Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

He is very busy. In his statement, the Minister set out the case for the reforms necessary to ensure that the United Nations is able to act effectively in the maintenance of international peace and security, the promotion of human rights and the promotion of economic and social progress. The Minister, as envoy, addressed the meeting of the Euro-Atlantic partnership council, hosted by Sweden in Åre, on 24 May. At the council meeting, he took the opportunity to meet the Foreign Ministers of Sweden, Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as well as the US Undersecretary of State, Mr. Burns.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The European Union held an extensive and substantive discussion with its Latin American partners on the preparations for the September summit at the EU Rio group meeting held on 27 May. At the invitation of the Presidency, the Minister briefed the meeting on his role as envoy and discussed the prospects of and priorities for a successful outcome from the summit. The Minister also had interesting and useful meetings with his Argentinian and Chilean colleagues, at which they discussed UN reform.

The European Union also discussed UN reform and the September summit with its Mediterranean partners at the seventh Euro-Mediterranean ministerial meeting on 30 May. The Minister discussed the preparation of the summit in bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Algeria, Syria and the Palestinian Authority. Yesterday in New York, the Minister had meetings with the UN Secretary General, the president of the General Assembly and the other envoys where they took stock of the current situation and discussed the preparation of the summit. The president of the General Assembly is expected to publish proposals in the coming days which will form the basis for future consideration by the member states.

I am not in a position to comment on the contents of the Minister's meetings with his Foreign Minister colleagues. He has undertaken to convey the views expressed in his meetings to the UN Secretary General in strict confidence. The effectiveness of his mission and that of the other envoys demands that the exchanges remain confidential. I confirm that the meetings to date have been productive, informative and of value to the Secretary General and his support team.

Regarding the current position on UN reform, discussions are continuing at the United Nations on the recommendations contained in the Secretary General's In Larger Freedom report. Ireland and its European Union partners continue to press for the adoption of a positive and balanced package of measures at the September summit.

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