Vol. 509 No. 6
56 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's views on the continuing conflict in the Congo; the initiatives, if any, the Government is taking or supporting through the EU or the UN to secure an end to the conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20870/99]
90 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current situation in the Great Lakes District of Africa. [20966/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 90 together.
The Government remains deeply concerned at the delays in the implementation of the ceasefire agreement which was signed in Lusaka on 10 July by the governments of the six countries involved in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo – Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The MLC – Movement for the Liberation of Congo – signed the ceasefire agreement on 1 August while a dispute within the RCD – Congolese Rally for Democracy – delayed its signature until 31 August.
I regret to report that the essential requirements for implementation of the agreement have not been fulfilled. For example, the selection of the representatives for the Joint Military Commission has not been completed and the facilitator for the national dialogue has not been agreed upon by all the parties. With our EU partners we have urged all parties to fully abide by the contents and timetable of the agreement and we continue to encourage the UN and the OAU to make all necessary efforts to support the implementation of the agreement.
Ireland, with its EU partners, considers the Lusaka agreement crucial for the restoration of peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the entire Central African region. We have pledged our support to its implementations; to national reconciliation, rehabilitation and democratisation in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and to the process of reintegration of displaced people in the Great Lakes region into their countries of origin. The Government will, with its EU partners, be offering practical support to the implementation of the agreement through EU joint action. We have also underlined our readiness to support the UN and the OAU in the implementation of the peace agreement.
