asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs to outline the Government's view of the weekend US missile attack on Baghdad; if he considers the attack was justified under the terms of Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations; if he has any information on the safety of any Irish citizens in Iraq; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Private Notice Question. - US Missile Attack on Baghdad.
The Iraqi regime is a dictatorship which has brought great suffering on its own people and to its neighbours. It has consistently defied the resolutions of the Security Council. Its actions in the Gulf area, the invasion of Kuwait, the massive violation of human rights, the brutal treatment of minorities inside Iraq, have resulted in the imposition by the Security Council of severe sanctions. We condemn all forms of terrorism, including any attempt by another country on the life of a former Head of State. Security Council Resolution 687, among other things, obliges Iraq to renounce all acts, methods and practices of terrorism. I understand and share the very great concerns of the American Government and people that any attempt should be made on the life of former President Bush and support the efforts of the US Government to bring the perpetrators to justice. The international community must make it clear that it cannot and will not condone or tolerate State terrorism. Nonetheless I have some concerns about the context in which the weekend attacks on Baghdad have taken place, especially the loss of life.
There is no accurate means of knowing how many Irish citizens might be in Iraq but the number is likely to be very small. My Department is not aware of any Irish citizen having been affected by the weekend's attack on Baghdad.
Does the Minister not agree that expressions of some concern about the weekend's attacks are not adequate to express the concern that many Irish people have articulated about one of the most powerful states in the world launching a missile attack on a city, not only putting at risk the lives of civilians but killing a number of civilians as a result? This is entirely outside the United Nations Charter. The United States has no right under the UN Charter to carry out such an attack. Does he agree that the Irish Government should make a protest in the strongest possible terms to the American Government, as well as raising the matter at United Nations level?
Article 51 of the United Nations Charter permits a State to act in self-defence in the case of an armed attack until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. It is my view that the Security Council has primary responsibility for international peace and security and whenever possible the authorisation of the Security Council should be obtained before military action is taken. I would point out that Resolution 687 — the ceasefire resolution that ended the Gulf War — imposed on Iraq the obligation to renounce all acts of terrorism. From all the information we have received the planned assassination of former President Bush is certainly an example of terrorism. The ceasefire resolution reaffirms Resolution 678, which authorised UN member states to use all necessary means to restore international peace and security.
Does the Minister not agree that Article 51 of the United Nations Charter permits only acts of self-defence outside the scope of UN action on an interim basis and pending the raising of the matter before the Security Council? Can he indicate any basis on which it would have been impossible for the United States to raise the matter at the Security Council before taking military action? Would he not agree that it stretches the term self-defence beyond any recognisable meaning to say that you can launch a missile attack on a built-up area in a city, inevitably causing innocent civilians to lose their lives, as a step in retaliation against a planned but uncompleted act of terrorism which was discovered and which is the subject of pending legal proceedings?
It is not for me to try to interpret why the United States did not go before the Security Council in the first instance and waited until afterwards to explain its actions.
The international community must make it clear that it cannot and will not condone terrorism. The record of the Iraqi regime's assaults on human rights and international security is deplorable. I have expressed my concern at the loss of civilian life at the weekend. Another reason for concern is the fact that the raid was carried out while the suspects are still on trial in Kuwait.
Does the Minister intend to lodge a formal complaint with the US Ambassador in Dublin about the US missile attack which resulted in civilian deaths in Baghdad and does he intend to protest about it at UN level? Will he make it clear that no State, no matter how powerful — if we are to ensure that security is based on law — has the right unilaterally to launch attacks under cover of a United Nations Charter?
It is not my intention to lodge a formal protest but I will have an opportunity this day to inform the American Ambassador, who I am meeting, of my concern. The Government has not made a decision as to what action it will take in relation to the United Nations.
Does the Minister agree that one atrocity does not justify another, even though on many occasions in the past that is what has been happening in the context of Northern Ireland? Does he agree, now that the United Nations is becoming involved in peace enforcement, that had this missile been fired by a soldier wearing the blue beret the moral authority of the UN would slowly disappear?
I can only agree with the view put forward by the Deputy that retaliation does not solve the problem. From our foreign policy point of view we would like to see the peaceful resolution of conflicts. Given the difficulties in the Middle East and the difficulties since the Gulf War ceasefire it is extremely important that all action possible is taken to bring about peaceful resolution to a very serious situation.
The Minister indicated that information had been received that there was a planned attempt on the life of the former President, George Bush. Could he tell the House the source of that information? Will he indicate the weight he gives to that information in terms of the seriousness of the missile attack? Does he believe that it was sufficient to set aside all norms of international law?
I am satisfied that the concern expressed by the American Government in relation to a plotted attempt on the life of former President Bush is a potential act of international terrorism. In this instance we have been satisfied by information available from the United States Government.
The Tánaiste never reveals his sources.