Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 393: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the US Government has appointed a transitional co-ordinator for Cuba; if he recognises the Havana Government or the transitional co-ordinator, Mr. Caleb McCarry, as the sovereign Government of Cuba; if he, or any of his officials or any Irish ambassador or officials of an Irish embassy or consulate, has met with Mr. McCarry; if the Government believes it is appropriate for a state to appoint a transitional governor for another state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10590/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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It has been the policy of successive Irish Governments to limit recognition to states and not formally to recognise governments. Diplomatic relations were established between Ireland and Cuba in 1999. Our ambassador in Mexico City is accredited to Cuba. In 2001, Cuba established an embassy in Dublin which, since October 2005, has been headed by a resident ambassador.

I understand that in July 2005 Mr. Caleb McCarry was appointed "Cuba transition co-ordinator" in the US State Department, to direct US Government "actions in support of a free Cuba". To the best of our knowledge, there is no basis for any claim that his function embraces a role as "transitional Governor" of Cuba. Department of Foreign Affairs officials have not met Mr. McCarry in his official capacity since his appointment. Ireland conducts its foreign relations according to the United Nations Charter, article 2, sub-paragraph 4 of which states: "All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations."

A European Union common position on Cuba has been in place since 1996. The aim of the common position is to "encourage a process of transition to pluralist democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as a sustainable recovery and improvement in the living standards of the Cuban people". We believe that the way to achieve this is by engagement rather than by isolation. Increasingly, and in particular since 2003, the Cuban authorities have had recourse to more coercive measures against dissidents and civil society more generally, including, in the course of the past six months, increased levels of "acts of repudiation" whereby activists have been maltreated, expelled from their dwellings and beaten up with the connivance or encouragement of the Government.

Notwithstanding these disappointing actions, Ireland and our EU partners will continue to persevere with our policy of constructive engagement with Cuba with a view ultimately to seeing the aims of the common position achieved, namely, the initiation of a transition to a system of pluralist democracy embracing human rights and fundamental freedoms.