St. Patrick’s Day is an opportunity each year to
celebrate Ireland and Irish culture. Our national day is celebrated in every
corner of the world, largely thanks to the more than 70 million people globally
who claim Irish ancestry, and many more who share an affinity with Ireland.
اضافة اعلان
This year, however, we are acutely aware that
‘celebrating’ anything provokes doubt and hesitation for many people, and for
good reason. We have witnessed more than two years of unprovoked Russian
brutality in Ukraine. Moreover, much to our despair, violence has returned to
this region where we have watched with horror as the war in Gaza has unfolded
with the killing of tens of thousands of innocent civilians.
Since the opening of an Irish Embassy in Jordan in 2019, Ireland and Jordan have made great strides in their bilateral relationship over these five years. The two countries share common values and hold many similar political outlooks.
Ireland has a clear and principled position on these
conflicts. We have demanded accountability internationally for Russia’s illegal
invasion and we are one of the strongest supporters of Ukraine’s path to
European Union (EU) membership. With respect to the war in Gaza, we have argued
strongly for all actors to uphold international humanitarian law, and have
advocated since the outset of the war for a humanitarian ceasefire so that
sustained humanitarian assistance can be provided to the civilian population of
Gaza, including our own sustained scaling up of humanitarian assistance and
ongoing support for UNRWA. We have also called at every juncture for all
captives in Gaza to be released unconditionally. Protecting civilians in
conflict - all civilians, everywhere - is our highest priority.
Ireland’s own history includes experiences of famine,
poverty, and forced migration. Even the relative growth and prosperity we have
enjoyed since joining the EU in 1973 co-existed, at least until the 1990s, with
conflict very close to home in Northern Ireland. Undoubtedly, these experiences
have shaped how we view the world around us today.
This St. Patrick’s Day, Ireland is shining a light on
the positive force for change that young people around the world can bring.
Young people have been to the fore in opening our eyes to the climate
emergency, and in delivering innovative solutions to help reduce our dependence
on fossil fuels and deliver a clean-energy future. Young people globally have
demanded respect for international law and multilateral institutions, and have
called on key actors, like the UN Security Council, to speak and act coherently
in support of a rules-based international order and for human rights. Indeed,
it was these priorities that Ireland sought to emphasize in our own most recent
term on the Council in 2021-2022.
There is an old Irish saying: “Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireannn na Daoine” – “We live in each other’s shadow”. This will remain true for young people in Jordan, Ireland, and around the world for the years to come. Protecting and supporting each other, and building enduring partnerships, has never been more vital. It is our focus this St. Patrick’s Day.
Young people are at the heart of what makes Ireland a
great place to invest, trade, visit, and study too. Ireland is home to many of
the world’s top software, medical, and technology companies globally. Those
companies – and very many others – have chosen Ireland because of our economic
track record, stability, ease of doing business, and access to a EU market of
450 million people. However, we firmly believe these companies have chosen
Ireland because of our talented and highly educated young workforce.
Since the opening of an Irish Embassy in Jordan in
2019, Ireland and Jordan have made great strides in their bilateral
relationship over these five years. The two countries share common values and
hold many similar political outlooks. In addition, I am proud that much of our
work at the Embassy has focused on young people, for example, Ireland and
Jordan have cooperated closely in the fields of education and innovation, most
notably, through the Jordan Young Scientists (JoYS) Initiative, a nationwide program
based on an Irish model, which the Embassy of Ireland strongly supports.
Reflecting also the young talent and great potential
that exists in Jordan along with the commitment demonstrated by His Majesty,
King Abdullah, and the Government of Jordan in championing a modernization
agenda, the work of the Embassy has also focused on building business and trade
relations between our two countries.
There is an old Irish saying: “Ar scáth a chéile a
mhaireannn na Daoine” – “We live in each other’s shadow”. This will remain true
for young people in Jordan, Ireland, and around the world for the years to
come. Protecting and supporting each other, and building enduring partnerships,
has never been more vital. It is our focus this St. Patrick’s Day.
Disclaimer:
Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Jordan News' point of view.
Read more Opinion and Analysis
Jordan News
.jpg)
.jpg)
