Trevor Sargent
Question:106 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the Government's chairmanship of the United Nations Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23830/01]
Vol. 542 No. 2
106 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the Government's chairmanship of the United Nations Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23830/01]
I visited New York at the beginning of Ireland's Presidency of the Security Council earlier this month and held a range of high-level consultations on the agenda of the council for October. I met with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and senior UN officials and with US Secretary of State Colin Powell in Washington. I also took the opportunity to meet with all other members of the Security Council and representatives of NGO groups.
My consultations included the subjects of terrorism, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East and African issues and have been of great assistance in ensuring that our presidency of the council is fully informed. I intend to make a further visit to New York towards the end of the month and during this period I will chair an important meeting of the Security Council on East Timor.
As President of the Security Council this month I would like to assure the House that we are engaging effectively on the range of issues on the SECCO agenda on the basis of our traditional commitment to peacekeeping, disarmament, development co-operation and human rights. In addition to ensuring the efficient conduct of the council's business, we will continue to bring an objective case-by-case analysis of the issues coming before the council. I believe that this approach has won us considerable respect among other council members and enabled us to have a significant influence on a number of conflict situations.
Our presidency provides us with an opportunity to promote Ireland's broad foreign policy objectives and interests, consistent with the safeguarding of international peace and security. During October we are playing a key role in conflict resolution, peace-building, peacekeeping, human rights and humanitarian matters in areas of conflict around the world from Afghanistan to the Congo.