Sir, - Visiting the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, on September 2nd, the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, urged the central government to "give peace a chance"; the following day he issued a similar plea in the rebel "capital" of Kisangani. The Congo deserves a respite from a particularly vicious conflict. Through our forthcoming presidency of the UN Security Council we are well placed to make a meaningful contribution to that other peace process.
To date some 2 million people have perished in what has been described as an African replay of the first World War. Some have been killed by military action. Most are victims of disease and malnutrition brought about by a collapse of the country's social and physical infrastructures. The constant presence of poorly disciplined troops and militias living off the land has had catastrophic consequences for the hapless civilian population. Food shortages are a fact of life, as are the virtual absence of medicines.
The Secretary General's call for peace merits Ireland's support. The foundations for an initiative are already in place. The Security Council held a special session on the Congo in January 2000 and subsequently despatched a high level fact-finding delegation, led by the then US Permanent Representative to the UN, Richard Holbrooke, in May of that year. Provision has been made for a 5,500-strong peacekeeping force, with the possibility of expansion should prospects for peace permit.
In short the groundwork has been done. What is required now is that final push which would place the Congo, and by extension the conflict-ridden areas of sub-Saharan Africa, squarely on the Security Council agenda. By using the prestige of the council presidency, which it assumes on October 1st, to back the Secretary General's call for a renewed effort to bring peace to this troubled land, Ireland may yet add sparkle to a singularly lacklustre Security Council term. - Yours etc.,
Noel Coghlan, Hillcrest Park, Lucan, Co Dublin.