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Ireland will aim to be “a catalyst for further consensus building” when the state takes a seat on the UN Security Council, Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said.
Speaking ahead of the start of Ireland’s two-year term on the 15-nation council on Friday, Coveney said Ireland would hope to “build alliances to do practical things” and try to limit the council’s use of the veto that has been “so damaging. ”For the credibility of the international organization.
“We want Ireland to play a constructive and impactful role, but the only way to do that in international politics and at a table as important as the UN Security Council is to try to build consensus, relationships and trust, and ensure that Ireland stands up. become a credible voice, ”he said.
“This means saying no sometimes and standing up for ourselves and our own principles, even when it’s a friend calling.”
This will be the fourth time that the country occupies one of the 10 rotating seats of the influential body, the last time in 2001 and 2002 after the terrorist attacks of September 11 in the United States.
Explainer: Is winning a seat on the UN Security Council a big deal for Ireland?
Ireland was chosen last year along with India, Kenya, Mexico and Norway as non-permanent members in the powerful inner sanctuary of the United Nations.
Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ireland’s permanent representative to the UN, will represent the state on the council after leading the successful two-year campaign for a seat that saw Ireland beat a strong competitor in Canada in a group with Norway.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defense: Simon Coveney leaves a cabinet meeting at Dublin Castle last month. Photography: Dara Mac Dónaill
Ireland will join five other Niger, Tunisia, Vietnam, Estonia and the Caribbean nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, all currently in the middle of their non-permanent terms.
Five permanent members (China, France, Russia, UK, and US) occupy the remaining seats and have the power to veto any council resolution.
Russia and China greatly increased their use of the veto since 2011, mainly in connection with the conflict in Syria. The United States under President Donald Trump has vetoed a number of Security Council resolutions that have criticized Israel or the United States’ policy toward Israel.
Coveney said he hopes Ireland can “explore and develop middle ground” between the divergent views of the five permanent members that often hamper consensus, result in the veto being used “sometimes with tragic consequences” and preventing the council from “be more effective”. “
He anticipates “a very different approach” on the council when Joe Biden becomes president of the United States on January 20 and embraces a return to multilateralism, abandoning “the bilateral and transaction-focused diplomacy” that Trump pursued during his time at the White House.
He expects to see “a very significant sea change” in US policy on climate change and the 2015 agreement to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon that the Barack Obama administration helped negotiate but that Trump rejected.
“That does not mean that we agree on everything,” said the US minister.
Mr. Coveney said the government has indicated its willingness to take on the role of “facilitator” in an attempt to resuscitate the Iran deal, “possibly the most politically contentious issue on the council.” The deal was agreed between Iran, the five permanent members and Germany.
“We want to be part of the consensus building in the hope that it will be possible to achieve an agreement that involves the United States and, indeed, the acceptance of Iran also in terms of recovering that agreement as a basis for preventing the development of nuclear weapons in Iran. ,” he said.
“It’s not easy, but I think it’s a very interesting area where Ireland can lead.”
Mr Coveney hopes that Ireland will become co-chair of the women, peace and security committee within the council, take a significant role in policy on Somalia and the Horn of Africa, and become involved in providing humanitarian assistance to displaced people. for the war. In Syria.
“We are likely to be a pencil holder in that space, which essentially means trying to coordinate an international response from and through the council. It is quite a complex challenge, ”he said.
Coveney said he hoped Ireland would provide council members with “an independence of mind” based on “adherence to international law, ensuring that multilateralism works and ensuring that states small and large are protected by those systems.”
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