Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 6 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 1

Written Answers - United States' Arms Sales.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

60 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he took the opportunity during President Clinton's visit to urge him to reduce United States arms sales, particularly to areas of conflict namely Turkey, Israel and Egypt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2374/96]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

President Clinton's visit to Ireland did not provide me with a suitable opportunity for substantive discussion of international issues.

The Government's concern about the effect of excessive arms exports, to developing countries as well as to regions of tension, is well understood by the international community including the United States. The Government attaches great importance to the eight common criteria which were identified by the European Councils of Luxembourg in 1991 and Lisbon in 1992 as the basis of the national arms export policies of EU member states. The common criteria relate to factors such as the respect for international commitments and for human rights, the existence of tensions or conflict and the risk that arms or equipment would be diverted or re-exported under undesirable conditions. The common criteria form the basis of a set of principles on conventional arms exports to which all OSCE countries, including the United States, have subscribed. At the United Nations, Ireland is continuing its effort to broaden the political acceptance of certain principles which we think should apply in the field of international arms transfers.

Under the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, member states are encouraged to inform and consult each other increasingly on matters of arms export policy. They are endeavouring to build a shared understanding of the application of the common criteria with a view to developing more effective controls on the export of arms from EU countries. In this context, Ireland's overriding concern is the promotion of responsibility and restraint in the matter of arms exports, especially to developing countries. We are in favour of reducing over-armament through restraint in all conventional arms transfers. However, conventional arms transfers are seen by certain other countries as legitimate instruments in the service of broad foreign policy goals, with particular reference to regional peace and stability.

I am pleased to note that, with strong US support, work is at an advanced stage on a new co-operative arrangement, to be known as the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies. The participants in the Wassenaar Agreement, which include the world's major arms producers, will seek to ensureinter alia, that their transfers of arms and dual use goods do not contribute to military capabilities which undermine regional and international peace and security.