The 20th century has seen unparalleled economic and technological progress, the pace of which continues to accelerate as we move into the new millennium. But the last 100 years have also been stained by bloodshed on an unequalled scale. Moreover, the shape of conflict is changing. While there continue to be wars between states, the 1990s, in particular, have witnessed appalling violence within frontiers. The victims are, more than ever, the innocent.
It is the duty of the international community to find ways to resolve conflict and, vitally, to intensify our efforts to prevent it. To do so, if we are to give practical effect to the founding principles of the United Nations, we need to develop fresh approaches which take account of new realities.
Ireland is a small country. We should not exaggerate our influence. But I know, from the people I have met in all the corners of the globe, and from all I have seen myself, that we can make a difference. We can and do play a distinctive and significant role.
Ireland's foreign policy reflects the interests and principles of our people. It is characterised by a strong emphasis on international co-operation, human rights, disarmament, development and humanitarian concerns.
Since I took office, and especially this year, I have been doing all I can to ensure that our basic values find practical expression.
As the year ends, I look back with considerable pride at achievements in Belfast, Brussels and beyond, but I am deeply saddened by continuing conflict and poverty throughout the world.
In 1999 we saw the consolidation of peace and agreement on the island of Ireland, an objective that in large part motivated me to enter politics more than 30 years ago. After many dispiriting months of stagnation, we at last moved decisively towards the fulfilment of the promise of the Good Friday agreement.
All of the interlocking institutions of the agreement, reflecting the various strands of our relationships in these islands, North and South, east and west, have come to life. The Taoiseach played a central and crucial role in this as he had done in a quite exceptional way in the days leading up to Good Friday, 1998.
As Peter Mandelson and I exchanged the notifications which brought the British-Irish Agreement into force, at a ceremony in Iveagh House on December 2nd, we rightly celebrated all that had been achieved, and all that the agreement offers, but I also found myself reflecting on the pain and sacrifices of the past.
Nor is there any place for complacency, as much hard work remains to be done in key areas such as policing, security normalisation, justice and equality. Making the new institutions work in the interests of all our people will be a challenging task.
The decommissioning issue needs to be resolved through the work of the de Chastelain Commission. But the Government is convinced there will be no turning back. Having sought for so long to achieve the historic, we must now show the same commitment to the down-to-earth business of living and working together, in partnership, with equality, trust and mutual respect.
We can take pride in how far we've come. There is huge international interest in the Good Friday agreement. No two situations are alike, but I hope and believe that there may be some useful lessons to be learned from how we on this island have learned to handle our conflict.
Some of my most abiding memories of the year will be of the time I was privileged to spend among the remarkable people of East Timor. My first visit there was in April, at a time both of hope and of great uncertainty for the Timorese. Indonesia had announced its willingness to hold a referendum, but the arrangements for it had yet to be made.
I witnessed the horrific violence of the pro-integrationist militias and sought to alert the international community to what was happening to a brave, peace-loving people.
It was my great privilege to return to East Timor in August as the personal representative of the Finnish EU Presidency and to observe the people expressing their overwhelming desire for independence in the referendum. As I recalled our own ancestors' struggle for freedom and democracy, it was a deeply moving experience. Like many other people who participated in that mission, I was shocked by the campaign of violence and mayhem that followed as the militias sought to overthrow the will of the people. Such was the chaos and brutality that it became impossible for people with friends and family in East Timor to ascertain whether they were dead or alive. Many were murdered. Many had their homes destroyed. Many had to flee.
The Government urged the international community, through direct contact with key foreign leaders and in our interventions in the EU and the UN, to take the necessary action. We are greatly pleased that the international military force in East Timor, Interfet, has now succeeded in restoring peace.
In sending members of our Army Rangers to East Timor, Ireland was pleased to be able to play a role in that important mission. We also actively supported actions to have human rights violations investigated and to assist with the return of refugees. The East Timorese leader, Mr Xanana Gusmao, and the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Mr Ramos Horta, came to Dublin in October to express their appreciation to the people of Ireland for our support and assistance.
Much work remains to be done in East Timor. The people are beginning to restore their country and to prepare for independence. As we move into the new century, the Government will remain committed to doing all that we can to assist in this work.
If the people of East Timor are now able to look to the future with some degree of hope, there are others who, as the century draws to a close, continue to have their lives ravaged and destroyed by conflict.
In Chechnya, for example, there is still no sign of an end to the fighting that has resulted in enormous misery and hardship for the civilian population there. Earlier this month I called in the Russian ambassador to make it clear that the Government remains very disturbed at what is happening in Chechnya, and, in particular, at the tragic consequences of the military campaign for civilians.
I stressed the urgent need for an early restoration of peace and stability in the region. As chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, I have conveyed to the Russian authorities Ireland's readiness to do everything possible to help to bring about a lasting settlement.
We have also sought to bring relief to people displaced by the conflict, providing humanitarian assistance to refugees who find themselves in desperate need at the coldest time of the year. In this, as in many other areas, Liz O'Donnell has been outstanding.
In Kosovo, too, we have seen the brutal toll conflict exacts, particularly on civilian populations, and have done what we can to respond. We have supported international efforts to restore order in the region and have sent members of the Garda Siochana and the Defence Forces to participate in the international mission there.
In this year alone, we provided £6 million in humanitarian and other assistance - aid which went not only to help Kosovar refugees but also to assist with emergency reconstruction and rehabilitation in Kosovo itself.
At home, Government departments, local authorities, health boards, NGOs and local communities have all played their part, rallying round to ensure that the 800 or so Kosovar refugees in the temporary protection programme, initiated in early April, are provided with the care and services they need. I take the opportunity to pay tribute to all who have participated in this effort.
We need to address problems of conflict and instability in a comprehensive, multi-faceted way. Among the underlying causes of many conflicts are poverty and exclusion. I am proud that our official Development Aid Programme is operating well and that in 1999 the budget reached its highest level ever, at £178 million. The Government is committed to increasing this figure steadily and substantially each year.
This year I have seen in Tanzania, Mozambique and Uganda what can be achieved on the ground. The Irish people should be proud that, through the Development Aid Programme and, under the direction of Liz O'Donnell. they are, in some of the poorest countries of the world, helping babies to survive, giving children a chance to grow up healthy and well educated, empowering women and helping communities to develop and prosper.
We have a proud record in international peacekeeping. That is why it is important that, on December 1st, we joined Partnership for Peace. A lengthy and full debate in Dail Eireann was followed by a clear approval of the Government's decision to join. Partnership for Peace in no way conflicts with Ireland's policy of military neutrality; critically, I believe that it will assist us in remaining among the core countries in UN-mandated peacekeeping.
We continue to work for international disarmament. Recognition of our active role came in August with Ireland's admission to the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament. As a full member, Ireland is now participating in all of its working bodies to secure, in particular, the elimination of weapons of mass destruction.
At the UN General Assembly we were at the forefront in urging action on nuclear disarmament through the New Agenda Initiative. Earlier in the year, at the first meeting of signatories of the Landmines Convention, in Mozambique, one of the most landmine-infested countries in the world, on behalf of the Government, I stressed our commitment to their elimination throughout the world.
Our primary focus inevitably remains on the European Union. I was pleased with the way the Agenda 2000 negotiations, which ended in Berlin in March, successfully balanced the budgetary changes necessitated by the Union's financial needs and our own economic success with the protection of Ireland's fundamental interests.
I look forward to the successful outcome of the enlargement negotiations now under way. This will pose substantial additional questions about the way the EU functions, both internally and externally: we will approach the debate positively and enthusiastically.
Looking ahead, many of the challenges we will face in 2000 are already apparent. We must work hard to exploit the full potential of the new North-South and British-Irish institutions established under the Good Friday agreement. An important opportunity for Ireland to have a voice at the highest level within the UN is presented by the elections to the Security Council for the 2001-2002 term, which will take place in October.
We have been mounting a vigorous campaign. There is stiff competition, with just two of four European candidates - Ireland, Italy, Norway and Turkey - to be elected. But I have been encouraged by the warm response our canvassing has received to date.
Our foreign service needs to change and develop constantly so that it can continue to pursue effectively our political and economic priorities throughout the world, and new initiatives to encourage this have been put in train. We need to demonstrate in each and every area of our work that we add a value.
But there will be other challenges which cannot be predicted. That is the nature of international relations. If, however, we remain faithful to our principles and values, and if we continue to work closely with our partners in the EU, the Council of Europe, the UN and in other fora, I am convinced we can build on this year's successes.
There is much to do, but also much to look forward to. Ireland has a proud and distinctive record to uphold and the Government is determined that this is not only maintained but is further and innovatively developed.