IntheGulfthewarbetween IranandIraqisnowentering itssixthyear. We have,together withourpartners intheTen,calledonbothparties torefrain from bombingcivilian targets. Wehaveunequivocally condemned theuseofchemical weapons. Andwehaveemphasized thattheGenevaConvention andotherrulesof international lawmustbefullyandunconditionally respected. Butbeyondthese efforts, whichareintended toreduce thescaleandintensity oftheconflict,MS/10 A/40/PV.13 39-40 (Mr.Barry,Ireland thereisaclearand'overriding ne~tobringthewartoanend.Irelandwill continue tosupport initiatives suchastheSecretary-General's whichofferhopeof anendtothislongandtragicconflict. InLebanon thebloodshed andlossoflifecontinue inacountry deeplydivided byreligious andcommunal antagonisms. Thereisanurgentneedtobreakthecycle ofviolence andtopermittheforcesofnational reconciliation toemerge. Ireland hasappealed totheLebanese Government andotherforcesinthecountry toexercise ~estraint andtoreturntothesearchforpeaceful solutions. Thereisanequal needforrestraint byforcesoutside thecountry. Israelmustcomplete its withdrawal inaccordance withtheresolutions oftheSecurity Council. A prerequisite forpeaceinLebanonisrespect byallforLebanon's territorial integrity,sovereigntyandindependence. Elsewhere intheregionthereissomecauseforoptimism. TheForeign Minister ofLuxembourg hasalreadysetoutindetailtheposition ofthe10members oftheEuropean Communities' ontheArab-Israeli conflict. Irelandisencouraged by thepeaceprocess initiated earlier thisyear ~yKingSussein andYasserArafat and wehavewelcomed theJordanian-Palesti.nian agreement asaconstructive step forward. Theformulation oftheseproposals required courage andimaginationJ theydemandacourageous andimaginative response fromallsides. Welookforward nowtoconcrete progress whichwillpermitafairandlasting peacebetween the ArabStatesandIsraelandajustsolution tothePalestinian problem.JSM/gmr A/ol0/PV.13 41 (Mr.Barry,Ireland) Butifafairandlasting solution tothislong-standing conflict istobe foundIbelieve thatIsraelIIllstdesist nowfromactions whichcouldcomplicate the searchforpeaceandcompromise aneventual solution. Inthisconnection, the continued gradual defactoabsorption byIsraeloftheWestBankandGazaisa matterofrealconcern andconstitutes agrowing obstacle toajustsolution which wouldpermitthePalestinian peopletoexercise theirrighttoself-determination. Theefforts oftheUnitedNations topromote apeaceful resolution ofthe conflicts intheMiddleEasthaveformanyyearsbeenbuttressed bytheworkofthe UnitedNaHonspeace-keeping forcesandobserver missionsintheregion. Insouth Lebanon theUnitedNations Interim ForceinLebanon (UNIFIL) hasmadeanimportant contribution toproviding amorestableenvironment inwhichlonger-term solutions totheproblems oftheareamightbeworkedout.However, myGovernment are concerned thatUNIFIL, towhichIreland hascontributed sinceitsinception, has notbeenpermittedfullytoimplement itsmandate.Wecallonalltheparties concerned intheconflict togivetheirfullco-operation totheForcetoenableit tocarryoutthetasksassigned toit.Ifthatco-operation continues tobe withhelditmustseriously callinto questio~ theviability oftheoperation. In thisconnection, myGovernment looksforward tothereportwhichthe secretary-General willshortly prese"lt totheSecurity Council onthefutureofthe Forceandweshallstudyhisobservations andrecommendations withthegreatest interest. Ithinkitisappropriate thatinthisanniversary yearwehonourtheservice ofallwhofrommanylandshavecontributed sonoblyandsoselflessly tothework oftheUnitedNations peace-keeping overthepast40years. Ireland celebrates thisyearnotonlythethirtieth anniversary ofourmembership oftheUnited Nati",ns butthetwenty-fifth anniversary ofthedispatch ofIrishtroopsonthe UnitedNationspeace-keeping mission intheCongo. WeareproudtohavebeenJSM/gmr A/40/PV.13 42 (Mr.Batry,Ireland) involved inalmostallUnitedNations peace-keping operations sincethattime.The establishment oftheunitedNations peace-keeping armisoneoftheroost encouraging developments inourefforts toconstruct asaferandmorestable world. Astheworld's capacd.ty fordestruction increases theneedforcontinued andsustained support -political andfinancial -fortheUnitedNations as peacekeeper becomes evenmorepressing. Itisthedutyofallofustoensurethat theremarkable achievement whichtheestablishment ofthepeace-keeping function represents inthefirst40yearsoftheUnitedNations canbestrengthened and renewed forthetaskswhichlieahead. Before Iconclude IshouldliketoinformtheAssembly oftheposition in Northern Ireland. Thebackground totheproblem ofNorthernIreland doesnot requiredetailed rehearsal here. Withinthenarrowconfines ofthenorth-eastern
**Analysis**
This text appears to be a speech or statement by the Irish representative to the United Nations, discussing various conflicts and peacekeeping efforts in the Middle East, as well as the country's own involvement in UN peacekeeping missions. The text touches on themes of international relations, conflict resolution, and the role of the United Nations in promoting peace and stability.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, International relations