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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 18 Nov 1993

Vol. 435 No. 11

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Former Yugoslavia Conflict.

Nora Owen

Ceist:

2 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs , in relation to Bosnia, the form the substantial contribution to the implementation of a peace plan and support for humanitarian action, as referred to in the Taoiseach's speech on the Summit Meeting of 29 October 1993, will take; and the action, if any EC countries will take to ensure that food and medicine now in warehouses in Bosnia will get safe passage to the people in need.

Martin Cullen

Ceist:

12 Mr. Cullen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement concerning recent developments in Bosnia Hercegovina; the prospects for peace in this area; the steps, if any, the Government are taking to bring about a peaceful termination of the dispute in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Peadar Clohessy

Ceist:

29 Mr. Clohessy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement concerning recent developments in Bosnia Hercegovina; the prospects for peace in this area; the steps, if any, the Government are taking to bring about a peaceful termination of the dispute in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Helen Keogh

Ceist:

31 Ms Keogh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement concerning recent developments in Bosnia Hercegovina; the prospects for peace in this area; the steps, if any, the Government are taking to bring about a peaceful termination of the dispute in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

53 Mr. Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has satisfied himself with the efforts of the European Community to encourage a settlement of the war in Bosnia; if he has further satisfied himself with the level of delivery of aid to besieged and displaced people in the former Yugoslavia; and his views on the suggestion that the Government does not appear to have a coherent policy on the conflicts in the Balkan States but has acquiesced with the views of other EC states on these conflicts.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2, 12, 29, 31 and 53 together.

I am deeply concerned about the conflict in Bosnia-Hercegovina, the continuing fighting in Croatia and the possibilities for an overspill of conflict in the Yugoslav region generally. I wish again to underline the imperative need to bring peace to Bosnia, particularly with the onset of winter, and to improve the level of distribution of aid to its inhabitants. These priorities were clearly signalled by the European Council at its special meeting on 29 October.

Since the outbreak of conflict in former Yugoslavia the Government has been fully engaged in the international effort through the European Community, the CSCE and the UN to bring peace to the region and to support the victims of war. We have also undertaken a major programme of humanitarian assistance in support of refugees and displaced persons.

Practical efforts by the European Community and its member states to bring about a settlement have focused on the promotion of a negotiated settlement through the International Conference on former Yugoslavia, chaired by David Owen and Thorvald Stoltenberg; participation, by more than 14,000 personnel from EC member states, in the UN peacekeeping force and the EC monitor mission, to create the conditions necessary for a settlement; the application of sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro and practical support for the CSCE sanctions assistance missions which help states in the region enforce these measures; and humanitarian assistance to the victims of the conflict. To date, 700 MECU has been contributed, some 60-70 per cent of the total international aid effort.

A settlement in Bosnia, vitally urgent in itself, is the key to a settlement for the Yugoslav region. Peace in Bosnia will give momentum to the efforts of the conference co-chairmen to find a political solution to the dangerous situation in Croatia and the Kosovo region in Serbia. Only an overall political settlement will make it possible for refugees and displaced persons to return in safety to their homes.

A peace package for Bosnia was elaborated by the parties under the auspices of the co-chairmen over the summer period. It has been accepted in large measure by the three Bosnian parties. Disagreement regarding the size of the territory to be assigned to the Muslim majority republic within a Bosnian union has, however, brought the negotiations to an impasse.

The declaration adopted by the European Council, at its special meeting on 29 October, appealed to the parties to resume negotiations. In response to the deterioration in the humanitarian situation and the possibility of a human catastrophe during the winter, the European Council adopted guidelines for a European Union joint action to support the conveying of humanitarian aid in Bosnia. The Council of Ministers, on 8 November, adopted detailed provisions on this joint action, one of the first to be undertaken under the Common Foreign and Security provisions of the Treaty on European Union.

The joint action aims to intensify the effort to relieve the suffering of the Bosnian people. Central to this will be an increase in the financing for UNHCR, the leading humanitarian relief agency. A major effort will be made to identify and to ensure the protection of key supply routes. The modalities for the reopening of Tuzla and Mostar airports are to be examined. The possibilities for the reinforcement of the UN peacekeeping force, UNPROFOR, with a view to enabling it to discharge its tasks in Bosnia more effectively, are being examined by member states.

In parallel with the joint action on the convoying of humanitarian aid, the European Union is continuing to make a determined effort to encourage the parties to resume the negotiations on the peace package for Bosnia, including the territorial aspects.

The implementation of the peace plan for Bosnia will require a major effort by the international community. A substantial role is provided for the European Union in the draft agreements. This includes supervision of initial elections in each of the constituent republics, the administration of Mostar and assisting the UN in the supervision of the disarmament process. The European Union will also contribute to the reconstruction of Bosnia through financial, economic and technical assistance.

I thank the Tánaiste for his very comprehensive reply. Is he aware that a major effort has to be made to bring humanitarian aid to the thousands of refugees, many of whom are living rough, in the snow? Can he confirm the information I received this morning from the Bosnian information centre in London that many tonnes of food are in warehouses and cannot be distributed to the people who need it? What action will the Tánaiste take to ensure that the food is distributed? Will he put pressure on our European Union partners to put pressure on the Serbs and Croats to open the northern routes. The Bosnians have told me that they believe food is being used as a political weapon to get them to agree to a peace agreement.

I am unable to comment on any report the Deputy may have received in the past number of hours. However she passes on the information to my office I will have the matter examined. Obviously the situation in regard to humanitarian aid is verging on the catastrophic and everything possible has to be done to get this aid to the refugees. That was the view taken at the recent Foreign Ministers meeting. This matter will again be discussed at our meeting next Monday, at which stage we will get a progress report. It would be totally unacceptable if, as the Deputy said, food was being used as a barter to bring the negotiations to a conclusion. I will investigate the position and report to the Deputy.

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