LAST UPDATE | 1 Sep 2021
IRELAND ASSUMED THE presidency of the UN Security Council for 30 days from today, with a focus expected on the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, peacekeeping, and the climate’s affect on security issues.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney have welcomed taking the helm, at what Coveney called “a critical moment”.
The UN Security Council presidency rotates between members of the Security Council each month, with Ireland taking the presidency role on from India.
As part of the presidency, the Taoiseach will chair a meeting of the Security Council in New York on 23 September, which concerns climate and security – a key concern for Africa in particular.
The Security Council’s annual debate on peacekeeping will be also chaired by Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney in New York.
Ireland’s ambassador to the UN Geraldine Byrne Nason said that Ireland will maintain the council’s focus on Afghanistan during our presidency term.
Speaking at a press conference in New York, Byrne Nason said that the “real litmus test” of the Taliban’s intentions “will be how it treats its women and girls”.
She said the “brave women and girls of Afghanistan have already endured much, and we believe the protection and promotion of human rights must be at the very heart of our collective response to the crisis”.
“We need to look at what the next steps for the UN on the ground can be,” Byrne Nason said.
We know that it’s a very volatile situation on the ground. We know that there are a lot of uncertainties. But what we do know is that whatever form of government emerges in Afghanistan, there is no way that the support of the international community is not needed.
“The international community is needed as a partner in Afghanistan, but it’s a partnership that will need to be earned,” she said.
“There’s no point in the Taliban telling the international community what it wants to hear. We will judge the Taliban by their actions, not by their words.”
Today Ireland moves to the head of the horseshoe table for our September Presidency of the #UNSC!
— Ireland at UN (@irishmissionun) September 1, 2021
We are grateful for the opportunity & ready to take on the responsibilities it brings.
Stay tuned for regular updates on the Presidency! #IrelandUNSC 🇺🇳🇮🇪 @dfatirl pic.twitter.com/U1pJGE3mlV
Minister Simon Coveney met the Indian foreign minister in Slovenia today; he said there was work going on to ensure a “seamless transition from India to Ireland on the Afghan file”.
He said in a statement: “Next week I will be in New York to chair a Council meeting on how we can better manage the transition of UN Peacekeeping Operations to a more comprehensive UN engagement on peacebuilding in countries coming out of conflict.
“We need to ensure that hard-won peace gains are not lost when the peacekeepers leave. I am proud of the history of Defence Forces’ participation in UN peacekeeping which informs Ireland’s work on this issue.”
Climate change and security and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction will also be on the agenda for the month, as well as monthly debates on Israel-Palestine, Yemen, and the humanitarian situation in Syria.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister Coveney said it was “a huge honour” to take hold of the presidency of the UN SC, saying that Afghanistan, Ethiopia, climate, peacekeeping, disarmament, and human rights would be the priorities for the month.
The Taoiseach said:
“As President of the Security Council, we will be dealing with some of the key immediate challenges facing the international community, including the evolving situation in Afghanistan, and an ongoing concerning situation in the Middle East.
We sought a seat on the UN Security Council to make a difference; to bring a principled, constructive and open approach to its vital work of promoting international peace and security, including at critical and challenging times such as this.
Ireland’s ambassador to the UN Geraldine Byrne Nason will be the main chair of meetings on the Security Council during this month.
Trócaire said Ireland has “a critical opportunity” to put its stamp on international relations and to fight for peace and justice as it takes over the presidency.
Its CEO Caoimhe de Barra said: “Ireland has already played an important role since it took its seat on the UN Security Council in January.
“But with the presidency, there is an opportunity to take centre stage on the global political stage this month, and we look forward to seeing leadership and clear actions as we play our part in helping to build a better world.”
Today, Ireland takes over the Presidency of the UN Security Council 🇮🇪🇺🇳
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) September 1, 2021
As President, we will steward the Security Council’s work on challenges such as Syria, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. #IrelandUNSC @irishmissionun
More info: https://t.co/MWXZWum4N6 pic.twitter.com/fsjoZqwOxW
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said that work had gone on over the weekend in order to get the wording on a UN Security Council resolution about the situation in Afghanistan right.
On Monday, the Council adopted a resolution urging the Taliban to let people leave the country if they wish to do so, but did not mention a “safe zone” for passage out of the country as was suggested by France and Germany.
The resolution was passed by 13 votes, with two abstentions from China and Russia.
“Getting a resolution in the Security Council is never easy in the best of times, but on something as important as Afghanistan we need unity now, and a small country like Ireland always works hard to try to build consensus,” Coveney said on Monday.
During Ireland’s two-year term on the UN Security Council, it had aimed to put a focus on how conflict disproportionately affects women and girls, among other issues.
With reporting by Lauren Boland
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