Ireland lauds Dr Mahathir’s UN speech
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s recent speech at the United Nations General Assembly, which called for the UN to be reformed, has been well-received by the Ireland government, says Irish Ambassador to Malaysia Eamon Hickey.
In an interview with Bernama yesterday, he said Dr Mahathir’s conviction to speak up at an international forum on the world’s superpowers should be addressed accordingly by the UN
“I was very glad that he (Dr Mahathir) raised the issue. It is not the issue of an emerging country, or emerging econom y e ither… but this is the global issue that affects all, especially amongst those nations that wish to see the UN succeed.
“He has that very specific idea and I hope his remark will spark a real opening of a debate and some proposals can be brought forward along the way,” he said.
He said Dr Mahathir’s call for the UN to be reformed was fuelled by existing challenges and thus, believed the call to reform was vital after it was last addressed 15 years ago.
“As we have a very strong history in the UN in terms of demilitarisation, decolonisation, non-proliferation and disarmament, and as Malaysia and Ireland (too) have always been close partners, therefore, we are always in this together.
“We are not strangers on the issue either,” he said, noting several commitments on the international sphere, including the involvement of both parties in the very first UN peacekeeping mission in Congo in 1960.
At the 73rd UN General Assembly, Dr Mahathir made his return and boldly repeated his call for reformation on the veto power held by the United States, United Kingdom, China, Russia and France in the council.