Written answers

Wednesday, 28 May 2014

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Foreign Conflicts

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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25. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the EU's engagement in the Ukrainian crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23172/14]

Photo of Seán CroweSeán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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30. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the escalating crisis in eastern Ukraine; and if he is concerned that the violence will escalate with the upcoming presidential elections. [23185/14]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 30 together.

Let me begin by welcoming the holding of Presidential elections in Ukraine on Sunday and the election in the first round of Petro Poroshenko. While there were difficulties in holding the elections in Eastern Ukraine owing to the security situation, elsewhere millions of ordinary citizens exercised their democratic right in choosing the future direction of their country. I hope that this represents an important stage on the path towards the stabilisation of Ukraine and the consolidation of an inclusive, representative and peaceful future. I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the role played by the 17 Irish observers who have been deployed under the auspices of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

From the outset, the European Union has played an important role in efforts to facilitate a resolution to the crisis in Ukraine. In addition to its scheduled meetings, the EU Foreign Affairs Council has met twice in extraordinary session to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the EU Heads of State and Government also have discussed Ukraine in extraordinary session as well as during the regular meetings of the European Council. The Heads of State and Government discussed the crisis again yesterday evening and considered prospects for progress following Sunday’s elections.

For its part, the European Commission has also been actively engaged. On 13 May, President Barroso and members of the Commission met with Prime Minister Yatsenyuk and members of the Ukrainian government in Brussels. As the President of the Commission stated, the joint meeting is part of the EU’s continued support for a stable, sovereign, democratic and peaceful Ukraine. President Barroso and the Prime Minister signed a new “State Building Contract” programme worth €355 million, plus €10 million to support civil society, which will help the government to address short-term economic stabilisation needs and implement governance reforms aimed at promoting inclusive socio-economic development. The joint meeting in Brussels was followed up with a visit to Kiev by Commissioner Fule on 16 May.

At its most recent meeting earlier this month, the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) reaffirmed the European Union’s support for Ukraine’s unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and called upon the Russian Federation to do likewise. The Council reiterated the EU’s strong condemnation of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol in March and regretted the presence of President Putin at the military parade in Sevastopol on 9 May. The FAC reconfirmed the EU’s full commitment to the Geneva Joint Statement of 17 April on initial concrete steps to de-escalate tensions and restore security for all. In light of the recent developments and in the absence of any steps towards de-escalation, the Council agreed to expand the criteria allowing individuals and entities to be subject to restrictive measures and moved to impose sanctions against a further thirteen named individuals as well as two energy companies in Crimea.

The EU has expressed alarm at the continued efforts by pro-Russian separatists to destabilise Eastern and Southern Ukraine and has been clear that it will not recognise the illegitimate and illegal “referenda” in Donetsk and Luhansk. The FAC conclusions call for a thorough investigation into the tragic events in Odessa on 2 May and for all those responsible to be brought to justice. The EU encourages the Ukrainian authorities to maintain their measured approach in pursuing law and order operations and calls on all sides to the conflict to contribute further to reducing tensions. Ireland regrets the loss of all life in Ukraine.

I strongly welcome the beginning of direct intra-Ukrainian talks in the framework of Ukraine’s ‘national dialogue’. The first round table took place in Kiev on 14 May with a second round on 17 May in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv. The series of round tables brings together national lawmakers, government figures and regional officials and is in line with the ‘roadmap’ proposed by the Swiss Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE. In common with our EU partners, Ireland hopes that the roundtables can serve to build confidence and lead to a stabilisation of the situation allowing for a negotiated, peaceful and inclusive settlement to the crisis.

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