I thank the Chairman and members of the committee. I welcome the opportunity to meet them again to review the issues on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council for the second quarter of this year and at next week's meeting. I propose to focus first on the situation in Syria and then provide a read out on the other key items featured on the Council's agenda.
The Council's discussions next Monday will commence with the Southern Neighbourhood where most attention, of course, will focus on the crisis in Syria. It is increasingly difficult to put into words the sheer horror and revulsion one feels at what is currently transpiring in Syria. The village of Tremseh has now been added to Houla and Qubair as the scenes of appalling massacres visited upon innocent civilian populations. I have made clear repeatedly my view that there needs to be accountability for such atrocities and that is why the Government fully supports those calls which have been made for the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court.
What is most urgently needed now is for the UN Security Council to live up to its responsibilities and adopt a strong resolution, under Chapter VII of the Charter, which will make clear that continued non-compliance by the Assad regime or, for that matter, by the Syrian Opposition with its obligations under the Annan peace plan will lead to the imposition of UN sanctions, including a comprehensive arms embargo. No one can question the appropriateness of a Chapter VII resolution at this stage, given the dangers which the Syrian conflict poses to the wider region and in light of the clear spill-over effects we have already seen in Lebanon and in Turkey's relations with Syria following the recent shooting down of a Turkish air-force jet. I want to make clear, however, that our support for Chapter VII is strictly limited to enabling the Security Council to impose effective sanctions, and in particular an arms embargo, and not for any other reason. As Secretary General Ban recently reported to the Security Council, the last thing we need at present is any further militarisation of the conflict. All our actions, rather, must be geared to stopping the flow of arms and securing the earliest possible ceasefire.
In urging the Security Council to take decisive action this week and adopt a strong resolution, I also hope it will be in a position to extend the mandate of the UN monitoring mission, UNSMIS, for a further period. UNSMIS has faced major problems in fulfilling its mandate. However, as the recent horrific events in Tremseh have aptly illustrated, no one can doubt the importance of a continued UN presence in Syria, both as a reassurance to the Syrian people who have endured so much and also to have some credible means of investigating and monitoring current events in which the international community can have confidence.
This week's discussions and decisions in the Security Council will inevitably form the backdrop for next Monday's Council discussion. I have no doubt the Council will wish to convey a further strong message of support for Kofi Annan's efforts as special envoy and for the Geneva communiqué which he helped to broker last month. The Council is also likely to adopt a further round of EU sanctions targeted against the regime and those who provide it with political, financial or other support. The EU has already adopted several rounds of stringent restrictive measures against the Syrian regime and only wide-ranging UN sanctions at this stage are really likely to have the appropriate further dissuasive effect on the regime and its supporters.
The Council next Monday will also briefly review events in Libya and Egypt. In Libya, slow but steady progress continues to be made in its democratic transformation and the Council will no doubt wish to welcome the peaceful and successful conduct of the recent parliamentary elections held on 7 July. There are undoubtedly major challenges continuing to confront Libya and its people, not least the need to improve security, move ahead with effective demobilisation of militias and establish functioning institutions of governance and justice. However, set against where Libya was one short year ago, we should not underestimate the degree of real change and progress which there has been in Libya since Gadaffi's overthrow.
Last month, the Council had an extensive discussion on Egypt following the recent presidential elections which saw President Morsi finally confirmed as the victor. The necessary transition to full civilian rule is proving a difficult one. However, what is undoubtedly positive is that Mohamed Morsi is the first democratically elected head of state in Egypt's history and the continuing fundamental arguments about who really rules in Egypt are being largely addressed through dialogue and recourse to legal appeals and arguments, rather than by any other means. We must respect that it ultimately remains for the Egyptian people to chart their own political future. The international community can most usefully help by continuing to offer strong support and encouragement for that transition to democratic civilian rule which was the inspiration for last year's Tahrir revolution.
There has continued to be a strong focus on Middle East issues during the Council's deliberations over the past three months. In May, the Council adopted a wide-ranging and comprehensive set of conclusions on the Middle East peace process. Ireland was actively engaged and played an important role in the adoption of these conclusions. They represent an important and forceful statement of EU concerns about a range of Israeli policies and other critical issues. These include settlements, movement restrictions, pressures to force Palestinians out of area C and east Jerusalem, settler violence, the continuing blockade of Gaza, and more. The conclusions form part of a concerted attempt on the part of Ireland and other concerned EU partners to focus EU attention on the issues on the ground which threaten the viability of the two-state solution and the prospect of negotiating a comprehensive peace agreement. I made clear my view at the May Council that the EU will need to revisit and follow up on these critical issues later this year, to assess what, if any, progress there has been on the ground. It would also be important that Ministers have a substantive discussion on Gaza since the situation there has not been adequately addressed by the Council for some time.
The Council has also kept a close watch on the international engagement with Iran to try and resolve peacefully the serious concerns about its nuclear programme. The EU has reluctantly joined others in imposing progressive sanctions on Iran, most recently an embargo on imports of Iranian oil from 1 July. These have succeeded in inducing Iran to return to negotiations, but regretfully, after three sessions of talks in April, May and June, Iran still appears basically to be just playing for time, and making no real effort to seriously pursue a solution. We are still fully committed to talks, and to a peaceful agreement as the only way forward, but this can only succeed if Iran too is willing. I expect a further round of talks, yet to be scheduled, but unfortunately it seems that we may also have to look at options for yet stronger sanctions. It is important to make clear to Iran that this will only end if there is a mutual agreement which satisfies international concerns about their nuclear activities.
Bosnia and Herzegovina appears on the Foreign Affairs Council agenda at regular intervals given the ongoing EU involvement in the country. Following our discussions in December 2011, there have been a number of positive developments, including the formation of a state-level government, 14 months after the elections. In addition, laws were passed on state aid and the population census, which were requirements for the ratification of the stabilisation and association agreement between the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
When this issue was discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council in June, progress seemed to be flagging. Concerns were raised regarding a proposed reshuffle in the power-sharing government. However, Ministers in general agreed that this was an internal coalition decision and not one in which the EU should seek to interfere. If anything, this is an example of how Bosnia and Herzegovina is learning to find solutions to its problems itself, without relying on international supervision.
Immediately following the discussion at the June Foreign Affairs Council, the European Commission hosted a high level dialogue with the main Bosnian leaders to explain to them how the EU accession process works and encourage them to agree on a co-ordination mechanism. This appears to have succeeded in injecting some momentum into the process again. Latest reports from Sarajevo suggest that agreement has been reached not only on the co-ordination mechanism but on the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights ruling, which is the last element to allow for ratification of the stabilisation and association agreement. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Creighton, was encouraged by the commitment to reform in her meetings with Bosnian politicians when she visited the country earlier this month. Local elections are due in October and the Council will discuss the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina again before the end of the year.
In April in response to the improving political situation in Burma, the Foreign Affairs Council decided to suspend all sanctions against Burma bar the arms embargo and the ban on equipment which might be used for internal repression. This decision was the result of protracted and complex negotiations and we will continue to monitor the situation in advance of reviewing the decision in October.
Burma is in the process of undergoing an important and long-awaited transformation. I have been very encouraged by the manner in which the situation in Burma has greatly improved and Ireland has always remained ready to respond positively to genuine progress towards democratisation and respect for human rights. I reiterated this message to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi when I met her in Dublin on 18 June. During my meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi we exchanged views on a wide range of issues including the current situation in Burma, bilateral trade and economic relations and the ways in which Ireland might be of assistance to Burma as it progresses towards greater democracy and an open economy. In recent months, the Department has also been reviewing the status of our diplomatic relations with Burma and I am pleased to confirm the Government decided on 5 June to reactivate diplomatic relations between our two countries and to nominate our ambassador in Vietnam as non-resident ambassador to Burma.
The Council discussed EU-China trade relations in May. EU Trade Commissioner De Gucht briefed member states on the main aspects of the relationship with a focus on investment and, more broadly, addressed China's plans to promote strategic emerging industries and innovation. The EU believes that holding to our principles of openness, fair and predictable trade should be a cornerstone of our relations with China. This does not mean that we cannot be more forceful in applying rules that govern international trade. Rather than searching for leverage around new protectionist measures, I believe we should intensively review the existing dialogues with China to see how we can work together to collaborate. Ireland is entering a new phase of engagement with China following the visits by the Taoiseach and Ministers this spring, and I look forward to visiting later this year. The announcement of China as a strategic partner for Ireland moves our relationship to a new level.
At the Foreign Affairs Council in April, Ministers expressed deep concern about the escalating conflict between Sudan and South Sudan and condemned recent actions carried out by both sides. At the July Council, Ministers will discuss the progress made in implementing the African Union roadmap for the two countries.
Following on from a discussion in April, the Council will next week consider the serious humanitarian situation that has developed in recent months in Mali and the wider Sahel region. In response to this urgent situation, Ireland has provided humanitarian funding of some €9.25 million this year to help aid agencies on the ground to provide emergency food, water and health care to affected communities.
I intend to visit Uganda and Kenya later this month. During my visit, I will have an opportunity to view the impact of the Irish Aid programme, including our significant humanitarian response to the crisis in the Horn of Africa. In per capita terms, Ireland is one of the most significant donors to the region. I also intend to use the visit to discuss opportunities for greater trade between Ireland and Africa.
The discussion on Ukraine at the May Foreign Affairs Council was useful, in that it conveyed clearly the agreed message to Kiev that the EU values closer political association and economic integration with Ukraine. However, it also articulated a clear message to the effect that, for progress to be made in the relationship, including the signing and ratification of the association agreement with Ukraine, the EU would need to see two key developments, those being, a resolution of the issue of politically motivated trials, including that of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, and the fair and transparent conduct of next October's parliamentary elections. The clarity achieved on this important issue is of benefit to both the EU and Ukraine.
In May, the Foreign Affairs Council held a discussion ahead of the 29th EU-Russia Summit, which took place in St. Petersburg on 3 and 4 June. This was the first summit with President Putin under the Lisbon framework. Although the discussion at the Council did not break new ground, it provided a welcome opportunity to reflect on the Union's relationship with Russia. In particular, the Council considered prospects for the EU framing a new agreement with Russia and the related issue of Eurasian economic integration, in light of President Putin's intentions to develop the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, CUBKR, into the Eurasian economic union in 2015. These issues were subsequently discussed at the EU-Russia Summit, which was judged to have been a pragmatic and positive encounter. Ministers also agreed at the May Council that there should be a strategic discussion on relations with Russia later this year.
Afghanistan was the subject of ongoing ministerial discussion at the Foreign Affairs Council meetings in March, April and May, culminating in detailed Council conclusions in May. The Council affirmed the importance of the international community taking an holistic view of post-2014 engagement with Afghanistan, given the correlation between security and long-term development in the country. As the transition from military to civilian-led international engagement gathers pace, the focus of the international community should now be on assisting Afghanistan in fulfilling its commitments.
The Council discussed developments in Pakistan in March and June, either side of the visit by the High Representative to Pakistan last month. High Representative Ashton's visit saw the launch of a strategic dialogue with Pakistan and an EU-Pakistan five-year engagement plan. While there are several issues of continuing concern, there is now a functioning political framework for engagement with the EU and a human rights dialogue with Pakistan.
At the May Council, Ministers had an exchange of views in advance of the sixth EU-Mexico Summit, which took place on 17 June en marge of the G20 meeting. As is usual at these summits, the EU was represented by Presidents Van Rompuy and Barroso.
Following on from the conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council of December 2011, High Representative Ashton circulated a progress report on the common security and defence policy, CSDP, issues that will be discussed at the meeting next week. The Council is expected to welcome the progress on the CSDP since the beginning of the year and looks forward to the imminent launch of three new CSDP missions: EUAVSEC South Sudan, to strengthen aviation security in South Sudan; EUCAP NESTOR, a regional maritime capability building mission in the Horn of Africa; and EUCAP SAHEL Niger, a mission to support the capacity building of the Nigerian security sector to combat terrorism and organised crime. Last month, the Council agreed to the extension of the mandate of the EU's rule of law mission in Kosovo, EULEX Kosovo, until June 2014 while the EU police mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina completed its mandate on 30 June.
A broad-ranging exchange of views is anticipated at Council next week on how the EU's external energy objectives can be integrated into its foreign policy agenda and activities. This discussion comes about as part of efforts by the high representative to achieve greater policy coherence across the EU institutions. I am supportive of efforts in all policy areas to ensure that the full range of resources of the EU are mobilised in pursuit of common objectives. While events such as the Russia-Ukraine gas crisis in 2009 or the loss of Libyan oil supplies in 2011 have not directly affected Ireland in terms of energy supplies, they had an impact on all economies in the form of price increases. As a small peripheral European energy market, it is important to us that the EU would have a strong and co-ordinated policy on energy security that safeguards supplies for all member states. The discussion at the Council meeting will be a first step towards achieving this.
At the June Foreign Affairs Council, I warmly welcomed the adoption of the EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy. Ireland has been a consistent supporter of the development of the framework and action plan, which serve to reaffirm the commitment of all member states to advancing human rights in the EU's foreign policy. They outline a vision of how the EU will work in this regard. In particular, I welcome the inclusion of strong references to the role that the EU can play in supporting human rights defenders in advancing gender equality and the rights of women and in raising the issue of freedom of religion or belief.
As part of the overall human rights package, High Representative Ashton is shortly expected to announce the name of the first ever EU special representative for human rights. That person will be well in place before the Irish Presidency and we will be ready to support her or him in that important work.
This concludes my comments on the business of the Foreign Affairs Council in the second quarter of this year and for the forthcoming July Council. I am grateful to have had this opportunity to set the details out for the committee and I will be pleased to respond to whatever questions members may have.
