Vol. 474 No. 5
18 Miss Quill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will press for the reintroduction of economic sanctions against Serbia in view of its failure to respect human rights and in view of the action of the Milosevic regime in cancelling the results of elections within Serbia, which were unfavourable to this regime. [3342/97]
Ireland and her partners in the European Union have been actively seeking to promote an early and peaceful solution to the current crisis in Serbia. I have availed of all appropriate opportunities, including contacts with the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, to press the authorities in Belgrade to observe democratic norms, especially with regard to the electoral process, show full respect for human and minority rights, and refrain from the use of force.
The European Union has fully endorsed the conclusions and recommendations of the report prepared by the OSCE mission led by Mr. Felipé Gonzalez, which visited Serbia on 20 and 21 December 1996. We have consistently stated it is essential that the FRY authorities accept those conclusions and recommendations in their entirety. We have called on the FRY to pursue reform directed towards full democratisation and liberalisation of the political and economic system, in dialogue with the opposition. I was particularly appalled by the further violence in recent days when the authorities once again attempted to deny the people's rights of peaceful protest and which resulted in a number of civilians being injured. The Government condemns such brutal police action in the strongest possible terms.
Our action has not, however, been limited to statements of condemnation and disapproval. Under the Irish Presidency, in December, the European Union decided to defer the extension of trade preferences to the FRY, in the light of the recent events in Serbia. The Dublin European Council reaffirmed that respect for democratic norms, human and minority rights, including the granting of a large degree of autonomy to Kosovo, will be key factors in determining the European Union's future relationship with the FRY and its further integration in the international community. The Union is continuing to withhold its agreement to the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the EU and the FRY.
Finally, we have seen reports from Belgrade on 4 February that President Milosevic has given in to the intense international pressure and issued instructions that the results of the 17 November elections should be reinstated. I welcome this, but with some caution. It appears that special legislation will need to be passed by parliament to implement the decision, so the process may take days if not weeks. Furthermore, we have no indications as yet that these measures will address the fundamental flaws in the electoral process which led to the original fraud. We will continue to insist that wide-ranging democratic reforms must be carried out. The economic and social, as well as the political system of Serbia are in urgent need of change. There must be safeguards for independent media and a guaranted right of unhindered, peaceful opposition protest. There are also other unresolved issues which must be addressed, including the question of the status of Kosovo and human and minority rights throughout the FRY, including also in Vojvodina and Sandzak. The situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and the means which the EU has at its disposal to respond to it, will remain under active and ongoing consideration within the Fifteen, and Ireland will continue to advocate a strong and unequivocal stance in this regard.
