Remarks at a Dinner Hosted by the President of the Council of Ministers Prime Minister Najib Mikati
Beirut, 15th October 2011
Your Excellency, President of the Council of Ministers Mikati; your Excellencies Ministers of the Republic of Lebanon, Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence Alan Shatter, Distinguished Guests.
Masaa’ al-Khair . Good Evening.
I would like to thank you, President of the Council of Ministers for your very kind remarks of welcome and for hosting this lovely dinner. It is an honour and a great pleasure for Martin and me to be with you this evening and back in your beautiful country again.
This is a very symbolic and poignant visit for me - my last visit abroad as President of Ireland - symbolic because my very first visit abroad only days after I was inaugurated as President fourteen years ago, was also to Lebanon.
I remember arriving into Beirut in November 1997 and seeing all around me the awful scars of war. It was pitiful and heartbreaking. Today however I see everywhere evidence of the remarkable reconstruction and rebirth of your country which speak volumes about the indomitable character, resilience, enterprise and pride of the people of Lebanon.
There is pride too in Ireland at this renaissance of Lebanon for through long years of service with the peacekeeping activities of UNIFIL, Ireland was able to assist Lebanon and its people to restore peace and stability, to safeguard its sovereignty and to build anew. 47 of our peacekeepers died here in the service of UNIFIL, in the service of Lebanon, more than any other nation which served with UNIFIL. I think of those men and their families, colleagues and loved ones today and I am sure that they would take great comfort from all that the people of Lebanon have achieved in the years since peace and liberation were achieved.
Our government’s decision to redeploy to UNIFIL at this time is evidence of our belief that the role of UNIFIL is as important now as it ever was. These are dangerous times and we look to the Lebanese authorities and Armed Forces to help safeguard UNIFIL’s peacekeepers as they go about their crucial mission. In this context, may I mention that the personal commitment which Your Excellency has extended to UNIFIL, your statements and your actions in visiting UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura, are very reassuring and very much appreciated by us.
Lebanon has had a long history of involvement in, and co-operation with, the United Nations and a distinguished record of high-level action in the international arena.
We were delighted to witness Lebanon last month – and you, Your Excellency – chairing the UN Security Council with great distinction at a time of such momentous change in your region. And last month too, Lebanon hosted the highly successful Third Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. This Convention was agreed at a meeting in Dublin in May 2008 – inspired by our then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, following a visit to Lebanon where he had witnessed for himself the horrific impact of Israeli cluster munitions here.
I hope that we will broaden and deepen our bilateral economic relationship over the coming years. I am aware, Your Excellency, that you have expressed an interest in some sharing of experiences and extension of co-operation with our country and that our Taoiseach – Prime Minister – Enda Kenny, has responded positively, suggesting that we now try to identify specific initiatives which would be mutually beneficial to the economic and social benefit of our countries and people. Both of our countries are very much on the move and we have much to learn and gain from closer bilateral ties.
As a Member of the EU, we will be working closely with your Government and your country in this context, supporting you in key aspects of your economic and social development and in a range of technical, scientific, educational and cultural fields. We very much appreciate the personal commitment which you, your Excellency, have made to the strengthening of the EU-Lebanese relationship and we look forward to continuing, harmonious and fruitful co-operation with you.
In concluding, may I wish you, Your Excellency, every success in the tasks and challenges which you face in your role as President of the Council of Ministers; peace and prosperity for your country and people; and the development of the friendship and practical
co-operation between our two countries and peoples.
Shukran jazeelan. Thank you.