Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 381: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the meetings he had at EU, international or government level as to the present situation in the Congo; his plans to assist the problems in the affected areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42200/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The ongoing crisis in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a matter of grave concern, both in terms of its implications for the humanitarian situation, and for the stability of the wider Great Lakes region. I am particularly distressed by reports of attacks by all sides against the civilian population, by the prevalence of sexual and gender based violence as part of the conflict, and by the plight of over a million people who are now displaced people in the eastern part of the DRC.

The Government fully supports the international efforts currently underway to find a solution to the crisis in eastern DRC. UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has been heavily engaged in discussions in an effort to stabilize the situation. The appointment of the former Nigerian President, Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo, an experienced mediator in regional disputes, as the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General is a particularly helpful development. I welcome also the efforts of DRC's neighbours to come together to help solve this problem at the Nairobi Regional Conference on 7 November, and I urge them to persist in their efforts.

My EU colleagues and I discussed the crisis in DRC at our informal meeting in Marseilles on 3 November, and again, most recently, at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 10 November 2008. At that meeting, we were briefed by French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, on his recent visit to eastern DRC with the UK Foreign Secretary, David Miliband. We agreed on Council Conclusions, which urged all parties to respect the ceasefire and the Goma and Nairobi peace agreements. The EU is extremely concerned by the difficulties facing MONUC, but at present we believe it would be more effective to strengthen our cooperation with MONUC rather than to initiate steps towards a separate ESDP military mission. In addition, the EU will, of course, continue to contribute to diplomatic efforts. Work is ongoing at official level to flesh out how the EU can best support peace efforts in the eastern DRC, and my colleagues and I will discuss the issue again at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 8 December.

Ireland has been quick to respond to the humanitarian dimension of this crisis. Already in 2008, we have committed over €12 million in humanitarian aid funding to DRC, and our support to the country since 2006 totals over €33 million. In response to the worsening situation in the east, the Government promised up to €1 million in extra funding for humanitarian relief in North Kivu.