THE President, Mrs Robinson, has restated her interest in the position of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and welcomed debate on the post's role.
Answering questions from Swedish reporters on the first day of her state visit to Sweden, she said she was interested in the position and had been nominated for it by the Government. She had always been interested in human rights and would like to pursue that commitment through the UN post or some other position.
The role of the position was still evolving, she said, and she welcomed debate on the shaping and defining of the post. It was important for the human rights commissioner to have a high profile.
Asked about the Irish support for a Danish resolution at the UN criticising China's human rights record, she said it was important to take a stand where appropriate.
She welcomed Sweden's EU membership, as it also had a policy of military neutrality. Ireland and Sweden shared similar values on international peacekeeping and on the UN's role. She said she had discussed, in broad terms, Ireland and Sweden's common values and approaches during her meeting yesterday with the Swedish Prime Minister, Mr Goran Persson.
Speaking last night at a state dinner in Stockholm hosted by King Carl Gustav and Queen Silvia, Mrs Robinson said Ireland and Sweden had recently been engaged in a process of mutual discovery.
Today she will visit Uppsala University and the Dag Hammarskjold Foundation, before addressing the Svenska Dagbladet Executive Club. After lunch with Stockholm City Council she will visit the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.
The President returns to Dublin tomorrow.