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Irish PM, UN chief discuss human rights, overseas aid

Xinhua, May 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny on Tuesday met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and discussed issues like human rights, overseas aid and climate change.

"The secretary general's visit is timely -- celebrating 70 years of the United Nations, and 60 years of Irish membership. Ireland has always been a champion of the UN and we strongly support secretary general Ban in his leadership," Kenny said after the meeting.

"I reminded the secretary general that since our first deployment in Lebanon in June 1958, we have an unbroken record of 57 years UN peacekeeping activity," he said.

"Ban's visit reinforces Ireland's historical contribution to the UN as well as providing a platform to look to our continued role in the future," he added.

For his part, Ban said he appreciated Ireland's decision to send the Irish naval vessel LE Eithne to the Mediterranean to assist the Italian authorities in the humanitarian rescue operations.

"This should be shared collectively by European countries. It should not be borne by one or two countries that are affected," the UN chief said.

"I'm urging European leaders to address this issue in a more comprehensive way and collective way," Ban said. "Without compassion you cannot do this. We have to first of all do our best to save lives."

Ban described Ireland as "very peaceful, beautiful, very clean, very committed and very friendly," saying that other countries could emulate Ireland's good example.

Ban on Sunday arrived in Ireland where he was presented with the Tipperary International Peace Award.

The UN chief was given the peace award for his role in tackling climate change, global conflicts and natural disasters. Previous recipients of the award include Nelson Mandela and former Irish President Mary McAleese. Enditem