Foreign Conflicts.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 April 2005

Thursday, 28 April 2005

Ceisteanna (21, 22, 23)

Seán Ryan

Ceist:

12 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent and ongoing crisis in Ecuador; the steps which Ireland and its partners in the European Union are taking to help the Ecuadoran people to resolve the present difficulties, particularly in the capital city, Quito; his estimation of the provisions being made to reinstall democratic governance in that country; if he has satisfied himself that such measures will be left to theEcuadoran people without interference from abroad; his views on the security of the recently ousted President Gutiérrez; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13688/05]

David Stanton

Ceist:

58 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the current situation inEcuador; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13687/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 58 together.

The political crisis in Ecuador in recent days follows the decisions of President Gutiérrez to declare a state of emergency in the capital Quito on 15 April 2005 and to dissolve the Supreme Court for the second time in four months. The demonstrations which followed these actions have led to a number of deaths and the decision of the Ecuadoran Congress on 20 April 2005 to dismiss President Gutiérrez and to appoint the Vice-President, Dr. Alfredo Palacio, in his place. Brazil subsequently granted asylum to the former president and his family and they have now travelled to that country.

While apparently ruling out early elections, the new president has promised a referendum on constitutional reform and has also said that he will not interfere in decisions of the judicial or legislative process and will respect international commitments. He has appointed new Ministers, including Mr. Antonio Parra Gil as Foreign Minister. Dr. Palacio has also stated that he will not run as a candidate in the next presidential elections, which are scheduled for October 2006, and intends "to turn the country over in an orderly fashion to the next president".

Ireland does not maintain a resident embassy in Ecuador but we have been kept informed of developments through the embassy of The Netherlands, acting as the local EU Presidency. The Luxembourg Presidency issued a statement on 22 April 2005 expressing the deep concern of the European Union about the unstable political and social situation in Ecuador and deploring the recent deaths during demonstrations there. The statement appealed to the government and political forces in Ecuador to find a peaceful, consensual and negotiated solution to the present crisis, so as to bring about a rapid return to constitutional normality. Ireland fully associates itself with this statement.

The US Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, has also appealed for calm and has said that this is a time for the international community to support the democratic process in Ecuador. On 22 April 2005, the Organization of American States, OAS, decided to send a high level mission to Ecuador to work with that country to strengthen democracy there, following an invitation from the delegation of Ecuador. At their meeting in Brasilia on 19 April 2005, the Foreign Ministers of the South American community of nations issued a statement calling for a return to institutional normality in Ecuador as soon as possible and announced that a delegation, atForeign Minister level, from Argentina, Bolivia,Brazil and Peru would visit Quito in the near future with a view to helping to resolve the situation.

Although Ireland's direct influence in Ecuador is limited, the Government shares the clearly expressed wish of the international community to do everything possible to support democracy in that country at this difficult time. The statement by the newly installed President, Dr. Palacio, that he will welcome the OAS mission and that it will have access to different sectors of society is encouraging. The Government also welcomes Brazil's offer of asylum to the former president and his family as an immediate contribution to a peaceful resolution of the crisis in Ecuador.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

13 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government’s position regarding the resumption of talks on the reunification of Cyprus; the debates he and his officials have taken part in at European level on this matter; his views on the progress being made on this issue over the coming months and years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13551/05]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The United Nations has the lead role in the search for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. However, the EU enlargement process provided the impetus for the most recent efforts towards a settlement, which were undertaken by the UN Secretary General last year, during Ireland's EU Presidency. The Government gave its full support to the Secretary General in his mission of good offices. Ireland, as Presidency of the EU, also maintained close contact with the various parties concerned to encourage their commitment to the negotiating process and to the achievement of an agreed outcome.

As a result of the referendums in Cyprus on 24 April 2004, the accession to the EU of a united Cyprus on 1 May 2004 was not possible. On 28 May, the UN Secretary General submitted a comprehensive report to the Security Council on his mission of good offices. He noted that the unsuccessful outcome represented another missed opportunity to resolve the Cyprus problem and concluded that there was no apparent basis for resuming the good offices effort while the current stalemate continues. The process remains under consideration in the UN Security Council. The EU remains fully committed to supporting efforts for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem within the UN framework and in line with the principles on which the Union is founded.

Following last year's referendums, the General Affairs Council reviewed the situation on 26 April 2004 and adopted conclusions expressing the determination of the EU to ensure that the people of Cyprus would soon achieve their shared destiny as citizens of a united Cyprus in the European Union. The Council also agreed on the need to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community and to facilitate the reunification of Cyprus by encouraging their economic development. Responding to the request of the Council, the Commission subsequently brought forward proposals aimed at the economic integration of the island and improving contact between the two communities and with the EU. These proposals remain under active consideration by the member states.

Since 1 May 2004, the Republic of Cyprus has been a member state of the EU and, in the absence of a comprehensive settlement, the application of the laws and regulations of the Union to the northern part of the island is suspended. Under the Irish Presidency, agreement was reached on a Council regulation on the movement of persons and trade in certain goods across the dividing line in Cyprus. In the light of the experience of the application of this regulation, member states adopted a further Council regulation on 17 February 2005 to improve the facilities for persons crossing the line and to facilitate trade in certain agricultural goods.