Question:
92 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the priorities for Ireland's term of office on the Security Council of the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2246/01]
Written Answers. - UN Security Council.
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:123 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the strategic objectives that have been established arising from our membership of the UN Security Council; and his policy priorities in this regard. [2146/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 123 together.
Ireland became a member of the Security Council on 1 January 2001 for a two year period. Membership of the council has placed Ireland at the centre of decision-making by the body with primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations for international peace and security.
As we made clear during our campaign, Ireland's approach to Security Council membership will be informed by the principles which have inspired our foreign policy under successive Governments. Since joining the UN in 1955, our vocation has been to play a distinctive role in areas such as peacekeeping, nuclear disarmament, human rights and development co-operation. This record was central to our campaign and will guide our actions on the council.
Ireland is nearing the end of its first month on the Council. We were assigned the chair of the Angola Sanctions Committee on 4 January. The committee was established in 1993 to oversee the mandatory sanctions against UNITA, one of the parties to the conflict in Angola. Among the major issues facing Ireland this month have been the renewal of peacekeeping mandates in Lebanon – UNIFIL – and East Timor – UNTAET – discussions on lifting the arms embargo against Ethiopia and Eritrea, consideration of the situation in Sierra Leone and in the Great Lakes region, and a thematic debate on HIV-AIDS.
As we have seen in our first weeks on the council, the agenda is largely dictated by the pressing international issues of the day. It is already clear that African issues will demand much attention. Ireland attracted a high level of support from African nations in the Security Council election and we will remain highly responsive to the need to develop effective conflict prevention strategies for Africa.
As well as chairing the Angola Sanctions Committee, Ireland is also now vice-chair of the sanctions committees on Liberia and Rwanda as well as a member of the other seven Security Council sanctions committees. I am keenly aware that there is an urgent need to identify how sanctions can be targeted effectively without causing suffering to innocent civilian populations. Security Council membership will give Ireland an opportunity to make a positive contribution to the development of a more effective and humane sanctions policy.
Ireland, as a long-standing contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations, is also committed to ensuring that the Security Council puts in place realistic and effective peacekeeping mandates with clear mission goals. We have already participated in a very worthwhile council debate on strengthening co-operation with troop contributing countries.
Ireland will hold the monthly Presidency of the Security Council in October 2001. Our priority will be to manage the business of the council effectively for the month and to ensure that the council reacts speedily to crisis situations as and when they arise. In preparing for the Presidency, the Government will also consider whether the council might take up issues of particular interest to Ireland.