the-global-island-irelands-foreign-policy

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OUR VALUES
More will be required to promote the
universalisation of conventions dealing
with chemical and biological weapons
and to support implementation of
the Convention on Cluster Munitions
and the Arms Trade Treaty. We will
work to strengthen the humanitarian
norms applying to weapons in general
and engage in the debate on the
next generation of weapons, lethal
autonomous weapons.
@DisarmamentIRL
Major Regional Issues
A number of regional conflicts have
the potential to cause global insecurity.
Chief among these is the series of
conflicts in the Middle East.
We have consistently supported a
negotiated two-State solution as
the only just and sustainable basis
for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. Any solution must respect the
rights of all parties. The EU can play
an important role in efforts to resolve
this conflict, including by addressing
threats to the viability of the two-
State solution such as the continuous
expansion of illegal settlements in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory. We have
long called for an end to the unjust
and counter-productive blockade
of Gaza and its population and
provide humanitarian assistance for
Palestinian refugees including in Gaza.
We are also supporting Palestinian
state-building efforts.
We are working in three ways to pursue
these objectives: through influencing
policy and decisions in the EU, the UN
and other international fora; through
our own direct engagement with
parties in the region by Ministers and
by our diplomatic representatives; and
though our support for humanitarian
relief and action. This is channelled
principally through the key UN
agencies and leading Irish charities, and
Minister Liam Cosgrave leads Ireland’s first delegation to the UN General Assembly in New York, September
1956. National Archives
also includes support for Israeli and
Palestinian NGOs working on justice
and human rights issues on the ground.
The conflict in Syria is impacting on
the wider region, giving rise to the
largest humanitarian emergency in
decades and, together with continuing
instability in Iraq, has fuelled the
growth of extremist fundamentalist
movements, such as ISIS. We are
providing urgent humanitarian
assistance for those affected by the
Syrian conflict.
Closer to home, a new regional
challenge for Europe and for Ireland
is the re-emergence of tensions with
Russia following the illegal annexation
of Crimea. Ireland’s approach to this
is explained in the chapter, Our Place
in Europe.
Ireland has a unique experience of
building and sustaining peace and
promoting reconciliation on this
island. Capturing and sharing our
experience will help us protect and
nurture peace in Ireland and allow us
to share that experience with peace
builders elsewhere, where this might
prove helpful. Each conflict and each
peace process is unique, but all share
the challenge that sustaining peace
and reconciliation requires a longterm
commitment.
We organised a high level conference to
share this experience during our OSCE
Chairmanship in 2012. We provided
practical assistance to Moldovan and
Transdniestrian negotiators and civil
society. We have shared our experience
of the North South Ministerial Council
with officials in the Republic of Korea
and supported similar work in the
Western Balkans, Afghanistan and the
Middle East. Conflict resolution and
mediation was an important focus
during our EU Presidency in 2013.
It will be important to build on this
work. The Irish peace process remains
one of a relatively small number of
positive models for others. Its capacity
to inspire and guide others should not
be underestimated.
Ireland has benefitted greatly from
globalisation, but its effects have also
left Ireland vulnerable in new ways. The
growth in global travel increases the
risk of the rapid spread of threats to
public health whether through new flu
strains or Ebola.