Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the developing peace process in Colombia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48862/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The start last month in Norway of peace negotiations between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is a positive development that I warmly welcome. The next round of the negotiations will take place in Cuba. This peace process represents an important opportunity to bring an end to the long conflict that has caused much suffering in Colombia and to provide the people of that country with the peace and stability that they deserve. We in Ireland understand very well the challenges, the opportunities and the imperative of peace building. We appreciate the responsibility that rests on the parties to these negotiations and wish them success in their important work. We also support the Governments of Cuba and Norway that are, on the request of both parties, acting as facilitators to this process. If invited, we are ready within available means to assist the parties to the talks and the facilitators, particularly as regards advice on the lessons learned from our own peace process.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason that he is not actively supporting a peace process in Syria in view of the fact that it appears that Ireland is siding with one side of the conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48863/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Ever since the Syria crisis erupted 20 months ago at the beginning of a violent conflict that has so far claimed the lives of more than 20,000 people, Ireland has called consistently for an immediate end to the violence from all sides as a prelude to a necessary dialogue among all Syrians that should pave the way towards a peaceful and orderly resolution of the conflict. As I made clear when I addressed the UN General Assembly last September, what is happening in Syria is an affront to humanity, involving indiscriminate violence on an appalling scale which is not just confined to one side.

However, I equally made clear in my UNGA address that if events in the Arab world over the past two years have taught us anything, it is that leaders who deny legitimate demands for greater political and economic freedom, and who instead resort to waging war on their own people, will inevitably lose the right to rule. This clearly applies to Bashar al-Assad and the actions of his regime. It will ultimately be for the Syrian people to determine their own political future. The international community must encourage all possible steps to end the violence and to initiate a genuine, inclusive political process within Syria in which all Syrians can freely participate.

Ireland is fully supportive of the efforts being made by the UN/League of Arab States Joint Special Representative, Lakhdar Brahimi, to promote a political settlement. Mr Brahimi enjoys the full confidence of the EU and of the international community as he endeavours to broker an early cease fire and to build on the earlier peace efforts undertaken by his predecessor, Kofi Annan. He is continuing to work closely with all members of the UN Security Council and with regional actors in an attempt to devise a political way forward. He has also recently met with Syrian Government and Opposition representatives.

There will also need to be accountability for the very many serious human rights violations and war crimes committed during the conflict. The latest report of the UN Commission of Inquiry has clearly recognised that opposition forces are also guilty of committing gross human rights violations, though to a lesser extent than the Syrian Government. Ireland has consistently and strongly condemned all abuses and crimes and has called for the perpetrators, no matter who they are, to be brought to justice. That is why I continue to support the calls which have been made for the situation in Syria to be referred by the Security Council to the International Criminal Court.

Ultimately, it remains for the Syrian people themselves to determine who should lead a new democratic, inclusive and pluralist Syria. Ireland and its EU and international partners will continue to support all efforts to end the violence and suffering of the Syrian people and to promote the earliest possible political settlement and transition within Syria.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the Argentina Republic on the issue of sovereignty of the Malvinas and to challenge the United Kingdom refusal to resume negotiations on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48864/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) has been the subject of resolutions adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations, as well as its special committee on decolonisation. In its most recent resolution, adopted on 14 June 2012, the committee expressed its regret that, in spite of the widespread international support for negotiation between the two Governments, implementation of General Assembly resolutions on the question had not yet started. The Governments were requested to consolidate the current process of dialogue and cooperation through the resumption of negotiations in order to find as soon as possible a peaceful solution to the dispute relating to the question of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), in accordance with resolutions 2065 (XX) and 3160 (XXVIII), among others. I would encourage the UK and Argentina, two countries with which Ireland has excellent bilateral relations, to pursue a peaceful resolution of their differences on this matter, based on the relevant UN resolutions.