Tibet Support - Ireland

120 Upper Glenageary Road, Glenageary, Co. Dublin, Ireland

Tel. & Fax: +3531-285 1809 Tel: +3531-285 5443

Contact: Neil Steedman

Press Release - 9 April 1996

Opposition Leader Asserts Tibetans' Right to Self-Determination

The Irish Government, which will hold the Presidency of the European Union from JuIy-December 1996, have declared a commitment to "place a strong emphasis on human rights issues" and to seek membership of the UN Commission on Human Rights.

Following an initiative by the Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dick Spring TD, Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs held an unprecedented programme of public consultations last year. This included a series of public seminars in which non-governmental organisations, including Tibet Support Group-Ireland, were invited to participate and to make written submissions on Ireland's future foreign policy.

The result, a 346-page "White Paper on Foreign Policy: Challenges and Opportunities Abroad" was published by the Irish Government at the end of March 1996. The document includes a 25-page chapter on human rights and refers to them extensively throughout.

The White Paper states: "As a reflection of its concern for human rights, the Government have decided to take a number of measures, including the allocation of additional resources, to ensure a continuing strong profile for human rights issues in Irish foreign policy. Within Ireland, these measures include the establishment of a Human Rights Unit within the Department of Foreign Affairs and the creation of structures to link this Unit to other actors in the human rights field.

"Externally, the Government intend to place a strong emphasis on human rights issues during the Irish Presidency of the EU, and to initiate a campaign to seek membership of the UN Commission on Human Rights."

Other proposals contained in the White Paper include:

* A need for an International Criminal Court,

* A UN Code of Conduct for conventional arms transfers,

* Uniform and strict application of EU criteria for arms transfers,

* New multi-lateral export controls for arms and dual-use items,

* A need for an end to nuclear testing by China,

* A 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty,

Responding to the White Paper's publication in a speech to Dail Eireann (Ireland's principal House of Parliament) on 26th March 1996, the Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Fianna Fail Party. Mr. Bertie Ahern TD, said:

"The truth is that the people of East Timor and the people of Tibet have the right to national self-determination, which they are being denied by oppressive colonial regimes who have no regard for human rights. When the Communist regime collapses in China, I have no doubt the Tibetan people will seek and I hope recover their freedom. They will not be greatly impressed by the political cowardice of countries who were unwilling to confront China politically on the issue, the way they were prepared to support the Palestinians or the Namibians."

Mr. Dick Spring is Leader of the Labour Party, which is currently in Government in coalition with the Fine GaeI Party and Democratic Left Party.

The previous Government was a coalition between Fianna Fail and Labour. A General Election is likely in Ireland in the spring/summer of 1997