The United Nations Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, was determined that the Millennium Summit should be a working meeting and not a celebratory one when it was being arranged. Judged by its results it seems he has good reason to be relatively satisfied with the outcome. This was a substantial occasion, bringing together the largest group of world leaders ever assembled under the UN's auspices. By their networking and their adoption of a Millennium Declaration last night, they have enhanced the world body's stature. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has added to Ireland's commitment by announcing a timetable to quadruple Ireland's development aid and by a speech last night fleshing out the policies underpinning this State's candidature for the Security Council.
Mr Annan rightly considers this occasion to be the most important of his term in office. The summit document was carefully prepared to express objectives concerning freedom from want and development, including ambitious targets for reducing poverty and disease and boosting education by 2015; freedom from fear and security, including agreement to strengthen UN peacekeeping operations; a sustainable environmental future, with climate change given high priority; and renewing the United Nations itself by reforming the Security Council and the efficiency and resources of its organisations. These are ambitious as to objectives, but couched in a co-operative spirit with the member-states. And for the most part it appears that their leaders have been convinced to take them on board without too much dilution. A great deal remains to be agreed in practice as a result; but at least the summit has laid down a general policy framework. This brings the UN forward from previous such frameworks, such as those discussed at its fiftieth anniversary in 1995. Among the disappointments was the failure to make any real progress on the Middle East peace process, or on African conflicts.
From Ireland's point of view, this was an auspicious meeting of UN leaders. The Taoiseach's speech contained a remarkable commitment to bring aid up to the UN's target of 0.7 of GNP. Given the high rates of growth in recent years, this could amount to £800 million by 2007. The Government approved the figure this week and is to establish an inter-departmental review on how best such a large budget should be administered. This is a welcome commitment indeed. It will require very firm political resolve to deliver, especially if there should be an economic downturn. The announcement was clearly timed to coincide with the Government's campaign to win a place on the Security Council. That seems to be going well and will certainly be boosted by the extra aid commitment, which would bring this State into the top league of donors per capita, along with Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Sweden. As a result, Ireland's international profile is set to be enhanced significantly. The Taoiseach's speech last night on Ireland's international role emphasised the commitment to Security Council reform and supported the broad thrust of Mr Annan's approach.