Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

Usually this House, and countries generally, welcome the creation of new countries: the most recent new member of the family of the United Nations was East Timor, with which we have very strong relations. However, today marks the ending of a country. Seventy-five years ago, in the aftermath of the First World War, the state of Yugoslavia was created out of the remains of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. >From today, the two remaining members of the former Yugoslavia will be known as the Serbian-Montenegrin Federation. There is an Irish dimension to this: Carlow County Council, through the initiative of Councillor Enda Nolan, a member of the Committee of the Regions, is providing administrative and other expertise in the restructuring of local government in the now Serbian city of Nis. As I understand Westmeath and Meath County Councils intend to pursue this, will the Leader convey to the Minister for the Foreign Affairs the good wishes of this House and the country towards the newly created state? Might we have an opportunity at some time of debating the role of this country in the restructuring in south-east Europe and the question of the stability pact?