The Minister for Foreign Affairs has pledged the Government's support for the call by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for an international commission of inquiry into atrocities in East Timor.
Mr Andrews said on Saturday that Ireland, together with its EU partners, was fully committed to seeing that the people of East Timor enjoyed the independence which they had freely chosen.
"The poll itself took place peacefully and reflected the clear wish of the people of East Timor to be independent. It was followed by systematic and ruthless attacks on the population. We have condemned these atrocities in the strongest terms," the Minister said.
"The perpetrators of crimes against humanity must be brought to justice. This is an issue that is being pursued by Mrs Mary Robinson. We fully support the High Commissioner's call for an international commission of inquiry. A commission under the auspices of the Secretary-General should command universal respect and trust."
In a wide-ranging address to the 54th session of the UN General Assembly, the Minister said that all East Timorese refugees, wherever they were, must be allowed to return to their homes.
On the North, Mr Andrews said it was far from certain that the review of the Belfast Agreement would succeed. "But there is no good reason why it should fail. I cannot believe that it is in the interests of anyone that it should. The institutional blueprint sketched out in the agreement, and endorsed by the people, offers the only rational basis for a lasting peace and for reconciliation through practical partnership and common action.
Mr Andrews said it was not surprising that the stalemate of the past months had led to some doubt and disillusionment. "But I am convinced that there remains a huge reservoir of support for the agreement, within both the unionist and nationalist communities, provided each can be confident that all aspects will be implemented in full.
"People are open to persuasion if a reasonable accommodation is on offer. There is, therefore, an onus on all political representatives to be generous and creative, to be prepared to offer leadership to their own constituencies while reaching out to others - not recklessly, but courageously and honourably."
On Third World debt, the Minister said that Ireland would wish to see the strongest possible link between debt relief and poverty alleviation.
"Ireland regrets the decline in flows of official development assistance to historic lows. This situation must be reversed.
An allocation of £400,000 in humanitarian aid for East Timor has been announced by the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ms Liz O'Donnell.
It is the first part of a £1 million package of assistance recently agreed by the Department and is being allocated to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the UN Children's Fund and the UN Office for Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Speaking to the press in New York, Mr Andrews refused to comment on reports earlier this year that he will resign from the Cabinet this autumn. He said the reports were "simply rumours".