John Bruton
Ceist:3 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the ASEM III summit in Seoul on 21 and 22 October 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24139/00]
Ceisteanna–Questions. - Official Engagements.
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:4 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Taoiseach the official engagements he undertook on his recent visit to South Korea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24141/00]
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:5 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his meeting with the Chinese Premier, Mr. Rongji, when he met him in Seoul while attending the ASEM summit. [24524/00]
Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:6 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the ASEM summit in Korea; the other political leaders he met in Korea; the matters discussed during his visit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25516/00]
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:7 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the ASEM III summit. [27537/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 7, inclusive, together.
As I stated in the House on 26 October, I attended the third Asia-Europe meeting, or ASEM III, which took place in Seoul, Korea, from 19 to 21 October. I was accompanied by the Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Deputy Ó Cuív, who was deputising for the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
During the three closed sessions of the summit, leaders considered a range of topics related to the three strands of the ASEM process, namely, the promotion of political dialogue, economic and financial co-operation and co-operation in the cultural, educational, social and people to people fields. Leaders also discussed the future of ASEM at a working lunch between sessions on Friday, 20 October.
During the summit, discussions naturally focused on developments on the Korean peninsula, and President Kim's recent award of the Nobel Peace Prize. While the dialogue between North and South was warmly welcomed, President Kim indicated that the greatest challenges remain ahead. As I informed the House on 26 October, copies of the Declaration for Peace in the Korean Peninsula, agreed by leaders at the summit, together with the chairman's statement summarising the conclusions of the summit and the Asia-Europe Co-operation Framework 2000 agreed at the summit, have been placed in the Oireachtas Library.
Regional security issues were discussed during the first session, on political dialogue, with developments in the western Balkans and the recent appointment of President Kostunica in the for mer Republic of Yugoslavia, being of particular interest to our Asian partners.
There was also a lengthy discussion on human rights. I pointed out that Ireland and the EU are fully committed to upholding the rights of the individual and, in particular, the fundamental rights of freedom of expression, association and religion. I also noted that we do not believe the enjoyment of these rights is dependent on the attainment of a particular level of socio-economic development by a state, but rather that they are the absolute minimum, to which all human beings are entitled.
In discussions on the UN, I restated Ireland's support of Secretary General Annan's reform efforts. I noted also that the reform should be about making the UN more effective in the economic, social, humanitarian and other fields, and cannot simply be about cost cutting. I reaffirmed my belief that there is a need for the provision of increased levels of development assistance by wealthy nations.
During the session on economic co-operation, the main discussions focused on multi-lateralism and the WTO, the knowledge based society, the impact of globalisation, the current price of oil, e-commerce and the Internet. It was clear from discussions that the majority of Asian countries present have made significant recoveries from the financial crisis over the past two years and are looking to the future with much greater optimism. We considered the possible measures which could be adopted to sustain long-term economic stability and prevent a recurrence of such economic crises, and also the role that the IMF can play in this regard.
In the final working session, discussions focused on co-operation in cultural and other fields. I reminded leaders that Ireland was pleased to have had the opportunity to host the fourth Asia-Europe Young Leaders Symposium earlier this year in Limerick. I indicated also that under our Asia Strategy, Ireland will continue working to develop closer links in the educational and cultural area, in addition to building links in the trade, investment and economic fields.
I had informal discussions with all the Asian leaders during the ASEM summit. I took the opportunity to thank those members who expressed support for Ireland during our recent campaign for election to the UN Security Council. I also congratulated Prime Minister Goh, on Singapore's election to the Council.
I had a brief meeting with the Prime Minister Mr. Blair on Friday, 20 October when we discussed the ongoing work by officials in Dublin, London and Belfast, particularly in relation to the Ulster Unionist Council meeting of Saturday, 28 October.
I was particularly pleased to have an opportunity for a frank and informal discussion with President Wahid of Indonesia on the margins of the summit. He informed me of a new and ambitious plan to resolve the crisis of refugees in West Timor. President Wahid, together with the East Timorese leader, Mr. Xanana Gusmao, and Mr. Sergio de Mello, the UN head of administration in East Timor, will visit one of the largest refugee camps in West Timor. President Wahid informed me that he intends to initiate a registration procedure, whereby refugees in West Timor will be asked if they wish to return to East Timor. Under his plan, those wishing to return will be given protection and secure passage home, while those who opt to stay in West Timor, will be moved to more appropriate and secure accommodation. I welcomed the President's plans and raised with him the need for early disarming and disbanding of militias in the area. I also assured him of our support to promote peace and stability throughout the region. I have asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen to monitor developments in this regard but unfortunately I must report that in a recent briefing given by Mr. Sergio de Mello in Geneva he indicated that, while he welcomed the thrust of President Wahid's proposals as outlined to me in Seoul, he was unaware of concrete steps having been taken to implement these proposals.
I also had a formal bilateral meeting with Premier Zhu Rongji of China. Premier Zhu congratulated me on Ireland's election to the UN Security Council and indicated that China looked forward to working closely with us over the next two years. I thanked him for the hospitality and warm welcome afforded to the Tánaiste, and the trade delegation that accompanied her, during her recent visit to China. I invited Premier Zhu to visit Ireland.
At my meeting with President Kim, we discussed developments on the Korean peninsula. I encouraged President Kim to pursue his policy of openness and dialogue. The House will be aware that a small number of EU member states indicated their intention at ASEM, to establish diplomatic relations with North Korea. There are, however, aspects of North Korea which remain of concern to us and other member states, particularly in the area of human rights. Accordingly, while I look forward to the eventual establishment of diplomatic relations, quantifiable progress will have to be made in a number of areas, particularly in human rights and non-proliferation, before any decision can be taken. I also took the opportunity to invite President Kim to Ireland.
Together with the Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Deputy Ó Cuív, I attended a formal dinner hosted by President Kim Dae-jung on Friday evening. This afforded me an opportunity to have informal discussions with each of the Asian leaders and to raise Ireland's Asia strategy with them.
Following the conclusion of the summit, I addressed a lunch attended by senior representatives of the Korean business and academic community, and members of the Irish community living in Korea. A copy of my speech has been placed in the Oireachtas Library. I was especially pleased to be able to mark the occasion of the first visit to Korea by an Irish Taoiseach, by announcing a substantial donation of books to Kyung Hee University by the Department of Foreign Affairs. I also visited a language workshop organised by M.E.I. Relsa, launched a Korean language brochure on studying English in Ireland and attended the signing of an agreement between Changwon University and Trinity College Dublin.
Much of this ground has already been covered in debate. Did the Taoiseach raise with the Chinese leaders the position of the 10 million Roman Catholics in China who, because they continue to owe spiritual allegiance to the Pope, are not treated properly, are isolated in various ways and are subject to discrimination?
We covered a number of issues. The issue of religious persecution in general had been highlighted during that week, particularly with regard to a church which had been organising on the Internet. The view of the Premier Zhu Rongji was that the Chinese authorities have no wish to suppress religious groups and are prepared to move on religious and human rights freedoms in areas where they see no threat to the regime. They do not regard Catholicism as a threat but, unfortunately, all religious groups appear to be treated in the same way. There is major suppression of religious groups.
Two years ago when I was in China I met Catholic priests who are still operating underground and are unable to say daily Mass. They were in great fear of travelling to meet me and careful arrangements had to be made for that. While I did not have lengthy discussions with Premier Zhu, I asked some of the officials to explain the reason for suppressing religion. They continually referred to the organisation which operates on the Internet and which they saw as a great threat. They did not distinguish between the Catholic Church and other groups.
I compliment the Taoiseach on meeting the Chinese priests. It is greatly to his credit that he did so.
Does the Taoiseach agree that, in a misreading of history, the Chinese see Christian churches as precursors of colonialism? This is a completely out of date view of what Christian churches are trying to do in places like China. The Chinese must realise that this is a purely spiritual enterprise which has nothing to do with politics. I hope the Taoiseach will continue to take initiatives such as that on which I commended him a moment ago.
Earlier this year the Chinese issued a policy document in which they incorporated a threat of force in relation to the integration of Taiwan in China. Did the Taoiseach make it clear to the Chinese Premier that this threat of force is unacceptable to Ireland and the EU?
The Beijing Government has laid down a one China pre-condition for any discussions. Did the Taoiseach make it clear that we do not accept Beijing's interpretation of one China which does not accord with the Taiwanese interpretation, which is one democratic China? Did the Taoiseach make it clear that we are in favour of one democratic China and that this should be the basis of discussions between Beijing and Taipei?
Having spent a number of days anchored off Barrow-in-Furness with a number of Korean nationals aboard the MV Greenpeace, I ask the Taoiseach was the issue of nuclear shipments between Japan and Sellafield, which are of great concern to people in Korea, mentioned at any level during the conference? Was the Prime Minister Mr. Blair involved in any of those discussions, considering the concern about this issue which is common to people in this country and in North and South Korea?
The Taipei and Beijing argument will not progress unless it is taken in the context of one democratic China.
So long as it is one democratic China.
I detect that the earlier threatening noises do not have widespread support. Statements have been made by the Government in Taipei regarding what would be acceptable to it. The Taipei Government has indicated a willingness to move towards the Chinese view of how progress can be made through dialogue. It was the view of the conference that that position will allow more progress to be made. Premier Zhu Rongji is very anxious to make sure that it is done through peace and dialogue and not through any of the earlier hard-line threats. Deputy O'Keeffe knows that over the years when there is any indication from Taipei of an independence stance, a very tough and uncompromising line is taken. This country has always accepted the one China concept down through the decades. That is the only way things will move. Now investments from Taipei all over the region into mainland China are enormous. There has been huge investment and massive growth through the 1990s. Enormous wealth has been created in the Taipei region and it is in their interest as well to try to follow the road of dialogue. If the Deputy was listening, as I was – I did not strongly participate in that discussion for obvious reasons in that there were many to whom it is important – the Deputy would say they were trying to make progress.
On the environment, I do not know if that issue was mentioned, but environmental issues generally were mentioned several times and by several speakers in the course of the conference, including how the seas are used, how industry is developed, the threats, the dangers and the cli matic changes. All these issues were extensively discussed and debated and contributions were made. That was prior to the Hague meeting. Many of the countries were setting out their stalls and the position on which they would move in the Hague, which I am sure they have done.