Statement by President Michael D. Higgins following his meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres
Date: Thu 26th Apr, 2018 | 11:00
Following on from his participation in the High Level Meeting on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace, on the second day of his visit to the United Nations in New York President Michael D. Higgins met with UN Secretary General António Guterres.
President Higgins congratulated the Secretary General on his work to date, in particular the Secretary General’s report “Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace” which calls for greater action by the international community on peace and conflict.
In his remarks, President Higgins said the report, which is based on resolutions by both the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, marks an important development, focusing as it does on the prevention of violent conflict, rather than on responding to its consequences.
The President and the Secretary-General discussed the report, which formed the basis for widespread consultation between UN member states. The President congratulated the Secretary-General on the very specific and consistent references to gender, the impact of conflict on women as well as their crucial involvement in reconstruction, reconciliation and mediation efforts.
The President welcomed the significant emphasis on reconnecting with youth and on bringing together the United Nations institutions across the central pillars of peace and security, development and human rights.
The President noted that the Secretary General has consistently emphasised that nearly all the actions necessary for the sustaining of peace require the close cooperation of the Security Council, the UN General Assembly and all member states.
The President said the Secretary General’s report justifiably highlights that a renewed focus on prevention is not merely a moral issue but can also lead to significant savings compared to the cost of peacekeeping and humanitarian response
The President referenced his previous meetings with Mr Guterres, including during Mr. Guterres' time as UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The President said their meeting was an opportunity to go into detail of the reforms required of the UN system.
President Higgins also emphasised the contribution of the Irish peacekeeping forces over the past six decades, in which, in any given year, Ireland has had some 1,000 peacekeepers deployed. The President paid tribute to the Defence Forces for their role in the field, and for their invaluable work informing Irish society, upon their return, of the work of the United Nations.