Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Dec 2000

Vol. 528 No. 1

Written Answers. - Human Rights.

Austin Deasy

Ceist:

98 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current position with regard to human rights in the Ukraine; if the Council of Europe is satisfied with the performance of the Ukraine Government in this area; if not, the pressure being brought to bear on the Ukraine authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29323/00]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

The Government is following closely developments in regard to human rights in Ukraine. The Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe are also monitoring the implementation by Ukraine of its human rights and other commitments made upon Ukraine's accession to the Council of Europe.

Ukraine has achieved progress in a number of areas. It has become a signatory to important Council of Europe conventions. It has abolished the death penalty. It has adopted a new consti tution and a new law on the election of the president. However, certain issues have been identified as requiring further attention. These include a clear separation between the judicial, legislative and executive powers, and the adoption of new civil and criminal codes as well as legislation on local self government. The Venice Commission, a specialised organ of the Council of Europe, with expertise in the field of constitutional law, continues its assistance and co-operation with the Ukrainian Parliament, the Office of the President and the Ukrainian Constitutional Court in the ongoing constitutional and legal reform process in Ukraine.

In the field of press and media freedom, the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly has expressed concern regarding the case of the disappearance of a Ukrainian journalist, Georgiy Gongadze. Its committee on press and media freedoms is to discuss this issue with representatives of the relevant Ukrainian authorities. The outcome of this exchange will inform the assembly's next report on the honouring of obligations and commitments by Ukraine. This report is currently under preparation for debate by the assembly at its session in April 2001.

Ireland will continue to actively monitor the situation in regard to this issue. We will also continue to give every encouragement possible to Ukraine to assist it in making further progress in the important area of human rights reform.