The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Brian Cowen T.D., has expressed serious concern at the reported devastation of Jenin and has instructed Ireland's Permanent Representative to the United Nations to lend Ireland's full support to demands for the establishment of a UN inquiry to investigate the events which took place there.
Ireland will be making a detailed statement in New York later today when the Security Council debates the situation in the Middle East. Ireland will be calling for the immediate implementation of Resolution 1402, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian areas, an end to attacks on civilians, and an early start to political dialogue. Ireland will also be demanding full access to Palestinian areas for humanitarian and medical relief agencies and repeating its call for the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs. Mary Robinson, to be allowed to visit the region to fulfill the mandate given to her by the UN Human Rights Commission.