Minister Coveney to attend Munich Security Conference
- Foilsithe: 18 Feabhra 2022
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 12 Aibreán 2025
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney, will travel this weekend to Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference.
During the Conference, Minister Coveney will meet with a number of his counterparts to discuss a range of foreign policy issues in which Ireland has played an active role on the UN Security Council.
Minister Coveney will participate in events focused on ongoing negotiations on a full return to the Iranian nuclear deal (JCPoA), and stability in the Horn of Africa. He will meet with partners, including the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, to discuss ongoing coordination of efforts towards the de-escalation of security tensions in Europe.
On the margins of the Conference, the Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with a number of key partners and counterparts from the UN, Europe, Africa and Asia.
Ahead of travelling to the conference, Minister Coveney said:
"At the Munich Security Conference I will be putting forward Ireland’s positions on a number of key issues and areas where we have active at the Security Council. This meeting comes at a critical juncture.
"Ireland plays a clear and constructive role in support of international peace and security. The Munich Security Conference is an opportunity to meet a range of leaders to advance this essential work.
"Obviously the ongoing situation in Ukraine will be to the forefront of the agenda and I look forward to engaging with key partners, including the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, on how we can move towards de-escalation, stabilisation and diplomacy.
"At the UN Security Council this week, we underlined that we need to see sustained and credible moves on the ground toward de-escalation. Diplomacy and dialogue through existing mechanisms, including the Normandy format and the OSCE is the only way forward.
"One of the most significant roles allocated to Ireland on the UN Security Council was Facilitator of Resolution 2231, which underpins the Iranian nuclear deal. Returning to full implementation of the agreement was the focus of my discussions with the leadership in Tehran last week and I look forward to updating my counterparts on my recent engagements.
"Peace and stability in the Horn of Africa and ensuring humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict is a priority for Ireland. We continue to lead efforts to address the crisis at the Security Council and I look forward to further dialogue on the situation in Munich."
Notes
The Munich Security Conference brings together more than 450 senior decision-makers and influential thinkers, including heads of state, ministers and figures from business, media, academia, and civil society to debate pressing issues of international security policy.
The 58th Munich Security Conference is running from February 18 to 20, 2022, at its usual venue in Munich, the Hotel Bayerischer Hof.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Munich Security Conference was held in a virtual format in 2021.
During the Munich Security Conference a large number of official bilateral and multilateral meetings take place in addition to the Conference’s own events.
Amongst the topics to be discussed in the main programme are global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate crises, the protection of democracy, the regulation of technology as well as regional challenges such as revitalising the transatlantic alliance, the growing tensions in Eastern Europe, and the situation in some of the world’s most dire conflict zones.
The last day of the conference is dedicated to the European Union and how it can contribute to addressing all these challenges.