Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent meetings between the Ethiopian Prime Minister and Mr. Louis Michel on behalf of the European Union; if Ireland will be represented at the court hearings at which members of the opposition will be arraigned; if he has further proposals for mediation on the internal difficulties following the elections;and if he favours the referral of the Ethiopian-Eritrean dispute to the international border resolution group. [6996/06]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the political situation in Ethiopia; the effect the situation will have on the level of funding that Ethiopia will receive from here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6816/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 129 together.

Ireland, along with our EU partners, continues to emphasise to the Government of Ethiopia, most recently in a meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr. Meles Zenawi, on 17 January 2006, the need to respect human rights and the rule of law, to strengthen the democratisation process by opening a non-conditional dialogue with all opposition parties and allowing those parties and civil society organisations to operate freely and to allow the private media operate without restrictions.

Some recent positive developments should be noted. An independent investigation commission to examine the June and November violence was set up by the Ethiopian Parliament in late November and is expected to report-back by end February. An initiative to reform Ethiopia's parliamentary rules of procedure and strengthen the role of the opposition is under way. The Prime Minister has recently indicated some flexibility regarding the composition of the national election board and willingness to consider amendments to the draft press law. It is understood that 141 out of 173 opposition MPs have now entered parliament. Dialogue is under way between the Government and two opposition political parties. The majority of detainees arrested during the unrest last November have been released. Also, the necessary minimum number of the opposition councillors who won control of the Addis Ababa City Council last May have recently agreed to take their seats, which should allow the opposition to manage the affairs of 3 million people in Ethiopia's capital.

However there remain issues of serious concern, particularly the forthcoming trial of opposition leaders and other political detainees, which is due to begin on 23 February 2006. Some 131 individuals, including the elected leaders of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, CUD, the largest opposition party, journalists, and civil society leaders are currently facing the most serious charges of treason and genocide. Ireland, along with our EU partners, has underlined to the Ethiopian Prime Minister the need for the trial to be conducted in a transparent, fair and speedy manner in accordance with international standards. We have also called for the release of the detainees on bail as a confidence building measure and for better access to detainees by families, lawyers and the international community. The Prime Minister has agreed to an EU request for international observation of the trial. A distinguished international lawyer, Mr. Michael Ellman, will observe the trial on behalf of the EU and provide a report. EU embassies in Addis Ababa, including Ireland, will also monitor developments.

The EU Development Commissioner, Mr. Louis Michel, met Prime Minister Meles in Brussels on 4 February 2006 and subsequently visited Addis Ababa on 16 to 17 February 2006. The Commissioner held a three hour meeting with the imprisoned CUD leadership, the first time such access had been allowed to a representative of the international community, and also met the Prime Minister twice.

The Prime Minister confirmed to Commissioner Michel that international legal observers will be welcome at the trial, indicated that the trial could be speeded up and assured him that the Government was committed to dialogue. While there may be some concessions in relation to the charges against the detainees, indications are that these would not be sufficient to allow their release on bail.

The CUD leadership told the Commissioner that its main ambition was to resume dialogue with the Government on a package of democratic reforms. It also stressed that it respected the Ethiopian Constitution and would not support any attempt to overthrow the Government.

Recent negative political developments in Ethiopia have raised questions about Ireland's development cooperation programme there. In the light of these developments Ireland, along with other donors, has been reviewing our aid activities and plans in Ethiopia. In making any assessment and future decisions about Ireland's co-operation with Ethiopia, I will be guided by the situation on the ground and by close contact and liaison with Ireland's EU and like-minded development partners.

The US is pursuing its efforts to facilitate progress in the stalled Ethiopia-Eritrea peace process. A meeting of the Witnesses to the 2000 Algiers Peace Agreement is taking place today in New York at which the Austrian Presidency is representing the EU. It is hoped that this meeting will be followed shortly by a meeting of the Ethiopia- Eritrea boundary commission, in which both countries would participate and that this will lead to a quick start to the demarcation of the border. Ireland and the EU remain fully committed to the implementation of the Algiers agreement. We welcome the US initiative and hope that it will promote stability between the parties and lay the foundation for sustainable peace in the region.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the contacts that have been made with the military regime in Burma with regard to the detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6843/06]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his position with regard to the diplomatic relationship between Ireland and the military regime in Burma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6830/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 165 together.

Ireland takes a consistently strong position on Burma in relevant bilateral contacts, in the European Union framework and at the United Nations. Together with our EU partners, we avail of all opportunities to condemn the abuse of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Burma and deplore the lack of progress towards democracy. Our goal remains an end to human rights violations, the release and restoration of liberty to Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners, and the realisation of democracy, peace and prosperity for the long-suffering people of Burma.

I have been deeply concerned about the ongoing detention under house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi and use every available occasion to highlight her plight and to call for her immediate release. I made a statement on 24 October last to mark the tenth anniversary of Aung San Suu Kyi's detention in which I called for her release and the release of all other political prisoners. In my statement on behalf of Ireland to the 60th Session of the UN General Assembly last September, I referred to the continuing denial of human rights and democracy in Burma. I stated that this was most acutely symbolised by the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and that her ordeal was not forgotten by the people of Ireland.

On 28 November last, Ireland joined EU partners in issuing a statement expressing deep concern about the reports that Aung San Suu Kyi's detention had been extended. The statement said that the release of all political prisoners would help facilitate an open and genuine dialogue involving all ethnic and political groups in Burma in the interests of national reconciliation and the resolution of Burma's long-standing political and humanitarian problems.

I was delighted to hear that the Olof Palme Memorial Fund in Sweden, established in memory of the assassinated former Swedish Prime Minister, has awarded Aung San Suu Kyi the Olof Palme Prize 2005 for her unyielding fight for a democratic Burma. The prize is due to be received on her behalf at a ceremony in Stockholm on 28 February.

The most recent EU meeting with Burma was an EU-Burma informal troika meeting at official level held in London on 30 November in the margins of the Asia-Europe senior officials meeting at which my Department was represented. The EU side recalled our concern at the situation in Burma and the EU's desire to see real progress in the roadmap towards democracy. The EU statement calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, was recalled.

I assure the Deputy that I will continue to raise concerns about Burma on all possible occasions and to work for real progress there. I am pleased that the UN Security Council held a briefing on the situation in Burma last December. The UN Secretary General is expected to appoint a new special representative on Burma in the near future to replace Mr. Razali Ismail who resigned at the end of last year. I hope that the new special representative and the UN special rapporteur on the situation on Human Rights in Burma, Mr. Sergio Pinheiro, will be allowed to visit Burma at an early date and to meet with all the key players there. I also welcome the fact that ASEAN, the Association of South East Asian Nations, announced last December that it would send the Malaysian Foreign Minister as an envoy to Burma.

The EU applies a range of sanctions and restrictive measures against Burma, referred to as the EU Common Position, which are up for renewal in April 2006. In view of the absence of any progress in Burma, Ireland will be strongly supporting the renewal of the measures for a further year.

As regards Deputy Hogan's question, Ireland announced the establishment of diplomatic relations on a non-resident basis with Burma on 13 February 2004. However, given that the progress which had been anticipated in 2004, most notably the meeting of an open and unhindered national convention and the release of Auang San Suu Kyi, did not materialise, the Government decided to put on hold the exchange of ambassadors. Any decision to proceed with an exchange of Ambassadors with Burma will have to await positive and significant moves by the Burmese Government.