Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18590/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to be characterised by slow progress towards completion of the transition process. The major priority remains the holding of national elections by no later than June 2006, as scheduled under the 2002 Sun City peace accords. It now appears likely that a decision will be taken by the transitional national Government in Kinshasa to defer the elections, originally due to be held this month, until either later this year or early 2006, in order to enable necessary legislative and administrative measures to be put in place. One positive development has been the adoption of a draft constitution by the transitional national assembly on 13 May 2005. The EU has welcomed adoption of the draft constitution which will now be submitted for approval in a referendum later this year.

Substantial international support will be required for the holding of elections in the DRC which it is estimated could cost up to almost US$300 million to arrange. The EU has already committed itself to provide some €85 million in electoral assistance while Ireland, in principle, is prepared to consider making a contribution in support of the electoral process, once there is greater clarity as to the timing of the elections. A decision will also be taken closer to the elections as to whether the EU will participate in an electoral observer mission in the DRC, though nationally this is something which Ireland would strongly support.

The continued existence of armed militias in eastern DRC also needs to be confronted, if the transition process in the DRC is to be successfully completed. MONUC is performing a vital role in seeking to reduce the threat posed by these militias and deserves the full support of the international community for their efforts, in conjunction with the DRC Government, to establish peace and security in the troubled eastern region. The strong and effective action which MONUC has taken to confront armed militias in the Ituri region is welcome. The EU has made clear its willingness to assist the UN in the reinforcement of MONUC's capabilities to enable it to carry out its essential tasks. It is also to be hoped that renewed efforts will be made by the DRC and Rwandan governments, in close collaboration with MONUC and the FDLR. The continued existence of armed militias in eastern DRC also needs to be confronted, if the transition process in the DRC is to be successfully completed.

MONUC is performing a vital role in seeking to reduce the threat posed by these militias and deserves the full support of the international community for their efforts, in conjunction with the DRC Government, to establish peace and security in the troubled eastern region. The strong and effective action which MONUC has taken to confront armed militias in the Ituri region is welcome. The EU has made clear its willingness to assist the UN in the reinforcement of MONUC's capabilities to enable it to carry out its essential tasks. It is also to be hoped that renewed efforts will be made by the DRC and Rwandan governments, in close collaboration with MONUC and the FDLR — Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda — to build on the latter armed group's important disarmament initiative of 31 March 2005 in which it expressed regret for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and undertook to complete a process of voluntary disarmament and repatriation to Rwanda by the end of June.

The transitional national Government in Kinshasa has, of course, primary responsibility for re-establishing peace and security and effectively exercising its own authority throughout the DRC. Greater efforts are called for by the DRC Government in accelerating the creation of an integrated national army and police force and supporting the process of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration, DDR, if a secure environment is to be created for the holding of national elections. The EU is actively collaborating with the transitional national Government in supporting the process of security sector reform in the DRC, including through deployment of the new EUPOL mission which will offer advice and mentoring to the integrated police unit, IPU, in Kinshasa, which the EU has helped establish. Ireland has contributed €75,000 towards the costs of establishment of the IPU. The EU is also in the process of deploying a second mission, EUS EC DRC, comprising a small planning team to advise key government ministries in the DRC on all issues related to security sector reform. The EU is also providing substantial financial support for the process of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration, DDR, in the DRC.

Ireland and its EU partners remain active in ensuring that international attention continues to focus on the serious situation regarding observance of human rights in the DRC. The EU played a key role in securing agreement on a consensus resolution adopted at the UN Commission for Human Rights in Geneva in April which condemns the ongoing serious violations of human rights throughout the DRC and calls upon the transitional national Government to do all that it can to end impunity as well as to cooperate fully with the ongoing International Criminal Court investigation into serious human rights violations carried out in the DRC since 1 July 2002.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding the political and humanitarian situation in Liberia; the number of Irish nationals serving in the country at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18617/05]

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. Parliamentary and presidential elections are due to be held on 11 October 2005. This election will mark the return of Liberia to a constitutional democracy after 14 years of civil war. The registration process was completed last month, with 1.2 million people registering to vote in the 11 October poll. 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.

President McAleese, accompanied by the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, visited Liberia on 14 December 2004 and met Chairman Bryant, the former 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 2005.

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, Ireland has committed €4.85 million of this pledge.

The United Nations mission in Liberia, UNMIL, was established on 19 September 2003 by UN Security Council resolution 1509. The Irish contingent comprises a motorised infantry battalion of some 410 personnel, together with six 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. Despite recent improvements in the security situation in UN-controlled areas, the Liberian peace process remains fragile. 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. UNMIL has successfully completed its programme of disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation and reintegration, DDRR, for rebel groups which 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 has made a contribution of €1 million to the disarmament, demobilisation and rehabilitation programme in Liberia. 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.

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 2005, 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, tackling corruption, and the judicial system to warrant an easing of sanctions at this time.