Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together.

I attended the extraordinary European Council in Brussels on 1 September 2008 which was convened to discuss the crisis in Georgia. I was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin. The European Council strongly condemned the Russian Federation's unilateral decision to recognise the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and reiterated its support for Georgian territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The European Council also welcomed the six-point agreement achieved on 12 August 2008, on the basis of the European Union's mediation efforts, that led to a ceasefire, improved delivery of humanitarian aid to the victims and a substantial withdrawal of Russian military forces. It indicated that the EU would be willing to contribute to an international monitoring force as outlined in the six-point plan. This was confirmed in the agreement reached on 8 September between Presidents Sarkozy and Medvedev, which also called for talks on the situation to commence on 15 October. The EU has fulfilled its commitment under that agreement to have a monitoring force on the ground in Georgia by 1 October and I am pleased that Ireland has been able to provide four personnel to assist that effort.

The talks inaugurated in Geneva on 15 October 2008 under the joint auspices of the EU special representative for the crisis in Georgia, Mr. Pierre Morel, and the OSCE and UN are a welcome development. These talks are aimed at achieving a peaceful and sustainable resolution to the conflict. Sessions were held on 18 and 19 November and on 17 and 18 December 2008, which achieved some progress on issues related to security and the humanitarian situation of those affected by the conflict. A fourth session is scheduled to take place on 17 and 18 February next.

An international donors' conference took place on 22 October 2008 in Brussels which brought together 71 countries and delegations. The conference was opened by Commissioner Ferrero Waldner and the president of the World Bank, Mr. Satso, in the presence of the Prime Minister of Georgia, the French Foreign Minister, Mr. Kouchner, the Czech Foreign Minister, Mr. Schwarzenberg, and the President of the European Commission, Mr. Barroso. The total amount pledged at the conference was €3.6 billion. I am pleased that Ireland was able to pledge €2 million in development assistance for Georgia from 2008 to 2010.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, visited Georgia from 19 to 21 November 2008 to assess the situation on the ground. He had meetings with the Georgian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and also met with the Irish monitoring team of the EU monitoring mission.

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