Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 343: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the arrangements he has made to monitor the upcoming elections in Zimbabwe and ensure that those elections are free and fair; and if he has plans to send Irish observers to those elections. [9261/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I remain deeply concerned about the economic hardships and political repression which are affecting the ordinary people of Zimbabwe.

Ireland and the EU have supported the process of dialogue between the Zimbabwean Government and the opposition, facilitated by South Africa under a mandate from the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The talks have not formally concluded but, with the elections drawing nearer, there is no longer enough time to implement any agreement which might be arrived at. Such an agreement would have to include tackling repressive security laws, curbs on freedom of assembly, restrictive media laws and state violence, in time to ensure that these elections take place in appropriate conditions.

The European Union will continue to press for free and fair elections right up until 29 March. I will be discussing the deeply worrying situation in Zimbabwe with my EU colleagues at the next General Affairs and External Relations Council on 10 March.

We must also work closely with Zimbabwe's neighbours, in particular South Africa, who are in the best position to influence the situation. In this regard, and given that the Zimbabwean authorities have stated (most recently in a meeting between a Zimbabwean Foreign Ministry official and an Irish Embassy official on 25 February) that neither the EU nor any EU Member States will be invited to observe the elections, monitoring by regional groups becomes even more important than ever.

I understand that SADC has been invited to monitor the upcoming elections in Zimbabwe. For our part, we have proposed to our EU partners that the EU explore with SADC how it plans to respond to this invitation and to encourage such a monitoring mission. In pursuit of this, I have also asked our Embassy in Lusaka to raise this question directly with the Zambian Government, which is currently Chair of SADC.