Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will not rehearse any of the issues I raised with the Minister of State yesterday. I congratulate her, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Taoiseach on the excellent way in which they have guided the European Union during Ireland's Presidency to date. There is no doubt that Ireland, a small nation with a population of 4.5 million, is doing an exquisite job in the context of its Presidency.

I listened with great interest to the Minister of State's presentation. Of all the countries and regions to which she referred, there are three with which I am disappointed. Sadly, I am most disappointed with Bosnia-Herzegovina. Consider, for example, how the people there suffered in the past and the fact that Croatia will become a full member state of the European Union in July. In addition, Serbia has made concessions, acknowledged the role it played in Srebrenica and softened the tenor of its relationships with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. Both Croatia and Serbia are moving forward and Kosovo has taken a number of phenomenally progressive steps, particularly in light of the Serbs there being informed by Serbia that Kosovo is now their country and that it will not be intervening on their behalf. Bosnia-Herzegovina is the bad news story here. I am of the view that we should renew our efforts to assist it. Belarus is just Belarus and I will say nothing further about it.

What is happening in Syria is horrendous. I am extremely disturbed by the US position on Syria and its suggestion that the opposition there should be armed. This is particularly alarming in light of the fact that there has been a preliminary finding to the effect that the latter has been using chemical weapons.

I do not see the Americans' logic in believing that they can resolve a situation by arming the opposition when the Chinese or Russians will reinforce Assad's armaments. The EU's position is correct and worthy of support.

I am enthusiastic about the Eastern Partnership and the southern neighbourhood process. We just met the speaker of the Macedonian Assembly and his colleagues. I spoke at length with the Albanian minority MP, who is happy with progress and the Albanian Government's attitude to the role of minorities in Macedonia. Surely the country's name can no longer be a major stumbling block. There must be a concession. It is a ridiculously long and stupid name. We call it "Macedonia" in our bilateral talks with it, but we must otherwise use its long title. If we can overcome the naming issue, great progress can be made quickly.

I congratulate the Ukrainian Government, notwithstanding the criticisms. Ms Yulia Tymoshenko is mentioned left, right and centre. I understand that the European Court of Human Rights has made an important statement. Just as Croatia and Serbia have taken incremental steps, I can see the incremental steps being taken by Ukraine's President, Mr. Viktor Yanukovych. We should send words of support to encourage his release of additional prisoners, including Ms Tymoshenko.

The Minister of State mentioned another country in which I am interested, one that I also discussed with the Macedonians, namely, Albania. The country and its diaspora comprise a delicate issue. Albania is holding elections in June, as is Mongolia, which one of our Ministers visited on a trade mission. Mongolia's growth is phenomenal. Is the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, or Ireland monitoring its elections? We view them as an incremental stage in a country's progress along the democratic path.

There are negatives, including the tragedy of Bosnia-Herzegovina, BiH, and the even worse tragedies of Belarus and Syria, but progress is being made by many of the other countries to which the Minister of State referred. I welcome the debate with the Turkish on developing their relationship with Europe.