Phil Hogan
Ceist:50 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13499/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 28 April 2005
Ceisteanna (74)
Freagraí scríofa
The political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to be characterised by slow progress towards completion of the transition process. The major priority remains the holding of national elections later this year, as scheduled under the 2002 Sun City peace accords. A number of major legislative reforms, including drafting of a national constitution, still remain to be completed if elections are to take place, in accordance with the scheduled timeframe. The peace accords provide for the elections to be deferred for up to one year, if necessary.
Substantial international support will be required for the holding of these elections, which it is estimated could cost up to almost US$300 million to hold. The EU has already committed itself to provide some €85 million in electoral assistance and Ireland, in principle, is prepared to consider making a contribution in support of the electoral process, once we have greater clarity as to the timing of the elections. A decision will also be taken closer to the elections as to whether the EU will participate in an electoral observer mission in the DRC, though notionally this is something which Ireland would strongly support.
The continued existence of armed militias in eastern DRC also needs to be confronted if the transition process in the DRC is to be successfully completed. MONUC is performing a vital role in seeking to reduce the threat posed by these militias and deserves the full support of the international community for its efforts, in conjunction with the DRC Government, to establish peace and security in the troubled eastern region. The strong and effective action, which MONUC is now taking to confront armed militias in the Ituri region, is welcome. The EU has made clear its willingness to assist the UN in the reinforcement of MONUC's capabilities to enable it to carry out its essential tasks.
Disarmament efforts in eastern DRC have also been greatly assisted by the decision of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, FDLR, armed group to abandon violence and engage in a process of voluntary disarmament and repatriation to Rwanda. I very much welcome its statement of 31 March 2005 in which it expressed regret for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and acknowledged the crimes committed at that time. The DRC and Rwandan Governments should now co-operate closely with MONUC and the FDLR to ensure that this important initiative, which provides for the FDLR disarming and returning voluntarily to Rwanda by the end of June, succeeds.
The transitional national government in Kinshasa has, of course, primary responsibility for re-establishing peace and security and effectively exercising its own authority throughout the DRC. Greater efforts are called for by the DRC Government in accelerating the creation of an integrated national army and police force and supporting the process of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration, DDR, if a secure environment is to be created for the holding of national elections later this year. The EU is actively collaborating with the transitional national government in supporting the process of security sector reform in the DRC, including through deployment of the new EUPOL mission, which will offer advice and mentoring to the integrated police unit, IPU, in Kinshasa, which the EU has helped establish. Ireland has contributed €75,000 towards the costs of establishing the IPU.
The EU will also shortly deploy a second mission, EUSEC DRC, comprising a small planning team to advise key government ministries in the DRC on all issues related to security sector reform. The EU is also providing substantial financial support for the process of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration, DDR, in the DRC. Ireland and its EU partners also remain active in ensuring that international attention continues to focus on the serious situation regarding observance of human rights in the DRC.
The EU played a key role in securing agreement on a consensus resolution adopted at the UN Commission for Human Rights in Geneva last week which condemns the ongoing serious violations of human rights throughout the DRC and calls upon the transitional national government to do all that it can to end impunity as well as to co-operate fully with the ongoing International Criminal Court investigation into serious human rights violations carried out in the DRC since 1 July 2002.