Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position with regard to the political and humanitarian situation in Liberia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13519/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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While Liberia has made remarkable progress since the comprehensive peace agreement of August 2003, it still faces the major challenges of a successful return to democracy and sustaining the peace process. Liberia is currently administered by a transitional government, under the chairmanship of Mr. Gyude Bryant, until parliamentary and presidential elections are held on 11 October 2005. This election will mark the return of Liberia to a constitutional democracy after 14 years of civil war. The cost of the elections is expected to amount to US$17.5 million and the EU has pledged €4.5 million in electoral support. Ireland is currently considering a proposal from the Carter Centre for support to election oversight.

President McAleese, accompanied by the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, visited Liberia on 14 December 2004 and met with Chairman Bryant, the United Nations special representative in Liberia, Mr. Jacques Klein, and the Irish battalion. Chairman Bryant visited Ireland in November 2004 and expressed his gratitude for the invaluable role that Ireland has played in Liberia. The chief of staff of the Defence Forces visited the Irish battalion in February.

Ireland recently established a development co-operation office in Freetown, Sierra Leone, which is also responsible for the delivery of humanitarian and development support to Liberia. At the international donor conference on Liberia in February 2004, Ireland pledged €5 million from 2004 to 2006 towards the recovery and reconstruction needs of Liberia. To date, some €3.5 million of this pledge has been disbursed.

Despite recent improvements in the security situation in UN controlled areas, the Liberian peace process remains fragile and many serious issues remain to be effectively addressed. The situation is generally stable in Monrovia but less so in other areas. Sporadic outbreaks of violence in rebel strongholds highlight the need for a comprehensive process of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration.

The United Nations Mission in Liberia, UNMIL, was established on 19 September 2003 by UN Security Council Resolution 1509. The primary task of UNMIL is to observe and monitor implementation of the ceasefire agreement which was concluded by the Liberian parties in June 2003. More broadly, UNMIL's role is to support the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement of 18 August 2003. This includes facilitating the organisation of the October elections.

The Irish contingent comprises a motorised infantry battalion of some 426 personnel, together with a small number of additional personnel deployed at force headquarters. The Government is of the view that the deployment of UNMIL is critically important in supporting the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement and for the political and economic recovery of Liberia. Our personnel have been widely commended for the professionalism of their work.

The UNMIL programme of disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation and reintegration, DDRR, for rebel groups recommenced on 15 April 2004. Disarmament and demobilisation was concluded on 31 October 2004. Due to the fact that the number of combatants disarmed greatly exceeded original estimates, the DDRR programme has encountered significant financial problems and an additional US$20 million is required for rehabilitation and reintegration of the additional numbers.

Ireland contributed €500,000 in 2004 for disarmament and demobilisation and we have provided an additional €500,000 in 2005 for rehabilitation and reintegration of former combatants. Since 85% of Liberians are unemployed, creation of employment and education opportunities for the ex-combatants is extremely important if stability is to be maintained in the country and elections successfully organised next October. Significant strides have also been made in restructuring and reforming Liberia's police force and the USA is providing material and technical support to restructure and reform the army.

Since October 2004, the UN has assisted in the repatriation of over 10,000 Liberian refugees from neighbouring countries, while almost 100,000 internally displaced persons have resettled also. The United Nations hopes to repatriate 150,000 refugees to Liberia in the course of 2005.

Since displaced persons and refugees can vote only in their home areas, speedy implementation before October of the resettlement and repatriation process is important. Ireland has provided significant support towards the needs of internally displaced persons, including assisting in re-establishing agriculture in areas formerly affected by conflict.

In December 2004 the United Nations Security Council renewed its trade sanctions against Liberia, extending bans on timber exports and arms imports to the country for another year. The timber sanctions may be reviewed after six months. The ban on diamond exports was extended for six months. In March, the UN panel of experts informed the Security Council that Liberia could not as yet meet the criteria for joining the Kimberley Process, which certifies rough diamonds as legal for international sale. Security Council sanctions against the export of diamonds from Liberia are expected to remain in place until the country succeeds in joining the Kimberly Process. The European Union also renewed article 96 measures against Liberia in December in line with the UN Security Council sanctions, as it was agreed that Liberia had not made enough progress in areas such as human rights, governance and the judicial system to warrant an easing of sanctions at this time.

Ireland will continue to encourage all parties in Liberia and the sub-region to carry out their commitments and obligations under the comprehensive peace agreement and support the work of the UN special representative in Liberia, Mr. Jacques Klein, and the EU special representative for the region, Mr. Hans Dahlgren of Sweden.