Vol. 516 No. 5
66 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the representations, if any, he has made to the Turkish authorities regarding the death sentence on the Kurdish leader, Abdullah Öcalan, whose sentence was recently upheld by the Turkish Supreme Court; the response, if any, he has received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8472/00]
74 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions, if any, he has had on the human rights situation and related matters in Turkey. [8299/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 74 together.
The decision by Turkey's Appeals Court on 25 November 1999 to uphold the death sentence against Abdullah Öcalan led to widespread international appeals, including by the European Union, to spare Mr. Öcalan's life. The Turkish Government decided on 12 January to postpone the transmission of Mr. Öcalan's case to the Turkish Parliament until the European Court of Human Rights had completed its consideration of the case. It is understood that this process may take up to 18 months.
The Government strongly supports the appeals to Turkey not to execute Mr. Öcalan, and our view has been put to the Turkish authorities on numerous occasions, both bilaterally and on the occasion of EU-Turkey contacts. In this regard, the former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Andrews, communicated our views directly to the then speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly during his visit to Dublin last March. He responded to our concerns positively. I am following proceedings in the Öcalan case with the closest attention, and will avail of an early opportunity to reiterate Ireland's opposition to the use of the death penalty in this and in all other cases, directly to the Turkish authorities.
The Government also continues to follow closely the general situation of human rights in Turkey. Although I have not yet had an opportunity to meet my Turkish opposite number, I am looking forward to an early meeting and in the meantime I have instructed the Irish Ambassador in Ankara to ensure that I am kept fully up to date with recent developments. In this regard Ireland, together with EU partners, was seriously concerned at the recent arrest and imprisonment of three mayors from the pro-Kurdish People's Democracy Party (HADEP). The Government welcomes their release from prison and reinstatement to office and will continue to monitor developments.
69 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised the continuing executions and amputations in Saudi Arabia with the government there. [8304/00]
The Government has made clear our total opposition to the use of the death penalty in all cases. Its abolition contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and the progressive development of human rights.
Sharia, the law of the land in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, permits corporal and capital punishment. The Saudi Arabian authorities interpret the universal concept of human rights through the principles of Islam. Public criticism of Islam, including the Sharia law, is strictly prohibited.
In our ongoing contacts with the authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ireland and our EU partners have conveyed our views on this matter, and impressed upon them the negative impact which such practices have on public perceptions.
This is judged to be the approach most likely to be accorded serious consideration.
71 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Columbia, particularly outlining the steps being taken by the international community to assist with bringing paramilitary and related murder to an end. [8308/00]
Last October, the President of Colombia, Mr. Andrés Pastrana, travelled to Europe to explain his country's peace process and to outline his intentions for the "Plan Colombia", which will be designed to provide the economic and social underpinning for the peace process. When he addressed the European Parliament, and again when he met with Commissioner Chris Patten, President Pastrana indicated that once the peace process had got successfully under way, he would spell out the details of the kind of support Colombia would wish the European Union to provide.
Since President Pastrana's European visit, the peace process has suffered some setbacks but there have been hopeful signs also. These have included a temporary ceasefire in December by the main guerilla group, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), continued contacts since between the two sides, and the dispatch to Europe last month by the Colombian Government of a delegation which included both Government and FARC representatives. This delegation held discussions with a number of European governments, as well as other economic and social interlocutors in order to explore the ways in which the experience of other countries might offer suggestions as to how Colombia could shape a socio-economic model to marry economic growth with social justice. Recent media reports indicate moves towards involving right-wing paramilitary groups in the peace efforts, with proposals from the paramilitary United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) to scale back their attacks on rebel groups in return for a place at the talks table.
It is to be hoped that these contacts will shortly bear fruit and bring to an end the plight of the people of Colombia who have been the long-suffering victims of violence inflicted by all sides. The violence of the left-wing insurgent groups in Colombia, including the FARC and the National Liberation Army (ELN) is matched by that of the right-wing paramilitaries (often associated with the official security forces). These protagonists have shown equal indifference to the plight of the civilian population, to whom no immunity is extended.
As President Pastrana himself acknowledged in his speech to the European Parliament, breaches of human rights by agents of the state are especially abhorrent. The Colombian government is aware of the particular concern expressed by the Irish Government and its EU partners on that score. President Pastrana has established a special committee to expedite investigations into human rights violations as part of a new, integrated human rights strategy. He has also accepted the help of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs. Mary Robinson, in establishing a national plan for human rights. In addition to the presence in Bogota of an office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Secretary-General has appointed Mr. Jan Egelund as a special representative dealing with the peace process in Colombia.
