The date 16 September marked the third anniversary of the disappearance and murder of Georgyi Gongadze. I am concerned that in the three years since his murder a number of other journalists, including Ihor Alexandrov, a well known investigative journalist, have met violent deaths in Ukraine and others have been attacked. I utterly condemn these attacks and murders. I remain deeply concerned that the murders of both Georgyi Gongadze and Ihor Alexandrov remain unsolved, with no substantial progress made in either case.
On 1 July 2003 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe published – in Annex III to document No. 9852 entitled "Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Ukraine"– comments by the Ukrainian authorities on the course of their investigation into the death of Mr. Gongadze. They note that after the appointment in July 2002 of a new prosecutor general, Mr. Piskun, a new investigation team was created. They say they have provided representatives of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly with comprehensive information related to the course of the investigation and that their work is being carried out in a completely unbiased way. The bulk of the work has now been transferred to those in charge of the search for the culprits. With this in mind, investigative judges have passed appropriate mandates to the authorities in charge of the search.
I take this opportunity to express once again my concern at the lack of progress with the investigation into Mr. Gongadze's death. As a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Deputy is aware that the Parliamentary Assembly has proposed, in recommendation 1583, that an independent commission of inquiry, which would include international investigators, should be established. As I have stated in the House on a number of occasions, Ireland supports this proposal.
The Presidency, on behalf of the member states of the European Union, has also issued a number of declarations calling for a full and transparent inquiry. The most recent of these, issued on 16 September to mark the third anniversary of the death of Mr. Gongadze, expressed its concern at the lack of progress in the investigation into the circumstances of Mr. Gongadze's death as well as its concern that journalists in Ukraine may be either restricted in their activities or intimidated from collecting information. The declaration also noted that progress in strengthening relations between the EU and Ukraine depends on the Government of Ukraine acting in conformity with European values and standards. The rule of law, independence of justice, freedom of the media and protection of journalists are central to these values and standards. I am glad that the Presidency will have a further opportunity to discuss these issues, including the problematic media situation, with the Ukrainian authorities at the EU-Ukraine Summit which takes place in Yalta on 7 October.
I am aware that the Council of Europe remains in close contact with Ukraine on the state of investigation into the case, and I welcome the visit by the prosecutor general of Ukraine, Mr. Piskun, and the chief investigator into the Gongadze case, Mr. Chubin, to Strasbourg on 26 and 27 September to discuss the case with Mr. Otto Schneider, President of the Parliamentary Assembly and with the co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly Monitoring Committee.
As I noted in the House on 7 May last, the Government has availed of every opportunity to raise the Gongadze case with the Ukrainian authorities, including at foreign minister level. Officials from my Department have raised the case on a number of occasions, including earlier this month. I know that the case is a matter of concern to all in this House. We will endeavour to keep the issue to the forefront in our discussions with the Ukrainian authorities over the coming months.
