John Gormley
Ceist:40 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the achievements of Ireland on the UN Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26478/02]
Written Answers. - UN Security Council.
Membership of the Security Council in 2001 and 2002 has afforded an extraordinary opportunity to serve the international community and to promote our values and objectives in the pursuit of international peace and security and human rights for all.
Ireland came to the Security Council two years ago as a strong and passionate supporter of multi lateralism. As I have previously told the House, our approach to issues on the Security Council agenda has been based on our traditional commitment to peacekeeping, disarmament, human rights and development co-operation. We have sought to ensure that the human rights of individuals and the humanitarian needs of populations remain central to discussions at the Council, and have stressed at all times the need to address the root causes of conflict and to respect the principles of international law.
Our Presidency of the Council in October 2001 was highly successful. We sought at all times to provide an effective and efficient chairmanship, progressing the issues on the agenda at that time. Our Presidency coincided with the aftermath of the events of 11 September. We were firm in protecting the role and prerogatives of the Security Council following US and UK military action in Afghanistan and in the fight against terrorism.
It is a matter of fundamental importance for us that the Security Council's primary responsibility has been asserted in the engagement of the international community with Iraq. This arose not simply from a desire to make one last effort to seek Iraq's disarmament through peaceful means, but also from the need to maintain international legitimacy and the desire to act in accordance with international law.
The Middle East conflict represents a profound and real threat to world peace. Ireland has taken a clear and emphatic position on Middle East issues in the Security Council. While it is a matter of regret that more has not been achieved during this period, I believe that we have contributed to a strengthening of the UN's role in efforts to resolve this conflict.
African issues have been a consistent priority for the Security Council during Ireland's period of membership. Significant progress has been made towards resolving the conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Sierra Leone and Ethiopia-Eritrea, and the challenge now is to consolidate that progress and avoid a slide back into war. Ireland took a particularly firm position on the situation in western Sahara, where we have refused to support proposals which could have called into question the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination.
On counter-terrorism, Ireland has played an active role in the construction of a framework of legislative and executive actions against terrorism, while emphasising that human rights must be fully respected in this regard.
Our overall approach has, in my view, enabled Ireland to make a very positive and substantive contribution to the work of the Council. Members of the current and previous Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs will confirm that our efforts have been welcomed and respected by other member states, in and beyond the Council, and by the NGO community. Our close involvement with all the issues and conflicts on the Security Council agenda confirms the positive role that Ireland can and does play both at the United Nations and in other international organisations.