Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his medium-term policy perspective with regard to supporting central and eastern European countries as they balance their priorities between Russia and the European Union. [38398/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Since 2004, considerable efforts have been made through the EU's European neighbourhood policy, ENP, to offer our neighbours to the east a privileged relationship. This relationship is intended to build on a common commitment to democracy and human rights, the rule of law, good governance, market economy principles and sustainable development. Progress has been made in these areas, although different countries progress at their own pace. It is important to emphasise that the ENP remains distinct from EU membership. The EU nonetheless has a strong interest in ensuring peaceful and democratic development in the region, and most of the countries there wish to have closer relations with the EU. They have also had long relationships with Russia. The EU recognises this and at the same time believes that the countries' foreign relations are primarily a matter for themselves.

For its part, Ireland contributes between €8 million and €9 million annually to projects and programmes aimed at poverty alleviation, good governance, democratisation and the reform process in a number of countries in the region. I am greatly interested in developments in eastern Europe and the Caucasus and intend to visit the latter region later this month.

The recent European Council decided that proposals for a future "eastern partnership" of the ENP should be submitted by the Commission in November. This is likely to see a build-up of relations over the medium term, with further work being done in such areas as regulatory convergence, free trade agreements, enhanced people to people contacts, political co-operation and extended EU support for sectoral reforms in the countries covered. Some of these points are covered in the new EU-Ukraine association agreement, currently under negotiation, which is likely to serve as a model for advancing relations with other eastern European countries. This is the approach the EU will follow in the region in the period ahead.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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The Minister mentioned the criteria for the European neighbourhood policy, but does he agree it might be worth reviewing these, particularly the priority given, for example, to transitions to market economy? Some of the former territories dominated by what was the Soviet Union and in the neighbourhood of Russia have seen disastrous abuses in the transition involved to the market economy from previously socialised assets. Taking Ossetia as an example, how does he envisage the balance of autonomous regions being achieved by the European Union among regions which formerly fell within the Russian sphere of influence? Ossetia, along with several other regions, enjoyed autonomous designation in Georgia under the USSR. Am I correct that the EU's definition of sovereignty considers the outer boundary of a state and ignores such forms of autonomy as might have existed? Perhaps the Minister will agree that recognising forms of autonomy is important not only along the borders of Russia but also in respect of Africa, Asia and, possibly, China-Tibet relations.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am not sure the disastrous events to which Deputy Michael D. Higgins referred could be accurately described as transitions to a market economy.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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They were transitions to the rackets.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy can describe these events however he likes but they did not give rise to a fully transparent market. Much of the asset privatisation which took place following the fall of the Soviet empire was unacceptable. The process gave rise to some difficult questions.

Fundamentally, the EU's engagement with our eastern partners is informed by a genuine commitment to human rights, systems of governance and the development of democratic parliamentary systems. That will continue to be the case as we seek to act as a force for good. We must be mindful of history, however. Recent events in Georgia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia reveal the complexity inherent in ethnic minorities within geographical boundaries and suggest that, while boundaries are important, perhaps the critical issue is how minorities are treated by particular jurisdictions in terms of parity of esteem and genuine respect. Failure to act appropriately in that regard will ultimately result in crises.

I met recently with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Mr. Sergey Lavrov, who outlined one version of the historical narrative of South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Georgia, and I recognise the existence of alternative narratives. It is clear from the map, however, that the situation in terms of ethnic minorities is complex.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Have the countries of central or eastern Europe shared with the Minister their views of the impact of our "No" vote to the Lisbon treaty on their aspirations to join the EU?

Have the Russian authorities ever sought to lobby the Minister to recognise South Ossetia, whether directly or through the European Union?

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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In answering the pertinent question put by my colleague, Deputy Timmins, the Minister might also indicate whether he perceives a contradiction between the speed at which recognition of Kosovo was achieved and the problems that have arisen in Ossetia. In regard to Somalia, for example, is it his intention to recognise Somaliland?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy has gone far beyond the scope of this question.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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He certainly has. Deputy Timmins asked whether we are being lobbied.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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While Kosovo was seeking recognition, its representatives were knocking on the door of the Minister's predecessor.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will deal with Kosovo in reply to Deputy Michael D. Higgins's question.

In regard to perspectives on our decision on the Lisbon treaty, engagement on that issue has not been significant. I suspect that the challenges with which the countries concerned must contend have pushed the treaty down their list of priorities. At present, the only pressing country in terms of membership applications is Croatia.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Are the Russians exerting pressure?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In regard to whether we were lobbied, the answer is "No". When I met the Minister, Mr. Lavrov, he was disposed to present the Russian perspective on the Georgian conflict. Our position is regarded as clear because we issued statements condemning Russian actions in South Ossetia and Abkhazia and its recognition of the two regions as independent states. He understood our position.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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I ask the Minister to address the provocations that led to these actions.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We believe that an international inquiry should be held. Perhaps there was an initial rush to judgment. Without taking a partisan view, I recognise the objective need for an international inquiry.

Certain issues arise in respect of Kosovo but, as I have argued previously, there are differences. The exercise of self-determination does not normally allow for changes to frontiers outside of decolonisation but there are grounds to conclude that exemptions are permitted in the case of fundamental abuses of human rights such as the mass killings and ethnic cleansing in Kosovo during the 1990s. From a practical perspective, the restoration of Serbian rule was unimaginable. The comparison is, therefore, not direct, although the Russians have questioned the level of consistency on the part of the EU.