asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will sponsor an EC initiative to offer to act as a supervisory agency in the period of transition from Vietnamese Government to Kampuchean coalition, in view of the fact that no other major world power can play that vital role and in view of the danger of a return to power of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge in the absence of adequately supported alternative structures.

The decisive step towards a settlement of the Cambodian problem is the complete and unconditional withdrawal of Vietnamese troops from Cambodia under effective international supervision and control as well as guarantees that Vietnamese forces will not re-enter Cambodia after their withdrawal.

In the event of a withdrawal effective steps should also be taken to prevent any armed group from seizing power by force or resorting to the threat of force to intimidate the Cambodian people and, thereby, deprive them of their right to choose their own destiny. Cambodia must be free both of Vietnamese troops and any propsect of a return to the appalling activities of the Khmer Rouge. Nothing sort of internationally supervised general and free elections can satisfy the genuine aspirations of the Cambodian people for self-determination and independence.

Contacts are at present taking place between the different parties to the conflict and between their supporters as well in order to work out the basis for a definitive settlement. The Twelve of the Community have declared their support for this process. However, it has not as yet arrived at a point where agreement on all the points of a settlement are imminent. When that happens. Ireland will be ready to join with its partners in the Twelve in arranging for appropriate supervisory machinery for the settlement.

In this connection I would like to recall our support for the role of the United Nations in contributing to the resolution of regional conflicts in this or any other area.

Is the Minister saying that a pre-condition to any solution in Kampuchea and Cambodia is the withdrawal of Vietnamese troops? I should have thought that that could be arranged if the Vietnamese were satisfied that the Government would take over once they left, or that at least they could be influenced to adopt that attitude? Would the Minister agree that one of the wishes of most democracies in the world would be that the Khmer Rouge should not have any part in the future government of Kampuchea? Is that not also dependent on the attitude of the Chinese Government providing a refuge for the leader of that organisation?

Deputy Barry has correctly analysed the position. If you like, it is a game of balance between the departing Vietnamese troops and the creation of a new Government, after properly supervised elections, which will not have within it what I would regard as a very serious component, that is the presence of the Khmer Rouge or any element of that kind. Memories may be short but not so short as to forget about Pol Pot and what happened there. If a proper régime or government administration can be put in place — following supervised elections — it would be the hope that that Government could function adequately without the Vietnamese troops or a Khmer Rouge involvement, which would be the ideal of all right-thinking people and which is what the Community of Twelve are agreed should happen. Indeed the Community of Twelve are bending their energies to arrange that matters would evolve precisely in that direction.

Including members of the present régime even though they might not approve of them?

Yes, that is also part of it. I am talking only about the Khmer Rouge. There are other parties, four altogether; three other parties within——

There are problems with the present Government there?

There are problems there, too.

Would the Minister say whether the reply he has just read to this House represents an advance on the United Nations June 1987 plan and that was attempted and rejected? Following from what Deputy Barry has asked the Minister, is what has been offered even a one-sided version of that failed June 1987 initiative? What is the Department's attitude at this stage towards the difficulties that have been created by the seating of the Pol Pot régime at the UN itself? Finally, have the Department been briefed on the present position in relation to the refugee situation in Thailand?

An international conference is to be convened to organise the supervision of the whole situation there. Also, if it is required there is a peacekeeping force.

When is that to happen, Minister?

It is proceeding at the moment. There is the difficulty that the Vietnamese are not keeping up the pace of withdrawal because of what Deputy Barry referred to, the danger that on their vacating power the Khmer Rouge will be in an unduly strong position. A lot of hopes are pinned on what Sihanouk can organise with other parties in Vietnam. The international community, be it the 12 or the United Nations, are willing to help in any way they can.

And the pressure that the Chinese put on Pol Pot.

That is probably the most important element of all. We want both the Vietnamese and any outside influence organisations such as the Khmer Rouge out of the equation. There is enough support in the international community, apart from these two warring groups, for the formation of a government after properly supervised elections and if necessary the presence of a UN peace-keeping force if that is required to hold the ground in the interim period.

We have encroached on time allocated for questions nominated for priority. We must move on to Question No. 46, a question nominated for priority.