Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.
Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:
47
Mr. Gilmore
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the representations, if any, which have been made to the Russian authorities regarding reported attacks by Russian military forces on Chechnyan civilians; his views or the proposals, if any, he has for the imposition of sanctions, having regard to the reported abuses of human rights by Russian troops; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4320/00]
Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:
51
Mr. Gilmore
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the steps, if any, he is taking unilaterally or through the EU or the UN to secure an end to the conflict between Russia and Chechnya and to promote a peaceful settlement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[4319/00]
Gay Mitchell
Ceist:
72
Mr. G. Mitchell
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will make a statement on the situation in Chechnya; and the steps, if any, he has taken to end hostilities there.
[4273/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 51 and 72 together.
I am deeply concerned at developments in Chechnya and the failure of the Russian authorities to bring the conflict to a peaceful end.
Since early September last year Russian forces have been carrying out a military campaign in Chechnya, following incursions by Chechen rebels into neighbouring Dagestan and a spate of bomb attacks in Russia blamed on the rebels. The mountainous terrain of southern Chechnya is now under Russian air attack, as a prelude to a ground offensive there against Chechen rebels. The capital city, Grozny, has been in Russian hands since 6 February, and Russia has said that military operations in Chechnya will end within a month. Heavy casualties have been suffered by both sides, but independently verified figures are not available. According to the UNHCR, 170,000 displaced people are still in the neighbouring Russian Republic of Ingushetia. Russia has said that 150,000 people have returned to Chechnya, since Russia took control of the northern territories and that about 500 people are returning daily.
The Government recognises the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation and the need to deal with terrorism. However, the loss of civilian life, reported human rights abuses and the plight of internally displaced persons are matters of the utmost concern. The Government has allocated £220,000 in humanitarian assistance to Chechen internally displaced persons. This allocation will augment Ireland's share of the European Union aid package of 1.2 million. The EU remains ready to intensify its relief efforts as soon as the obstacles to a speedy, efficient and safe delivery of aid to civilians are removed.
Ireland's concerns about the situation in Chechnya have been made known to the Russian authorities on numerous occasions and at the highest level. The Taoiseach expressed our views directly to President Yeltsin on the occasion of the OSCE summit in Istanbul in November. On 8 December my predecessor, Deputy Andrews, called in the Russian ambassador. On 14 January, Deputy Andrews went to Moscow to meet Foreign Minister Ivanov. Minister Ivanov agreed that there had been human rights abuses on both sides and that Russia would have to do everything possible to correct this situation.
I am particularly concerned about recent reports of summary executions by Russian soldiers, and the reported handing over of Russian journalist, Andrei Babitsky, supposedly with his consent, to alleged Chechen rebels in exchange for Russian soldiers. Today in my capacity as chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, I have issued a statement expressing the Council's profound concern and urging the Russian authorities to investigate immediately these disturbing reports.
Since the outbreak of the conflict, the international organisations have been actively trying to promote a peaceful settlement. In the context of Ireland's chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Ireland is working actively to promote proposals for a human rights ombudsman and a conference on democratic infrastructure in Chechnya. In January this year, the Council's Parliamentary Assembly voted to postpone until April consideration of a motion to suspend Russia. A series of fact finding and monitoring visits by the Parliamentary Assembly is in preparation to take place before the next part session of the Assembly in April. The OSCE has deployed monitors on the border between Georgia and Chechnya, with the aim of preventing any conflict spillover. On 28 January UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, travelled to Moscow for a meeting with Acting President Putin, to stress the need for peace talks.
The European Union has also been active in trying to press Russia to move towards a political solution. Since the Helsinki European Council, the EU has applied the following measures: (i) the suspension of the signature of the EU – Russia Science and Technology Agreement; (ii) the redrafting and reducing of presidency planned activities under the Russia Common Strategy; (iii) preliminary moves towards imposing quotas on steel imports where Russia is viewed to be in breach of existing agreements; (iv) the slowing down of internal preparations of the TACIS aid programme for Russia, and, (v) the Commission's decision not to carry over unspent Russia food aid funds of 30 million euros from 1999 to 2000.
EU Foreign Ministers meeting on 24 January instructed the Commission to re-focus the TACIS 2000 aid programme towards programmes for democracy and the rule of law and transfer uncommitted balances to humanitarian aid. In addition, Ministers agreed to suspend consideration of extending additional trade preferences to Russia under the Generalised System of Preferences – GSP. The question of additional measures is being kept under review.
The General Affairs Council on 14 February re-iterated its call on Russia to take immediate steps towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict. It reminded Russia of the importance of avoiding any spill-over of the conflict and of its heavy responsibility for addressing the deteriorating humanitarian situation. It stressed the importance of freedom of information and the media and expressed its profound concern regarding the fate of the missing Russian journalist Andrei Babitsky.
The Government continues to work actively, both bilaterally and with EU partners, to try to persuade Russia to use the OSCE and the Council of Europe to bring about a political resolution of the conflict and establish lasting democratic structures in Chechnya.
48.
Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's view 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. [4329/00]
Monica Barnes
Ceist:
84
Mrs. Barnes
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he has made the concerns of the Government on the continuing massacres in the Democratic Republic of Congo known to the authorities there.
[4277/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 84 together.
The Government remains deeply concerned at the slow pace of implementation of the 1999 Lusaka Agreement, as well as the serious outbreaks of violence reported in the country. Together with our EU partners, we continue to bring our concerns about these issues to the attention of the authorities concerned.
The Lusaka Agreement was signed by the Governments of the six countries involved in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including Uganda, Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo itself and by two rebel groups, the MLC, Movement for the Liberation of Congo, and the RDC, Congolese Rally for Democracy. Together with our EU partners, we consider the agreement continues to offer the only realistic prospect of lasting peace and security in the region.
We have urged all parties to fully abide by the agreement, and we continue to encourage the UN and the OAU to make all necessary efforts to support its implementation. We have underlined our readiness to provide full political, diplomatic and resource support for the process, provided that the parties show the necessary political will. The Irish Government has also given financial assistance through a donation of £40,000 to the joint military commission, established under the terms of the agreement.
We will continue to support the work of the EU Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region, Mr. Aldo Ajello, who is actively pursuing the Union's objectives through his direct contacts with the UN, the Organisation of African Unity, regional leaders and other key figures. The EU also supports the holding, at an appropriate time, of an international conference on peace, security and development in the Great Lakes Region as a means of ensuring lasting stability.
