Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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40. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which it is expected that the rights of ethnic minorities are likely to be respected in Crimea; the degree to which the international community expects to be a positive influence in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15887/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of concerns over the treatment of ethnic minorities, principally Tatars and Ukrainian-speakers, living in Crimea. Indeed on 27 March, the Council of Europe's European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) expressed its grave concern at serious allegations of intimidation and discrimination against Ukrainian-speakers and Tatars in the Crimean region of Ukraine, now under the de facto control of the Russian Federation following last month's illegal annexation. Both groups largely abstained from voting in the illegal referendum on 16 March and there are reports that many are now leaving the territory to relocate to other parts of Ukraine.

In its statement, the ECRI - while not accepting the legitimacy of the Russian Federation's absorption of that region - called on it to ensure the protection of Ukrainian speakers and Tatars in Crimea. I fully endorse that call. At a meeting with the Russian Ambassador earlier this week a senior official in my Department, while reiterating our rejection of the validity of the referendum and the illegal annexation of Crimea, at the same time underlined Russia's responsibility to protect the rights of minorities.

The ECRI also called on the Ukrainian authorities to oppose firmly any discrimination against Russian-speakers and other groups in the country. In that regard, I would recall the Conclusions adopted by the European Council on 20-21 March which welcomed the Ukrainian government's commitment to ensure the full protection of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities.

I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to closely monitor developments in relation to the treatment of ethnic minorities in Crimea and indeed throughout Ukraine.