Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2004
67 Mr. English asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on the current political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10001/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile the peace process in the DRC continues to take hold and remains largely on track, there are some concerns that the pace of implementation of the transition process provided for under the Sun City peace accords needs to be stepped up, with a view to meeting the goal of nationwide elections and the election of a new government in 2005. The European Union, in a declaration issued on 18 March 2004, has urged the Transitional National Government led by President Kabila to speed up its decision-making process and enact the necessary legislative measures to get the transition process back on track, including enactment of electoral laws, faster reform of the justice and security sectors, and appointment of a national co-ordinator to assist with implementation of the necessary DDR — disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration — process.
The recent delays in implementation of the transition process have also been accompanied by an increase in security and political tensions in the eastern DRC. There have also been reports of an attempted coup against the transitional national Government in Kinshasa in recent days though this has been successfully averted. The declaration issued by the Irish Presidency on 18 March has made clear the European Union's serious concerns at the deteriorating security situation in eastern DRC and the continuing reports of human rights violations and atrocities inflicted on the civilian population in Ituri, North and South Kivu and Katanga. We have called upon all those still engaging in violence to forswear disorder, show consideration for the population and commit themselves irrevocably to the peace process.
The European Union has also once again urged the transitional Government in Kinshasa to take every possible measure to re-establish and consolidate its authority throughout the territory of the DRC and to hasten the process of creating an integrated national army and police force. In this regard, the EU is providing support, in a two-phase project, towards the establishment of an integrated police unit in Kinshasa, with the emphasis in the initial phase on training and rehabilitation of the training infrastructure.
The European Union has already made a substantial contribution to restoring peace and security in eastern DRC through deployment of the EU-led emergency multinational force, Operation Artemis, to the town of Bunia in Ituri last June. Operation Artemis, the first EU operation to undertake implementation of Petersberg tasks outside Europe, was deployed at the request of the United Nations Secretary General and on foot of UN Security Council Resolution 1484. In September, Operation Artemis handed over control of Bunia to a strengthened United Nations Mission in the DRC, MONUC, having fulfilled its mandate of restoring stability to the town. Ireland contributed five army officers to Operation Artemis and a proportionate share of the costs. Ireland is currently providing two army officers who serve as military observers with MONUC.
The European Union will also, in line with the decision adopted by the General Affairs and External Relations Council at its meeting last week, proceed with the practice which it has followed for a number of years of putting forward a resolution on the human rights situation in the DRC at the current 60th session of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
Ireland fully intends to sustain the positive engagement of the EU in the DRC and the Great Lakes region during our Presidency. We will work to prepare the proposed Great Lakes conference which is currently scheduled to take place in November 2004. The conference will focus on peace, security, democracy and development in the Great Lakes region and will be held under the auspices of the African Union and the UN.
As further evidence of Ireland's commitment to the DRC, we will ensure that the office of the EU special representative to the Great Lakes region is utilised to the full in promoting EU policy in the region. In addition, my Department continues to avail itself of bilateral meetings with regional and pan-African parties to stress Ireland's support for the peace process in the DRC and to encourage others to support fully the transitional institutions in that country.
The Government will also continue its constructive engagement in providing substantial humanitarian assistance in response to the enormous suffering caused by conflict and natural disasters in the DRC. Development Co-operation Ireland, DCI, has delivered over €5.5 million in emergency and recovery humanitarian aid for the people of the DRC since 2000, while a further estimated €1.1 million will be made available under DCI's multi-annual programme scheme.
