Trevor Sargent
Ceist:6 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with the President of the Palestinian authority, Mr. Yasser Arafat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12047/99]
Written Answers. - Official Engagements.
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:7 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his meeting on 3 May 1999 with the President of the Palestinian authority, Mr. Yasser Arafat; the matters discussed; and the conclusions, if any, reached. [12059/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.
I met the President of the Palestinian National Authority, Mr. Yasser Arafat, in Dublin on Monday, 3 May. The visit was part of an extensive tour of capitals which Mr. Arafat is undertaking. He was accompanied by the Palestinian National Authority Minister for Planning and International Co-operation, Mr. Nabil Shaath, and the Minister for Information and Culture, Mr. Abdar Rabbo. I had a brief private meeting with President Arafat followed by a working dinner where we were joined by the Minister for the Marine, Deputy Woods.
We discussed the current state of the Middle East Peace Process. President Arafat informed me that the Palestinian National Authority is now awaiting the outcome of the Israeli elections. When the elections are over and whatever the results, President Arafat expects that international pressure, particularly from the US, would be put on Israel to meet its obligations. President Arafat believes that President Clinton is personally committed to solving the impasse arising from the non-implementation of the Wye Agreement. I expressed the hope that the peace process would be revived as quickly as possible after the formation of the new Israeli Government. I reaffirmed to President Arafat that together with our partners in the European Union, Ireland remained fully supportive of the peace process and would continue to press for the immediate implementation of the Wye Agreement.
We discussed the terms of the declaration made by the European Council in Berlin on 24-25 March. President Arafat indicated that this was extremely important in the deliberations of the central committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation which resulted in the deferral of the decision to declare an independent Palestinian state. I informed President Arafat that I had strongly supported the EU declaration and welcomed this decision which was a tribute to his skilful leadership.
President Arafat also outlined continuing Israeli practices in relation to, for instance, trade, free movement of individuals, access to water and the expansion of Israeli settlements.
I informed President Arafat that the Irish Government is proposing to establish a representative office in Ramallah and that all necessary arrangements would be made to give effect to this. In the context of the representative office, we discussed Irish aid levels to Palestine. Ireland is currently operating an aid programme of about £2 million a year in the occupied territories. I also briefed President Arafat on Ireland's SECCO campaign. While the Palestinian National Authority has no vote in the elections, its support for our campaign would be very beneficial among its Arab neighbours.
I was happy to accept President Arafat's invitation to become a member of the Bethlehem 2000 Committee. I intend that my membership will signal support for what will be a major world religious and cultural event.
I also took the opportunity to brief President Arafat on the latest position in the Northern Ireland peace process.