, as people continue to be killed and maimed in this appalling war of de-stabilisation against a neighbouring country by South Africa.
As I have stated in replies to previous questions on the issue of South African support for RENAMO, the South African Government have declared that they no longer provide assistance for RENAMO and we welcome this. On the other hand there remains a concern, that elements inside and outside South Africa, who are not interested in promoting the democratic process in either Mozambique or South Africa are continuing to support RENAMO. I would call again on these elements to cease all such support.
The Government are convinced that the only truly effective means of alleviating the problem of Mozambican refugees would be to end the conflict in Mozambique. Ireland, together with its partners in the Community, has been urging the conflicting parties in Mozambique to work earnestly for national reconciliation. On 27 May 1991, the Community stated its support for the talks process underway, under Italian auspices, between RENAMO and the Government of Mozambique. I hope that as regional tensions ease and as relations between South Africa and its neighbours, and the wider international community, improve, Mozambican refugees will be granted the protection of the UN Commissioner for Refugees.
