Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:271 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the current situation in the Balkans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7421/03]
Written Answers - Foreign Conflicts.
I refer to my reply to Question No. 167 of 5 March 2003.
The past three years have seen consistent progress in the prevention of conflict and the estab lishment of stable democratic structures in the countries of the western Balkans. Progress has been more uneven in the economic and institutional reform process and in the building of stable societies based on respect for human rights and the rule of law. Issues of continuing concern throughout the region include the prevalence of organised crime and unsatisfactory levels of co-operation with the international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
The EU is taking the lead role in building peace and stability in the region. The EU-western Balkans relationship will be reviewed at a summit meeting in Thessalonika on 21 June 2003, the day after the European Council, which will bring together the Heads of State and Government of the five states of the western Balkans, the EU member states, the accession states plus Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey. The summit will reaffirm the commitment of the EU to working with the countries of the region in the framework of the stabilisation and association process towards the prospect of their eventual integration into European structures. Ireland will play a full part in developing the relationship during 2003 and especially during our EU Presidency in the first half of 2004.
In relation to the individual countries of the region, following intense negotiations, which were facilitated by the EU, the new federal state of Serbia and Montenegro was proclaimed on 4 February 2003, replacing the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. I welcome the progress which has been made in recent weeks in establishing the democratic institutions of the new state, including the election of the federal parliament and the election of federal President Svetozar Marovic on 7 March. Urgent progress is now required on the completion of the economic action plans which will enable movement towards the negotiation of a stabilisation and association agreement with the EU. The EU has also pointed out that, in common with other states and parties in the region, Serbia and Montenegro must demonstrate in the period ahead improved levels of co-operation with the international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
The situation in Kosovo remains the most uncertain in the region. Some progress has been made towards the achievement of a multi-ethnic society in line with Security Council Resolution 1244, but considerable work remains to be done. Ireland fully supports the work of the UN Mission in Kosovo and of the special representative of the Secretary General, Michael Steiner, including his initiative to invite political leaders in Belgrade and Pristina to meet to discuss practical issues of mutual concern. It is important at this stage that all parties, in Pristina and in Belgrade, concentrate on the development of a dialogue on practical issues for the benefit of the people of Kosovo and avoid unilateral initiatives which could endanger the stability of Kosovo and the region.
I have welcomed the wide-ranging economic and political reforms undertaken in the past three years in Croatia which enabled the conclusions of a stabilisation and association agreement with the EU in October 2001. Prime Minister Ivica Racan submitted Croatia's formal application for membership of the EU in Athens on 21 February. The application will be considered by the Council of Ministers, and the next step will be the formulation of a Commission opinion, which is expected to take about one year to complete.
Elections were held in Bosnia Herzegovina in October 2002, and following protracted negotiations, a new Council of Ministers and Governments for the entities which make up the federation have been appointed in recent weeks. There is now an opportunity for greater progress in the reform process with close co-operation between the democratically elected Bosnian authorities and the international community, especially with the Office of the High Representative in Sarajevo, Lord Ashdown.
In the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the new coalition Government has made further progress in implementing the Ohrid framework agreement, which ended the conflict in the country in 2002. Framework agreement action plans were agreed by the signatories to the agreement on 3 February 2003. I welcome the effective working relationship being established between Prime Minister Crvenkovski and his coalition partner, Ali Ahmeti, the leader of the majority Albanian party, the DUI.