Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 518: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will support Argentina in their efforts to reclaim Malvinas and support them at a UN level. [20209/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The issue to which the Deputy refers concerns a long-term dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom regarding the question of sovereignty over the territories of the Falkland (Malvinas), South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, to which both countries lay claim.

Since 1965, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted ten Resolutions on the question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). The most recent Resolution was adopted in 1988, in which the General Assembly requested the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom to initiate negotiations with a view to finding the means to resolve peacefully and definitively the problems between both countries, including all aspects of the future of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.

The question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) has also been the subject of successive Resolutions adopted by the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization, most recently in June 2007. The Special Committee on Decolonization expressed its regret that, despite widespread international support for talks between the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom to resolve the issue, implementation of the General Assembly resolutions aimed at peacefully ending that dispute had not yet begun. Ireland is fully supportive of the Resolutions adopted under the aegis of the United Nations. I would encourage both countries to resume their negotiations in the interest of pursuing a peaceful solution to this dispute, as provided for in the relevant Resolutions.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 519: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will actively support efforts to develop a peace process in Columbia. [20210/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Government of Colombia has repeatedly stated its commitment to bringing to an end all terrorism in Colombia within the framework of the Justice and Peace Law. This Law, passed in 2005, provides an overall legal framework for the demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration of illegal armed groups into Colombian society. Since the process of peace negotiations between the Colombian Government and the right-wing paramilitary group, Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC), began in 2003, between 30,000 and 40,000 combatants have been demobilized. The Government of Colombia is currently engaging in dialogue with the left-wing guerrilla group known as the Ejército de Liberación Nacional de Colombia (ELN) in pursuit of a negotiated peace agreement. Negotiations between the major left-wing guerrilla group, the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), and the Government have not yet commenced.

The General Affairs and External Relations Council of the European Union most recently adopted Conclusions on Colombia on 3 October 2005. Ireland was actively involved in the negotiation of these Conclusions, which principally addressed the Justice and Peace Law. The Council considered that the Justice and Peace Law, which was adopted through a lengthy democratic political process, struck a difficult balance between peace and justice. The Council recognised, and indeed shared many of, the concerns expressed by, amongst others, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights that the law did not take into sufficient account the principles of truth, justice and reparation in accordance with internationally agreed standards. However, the overall assessment of the Council was that, if implemented effectively and in a transparent manner, the Law would have a positive effect on peace-building in Colombia.

In this regard, international support is crucial to underpinning the success of the peace process in Colombia at this critical political phase. In support of the peace process, Ireland, along with a number of other European Union Member States, has given financial support to initiatives aimed at ensuring the effective and transparent implementation of the Justice and Peace Law. Ireland undertook in June 2005 a commitment to contribute €390,000 over a three year period to the Organization of American States' Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (OAS/MAPP). The mission's mandate is to provide comprehensive support to the Colombian peace process, with a focus both on the demobilisation process and on the strengthening of institutions concerned with the rule of law. In accordance with our commitment, Ireland has provided a total of €260,000 to the OAS mission to date, with the final tranche of €130,000 due to be made available later this year.

I also attach the highest priority to the humanitarian and human rights dimension of the OAS mission's role. With this in mind, an additional €130,000 was donated to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in December 2005 for the independent monitoring of human rights issues in support of the OAS mission. Following a review of the IACHR's progress report, a further €127,000 was provided in support of IACHR activities related to human rights aspects of the implementation of the Justice and Peace Law in late 2006.

My Department continues to monitor the situation in Colombia through our Embassy in Mexico City, which is accredited to Colombia, as well as in cooperation with our EU partners with resident diplomatic missions in that country. Ireland is fully supportive of efforts to bring a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Colombia. In this regard, I welcome the convening of the Third International Conference on Colombia, which will be held in Bogotá in November 2007 and in which Ireland will participate.