Conor Lenihan
Ceist:119 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the recent Wye River Agreement between Israel and Palestine. [22820/98]
Written Answers. - Wye River Agreement.
Conor Lenihan
Ceist:120 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the action, if any, the Government and the EU should take to ensure the implementation of the recent Wye River Agreement between Palestine and Israel. [22821/98]
Conor Lenihan
Ceist:121 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will meet the Palestinian representative to Ireland and reassure him of Ireland's support for the Wye River Agreement. [22822/98]
Conor Lenihan
Ceist:122 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will meet the Israeli Ambassador to reinforce Irish support for the recent Wye River Agreement and our shared determination to see it fully implemented. [22823/98]
Conor Lenihan
Ceist:123 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will give full diplomatic recognition to Palestine in view of the recent Wye River Agreement and the recent vote at the United Nations General Assembly. [22824/98]
I wish to take Questions Nos. 119, 120, 121, 122 and 123 together.
As I indicated in my reply of 5 November to another question on this subject, the Government greatly welcomes the agreement concluded at Wye, Maryland on 23 October and wishes to congratulate all those involved including in particular President Clinton. I have conveyed my views both to the Israeli Ambassador and to the Palestinian Delegate-General.
At the General Affairs Council yesterday, the issue of the role of the European Union in the implementation of the Wye Agreement was discussed in depth. The current extensive aid programme was reviewed and views exchanged on how to make it more effective. The Council also addressed the issue of the Ministerial donor Conference to be held at Washington on 30 November and how the Union can best contribute to its success. I wish to assure the House that I intend that Ireland, both nationally and as a member of the Union, will play a full and active role in the implementation process.
It is important that progress is now made in the negotiations on the wide range of issues in the peace process which remain outstanding, especially those on final status issues. The question of giving full diplomatic recognition to Palestine will be addressed, in conjunction with our EU partners, in this context.