Written answers

Tuesday, 12 July 2011

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Foreign Conflicts

10:00 pm

Photo of Dan NevilleDan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 78: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts he is making to see that human rights standards will be respected for all Sudanese women and men in independent South Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19686/11]

Photo of Dan NevilleDan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 79: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts he is making to see that the popular consultation process in Kordofan and Blue Nile is credible and respected after South Sudan independence on 9 July 2011; his response to the current conflict on the transitional border zones of Sudan; the way the comprehensive peace agreement will be upheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19687/11]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together.

The Republic of South Sudan declared its independence on 9 July in accordance with the terms of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the results of the self-determination referendum held on 9 January 2011. The EU was a witness signatory to the CPA and all EU Member States have agreed to recognise the Republic of South Sudan in accordance with their own domestic procedures. Ireland, for its part, recognised the new state on 9 July following a Government decision taken on 5 July.

However, there are a wide range of issues that have yet to be agreed between the parties including border demarcation, citizenship and oil revenues and the ongoing uncertainty over these issues is a serious concern. The international community must remain engaged to find ways in which these issues can be resolved. In this regard, we welcome the EU comprehensive approach on Sudan agreed at the recent Foreign Affairs Council as laying out the way forward on these issues. I wish to also acknowledge the important role being played by the United Nations and its mission to Sudan, UNMIS, as well as the African Union and IGAD. The establishment of normal relations between the Government of the Republic of Sudan and the Government of the Republic of South Sudan is also important in this regard.

Continuing violence in Southern Kordufan and the resulting humanitarian crisis are a major concern. I welcome the recent agreement between the parties on political and security arrangements in Blue Nile and Southern Kordufan but call on them to conclude a cessation of hostilities agreement as a matter of urgency and to allow full humanitarian access. Only in such circumstances of peace and stability can the popular consultation processes envisaged in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement be agreed upon and conducted in a credible manner. I also call on the Government of the Republic of Sudan and the Government of the Republic of South Sudan to respect the agreement on Abyei and to cooperate fully with the Ethiopian peacekeeping mission and the UN as it seeks to improve the humanitarian situation on the ground.

The international community must remain engaged in seeking to promote human rights standards both in the Republic of Sudan and the new Republic of South Sudan. Through membership of such organisations as the African Union, and the United Nations, the new State of the Republic of South Sudan will have to play its part in upholding these rights. Ireland will engage with others internationally to help resolve the outstanding issues between Sudan and South Sudan, and will also seek to provide what assistance we can to the very vulnerable population of the new State. Ireland, through Irish Aid, provides considerable humanitarian assistance towards meeting the needs of the people of Sudan, north and south. Since 2008, nearly €24 million has been provided specifically to the south, of a total of more than €50 million provided in humanitarian assistance to Sudan in general. We also contribute to the UN's Common Humanitarian Fund, to which we have contributed €5 million this year.

As regards future assistance, officials from my department visited South Sudan last month, holding political meetings, as well as an assessment team from Irish Aid to see what assistance we might be in a position to offer, as South Sudan is extremely undeveloped and will be in need of assistance for some years to come.

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