The potential ending of the mandate for the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon brings focus on “misuse” of security council vetoes by the US, Independent candidate for presidency Catherine Connolly has said.
Speaking at a protest in Dublin held by workers in the Oireachtas broadcasting unit, Ms Connolly said the potential ending of the mandate for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) mission could be “very dangerous”.
“I’m seriously concerned about that. I hope the discussion will allow for the mandate to continue,” she said. “I think it brings into acute focus the use of the veto by America, something that has not been discussed in the Dáil at any stage.”
The Galway West TD said discussion in the Dáil had rightly focused on Russia’s use of the veto, “but the use or the misuse of the veto by America was never brought into the equation”.
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Israel is lobbying Washington to veto an extension to the mandate for the Unifil force in southern Lebanon on the basis that it has failed to disarm the militant group Hizbullah.
Irish peacekeepers have been deployed on a continuous basis as part of the mission since 1978, during which time 47 Irish troops have been killed.
Ireland and other like-minded countries have argued the peacekeeping mission is vital to stability in the region. It is the Defence Forces largest overseas mission, with around 350 members taking part at present.
The UN Security Council was due to vote on renewing the mission’s mandate on Monday, but the vote was delayed to consider a French proposal to extend the mission for a year before transferring its duties to the Lebanese Army.
Ms Connolly said it was time “more than ever” to build up the UN as a peace institution.
“Of course there are problems with the veto and the five permanent members, but the UN was set up after the second World War to prevent a Holocaust, to prevent slaughter, and now more than ever to double down on strengthening the UN structures,” she said.
Ms Connolly, who has the backing of the Social Democrats, Labour and People Before Profit as well as some leftwing Independent Oireachtas members for her presidential campaign, is waiting to see if Sinn Féin also endorses her or chooses to run its own candidate.
She said Sinn Féin’s internal process on its presidential campaign strategy had “taken a little longer than I’d hoped”, but that she respected the party’s position.
“I made it clear to the Social Democrats and Labour Party from day one I would love their help, but I respect their process and they have to go through their process, and Sinn Féin are doing that. It’s taken a little longer than I’d hoped, but that’s the process, and I respect that,” she said.
“On the ground the feedback from ordinary members in Sinn Féin and indeed the Labour Party, Social Democrats, People Before Profit, from day one has been very positive.”
