OVERSEAS AID: The international community should give its full support to peacemaking and economic development in Africa, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs told a UN Security Council meeting in New York yesterday.
Addressing "The Situation in Africa", Ms Liz O'Donnell outlined a twin-track approach: "The first is by conflict resolution and the prevention of new conflict situations; and secondly, crucially, by advancing economic and social development and achieving greater integration by Africa into the world economy."
On the issue of conflict prevention and resolution, she said there should be greater co-ordination and co-operation as follows: between the UN and the Organisation of African Unity as well as African regional organisations; between all UN institutions active on the ground and the work of the Security Council; between civil society players in conflict or potential conflict situations in Africa and all others involved in mediation or support efforts.
UN mediators and special representatives had played a role of exceptional value in recent years, in the Horn of Africa, the Central African Republic, the Great Lakes and across the continent. "We in the European Union also take much pride in our own work in this area and in our conflict resolution strategies in Africa," Ms O'Donnell said. The Lusaka and Arusha peace processes demonstrated what could be achieved by regional peace initiatives.
Sanctions and embargoes were important instruments for the UN, the OAU and regional organisations. "In Ireland's view, they have a critical role to play and - as in Angola or Liberia - have proved essential. They are, however, often a blunt instrument and we need to carefully weigh the humanitarian consequences."
Turning to the situation in Somalia, she said: "The establishment of the Transitional National Government offers a path to a new beginning for that tragic and tortured country. The UN must soon decide its own future role in supporting forces of peace in Somalia. This is something Ireland will strongly advocate. The countries of the region must also work together to support peace in Somalia. The people of Somalia deserve our active support and engagement."
Without economic and social development in Africa, all other policies would ultimately prove to have been built on sand. The international community should fulfil its commitments: "This means sustained investment in education; in the building of social capital, as one of the keys to unlock the human potential of Africans in all their diversity. It means a new trade framework that addresses the present exclusion - and that is the right word - of Africa from the globalised economy." International support also meant helping to defeat the scourge of AIDS.