Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised with the Chinese Government the Amnesty Report suggesting that China has sold weapons to conflicts in Sudan, Burma and Nepal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25236/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the report, referred to by the Deputy, was only released on 11 June 2006. It is still being studied by my Department. While I could not, therefore, have raised the Report with my Chinese counterpart, Minister Li, when we met on 12 May in Beijing, I did discuss the broader question of the internal conflict in Sudan. Minister Li emphasised China's support for the Darfur Peace Agreement and agreed on the need for all parties to be brought on board as quickly as possible.

Ireland, together with its partners in the EU, fully supports the current UN arms embargo on both government and non-government forces in Darfur.

I also conveyed to the Chinese Foreign Minister the Government's deep concern about the situation in Burma and urged the Chinese Government to use its good offices with the Burmese Authorities, including in relation to the position of Aung San Suu Kyi. I should add that Ireland recently backed the renewal of the EU arms embargo against Burma, which was renewed for a further year.

I welcome recent positive developments in Nepal and trust that they represent an important step towards full democracy and sustainable peace in Nepal. There is, I might add, no arms embargo in place against Nepal.