Vol. 573 No. 3
283 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 128 of 8 October 2003, if he will report on the outcome of recent discussions in New York with the non-aligned movement; and the positions taken by the Government at that meeting. [24795/03]
As I stated in my reply to Question No. 128 on 8 October 2003, an EU Troika with the non-aligned movement took place in New York on 25 September 2003. I participated in the meeting as part of the EU delegation, along with the Italian Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini, the High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, and the Commissioner for External Relations, Chris Patten. The non-aligned movement was represented by the Foreign Ministers of Malaysia, South Africa and Cuba. The meeting provided an opportunity for constructive and frank engagement between the EU and the movement on a number of issues, including the UN and multilateralism, the Middle East peace process, human rights issues and the fight against terrorism. Both parties agreed on the need to promote effective multilateralism. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to Middle East peace process road map, the role of the quartet and a lasting settlement based on two states living side by side in peace and security. There was an exchange between the EU and the movement on how to prevent against human rights abuses. The EU emphasised its commitment to upholding international human rights and reaffirmed its determination to highlight and condemn human rights abuses wherever they occur. The EU and movement agreed on the need to co-operate closely to counter the threat from international terrorism. Overall, the meeting was conducted in a cordial and businesslike manner and both parties found it to be constructive and fruitful.
