Written answers

Thursday, 7 February 2013

Department of Defence

Official Engagements

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the invitation of NATO's Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, Mr James Appathurai, to speak at a defence seminar organised as part of the Irish Presidency of the EU. [6096/13]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As part of Ireland’s Presidency of the EU Council 2013 a seminar was organised to discuss and examine how more effective co-operation and the building of partnerships both across regional organisations and between these organisations and the UN could be fostered. This was undertaken in order to enhance the effectiveness of UN mandated peacekeeping operations. A wide range of speakers were invited to attend the seminar including from the European Union, the United Nations, the African Union, NATO and from academia.

Close cooperation between NATO and the UN and its agencies is an important element in the development of an international “Comprehensive Approach” to crisis management and operations.

It is important to note that UN Security Council resolutions have provided the mandate for NATO’s operations in the Western Balkans and in Afghanistan. Ireland participated in the NATO led operations in the Western Balkans and in Afghanistan. More recently, NATO’s operation to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas under threat of attack in Libya in 2011 was carried out in support of UN Security Council Resolution 1973.

NATO has also provided support to UN-sponsored operations, including logistical assistance to the African Union’s UN-endorsed peacekeeping operations in Darfur, Sudan, and in Somalia; support for UN disaster-relief operations in Pakistan, following the massive earthquake in 2005; and escorting merchant ships carrying World Food Programme humanitarian supplies off the coast of Somalia.

Like the EU and the African Union, NATO shares a commitment with the UN to maintaining international peace and security and the two organisations have been cooperating in this area since the early 1990s.

In view of this, it was decided to invite a speaker to provide the discussion with the view from NATO on how they actively enhance co-operation with the United Nations. Without the attendance of a representative from NATO the debate, and those attending, would have missed an opportunity to hear, firsthand, the views of that organisation.

I spoke at the opening of the seminar and attended a number of sessions. I am of the view that the attendance of all the regional organisations including NATO was very worthwhile and attendees heard the full range of views of the organisations concerned.

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