Ahern's emotional UN plea on tragedy of Darfur

UN: The world could not "indefinitely stand by and watch with horror from the sidelines" as the human tragedy continued in the…

UN: The world could not "indefinitely stand by and watch with horror from the sidelines" as the human tragedy continued in the Sudanese region of Darfur, the Minister for Foreign Affairs told the UN General Assembly yesterday.

In a wide-ranging speech for the annual debate at UN headquarters, Dermot Ahern updated the assembly on developments in Northern Ireland, Ireland's increased financial commitment to overseas aid and the Government's hopes for peace in the Middle East.

Stressing the gravity of the situation in Darfur and recalling his own visit there last July, Mr Ahern said: "The suffering of the people of Darfur shames the world. There has been human tragedy on a massive scale, with the intimidation, rape and murder of hundreds of thousands of innocents and the displacement of vast numbers from their homes."

He renewed his request to the Khartoum government to permit the deployment of UN peacekeepers: "I again appeal strongly to the Sudanese government to agree to the deployment of such a force and to all those with influence on it to persuade it to do so. I simply cannot emphasise enough the urgency of this."

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Recalling that last year's World Summit at the UN had agreed that the international community had a "responsibility to protect" in a situation where national authorities failed to prevent genocide, war crimes and so-called "ethnic cleansing" of their own population, Mr Ahern commented: "It would be a disgrace if this major advance became an exercise in empty rhetoric.

"The government of Sudan has fundamental responsibility for the safety of its own people. The international community must find ways to persuade it to live up to that responsibility, if need be including further measures against it. We cannot indefinitely stand by and watch with horror from the sidelines."

Turning to the situation in the Middle East, he said it was "the single greatest challenge to international peace and security" and pointed out that "frustration at the long agony of the Palestinian people creates and sharpens wider divisions across the world".

Urging a renewed international effort to launch serious negotiations, he continued: "Ireland strongly supports the continuing efforts of President Abbas to create a [ Palestinian] national unity government committed to the peace process and reflecting the Quartet principles. If he succeeds, the international community must be generous and creative in response.

"Israel's absolute right to exist in peace and security should be unchallenged. But, not least in its own interests, Israel must engage seriously and openly with the Palestinians. It must cease all activities - in particular the expansion of settlements - which are against international law and which make a lasting peace harder to attain."

He said "good progress" was being made in Lebanon on the implementation of resolution 1701 and added: "European countries in particular have responded well to the call for contributions to Unifil II. Ireland will shortly be in a position to offer its own contribution to that force."

Reporting on developments in Northern Ireland, Mr Ahern paid "particular tribute" to British prime minister Tony Blair for his "commitment and dedication" to the peace process.

"In Northern Ireland, the word has finally replaced the weapon as the way to resolve disputes."

In the development area, Ireland had set itself the target of meeting the UN goal of allocating 0.7 per cent of gross national income to official development assistance by 2012, three years ahead of the EU schedule.

Noting that it was secretary general Kofi Annan's last General Assembly session, the Minister said: "I salute his achievements and pay tribute to his leadership. He has carried out his heavy responsibilities with wisdom and dignity. He can step down from office fully satisfied with the service he has given to the peoples of the United Nations."

Mr Ahern later had a meeting with his Sudanese counterpart, Dr Lam Akol, who told him the Sudanese government had "grave suspicions" about the proposed UN troop deployment to Darfur.

Mr Ahern said he had assured Dr Akol that Ireland would be vocal in its efforts to ensure that the peacekeeping mission "would not in any way destabilise the existing government or apparatus in Khartoum".