UN: Security measures to deal with terrorism, however desirable and necessary, must still respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern told the 60th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last night.
In a wide-ranging address setting out foreign policy priorities, the Minister stressed the urgency of UN reform and the need to ensure that new agencies agreed at the world summit last week were brought into operation as soon as possible. He welcomed Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and called for "renewed leadership" in the Northern Ireland peace process.
"Once more we meet in the shadow of terrorism," the Minister said. "So many recent and terrible acts remind us that no country is immune - as Ireland knows from its long and bitter experiences."
Mr Ahern had already signed the Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism on Friday and, in his address last night, he called for rapid agreement on a comprehensive convention on combating terrorism, during this session of the assembly.
"The threat of terrorism requires a robust security response," he said. "But that response must also be intelligent, calibrated and proportionate. It must respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. And - though no cause can ever justify terrorism - the political and social conditions within which it breeds must also be addressed."
Ireland was "deeply disappointed" by the lack of progress at the summit in relation to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. "I welcome what appear to be positive developments in regard to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," he said.
Ireland also fully supported the efforts of the "EU 3" - Britain, France and Germany - to ensure that Iran's nuclear programme was "exclusively peaceful".
Reflecting on the overall outcome of the summit, Mr Ahern said the assembled heads of state and government had agreed on "a far-reaching agenda" for change. "Though the summit did not achieve all we hoped for, it was still a major step forward." Ireland would play its part: "The United Nations has no more loyal member than Ireland. But we realise that the UN needs to change, just as the world around it has changed. That has to be our focus over the next year."
He pointed out that, in his summit speech, the Taoiseach gave a commitment to reach the UN target of 0.7 per cent of Gross National Product in overseas aid by 2012, by which time Ireland would be spending up to €1.5 billion annually. "Africa is, and will continue to be, the primary focus for Ireland's aid programme," the Minister said.
Welcoming the summit decision to set up a new agency to assist countries emerging from conflict, the Minister said: "From the start, my country has been a leading proponent of the Peace-Building Commission. Now that it has been agreed, let us work hard to get it up and running by the beginning of 2006."
He also welcomed the decision in principle to establish a Human Rights Council in place of the Commission on Human Rights. "Now the General Assembly must move swiftly to flesh out its modalities and structure. It must be composed and must operate in a way which avoids the failings of the past."
Referring to the Israeli disengagement from Gaza, the Minister praised the "courage and commitment" of Prime Minister Sharon and his government. "Much, however, remains to be done."
He condemned the denial of human rights and democracy in Burma/Myanmar. "This is most acutely symbolised by the continued detention of the heroic Aung San Suu Kyi. The cumulative length of her detention now approaches 10 years. Her ordeal is not forgotten by the people of Ireland."
Turning to Northern Ireland, Mr Ahern said: "The IRA took a major and courageous step forward in July. We now expect early movement to deliver fully, in a verified and convincing way, on its commitment to decommission. There is no room for fudge and, equally, no room for any continuation of paramilitarism or criminality.
"Sinn Féin should also show leadership in moving to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland and to take their place in the governance of policing," Mr Ahern said. Equally, the unionist leadership should do everything possible to discourage the "appalling lawlessness" that had affected loyalist communities and their nationalist neighbours.