All the world’s a stage for Ireland to regain credibility

ON New Year’s Day, Ireland will begin a year-long term as chair of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. This week’s visit to Dublin by Secretary General Lamberto Zannier is part of the quickening of pace of diplomatic preparation.

Based in Vienna, the OSCE is a regional security organisation under the UN charter. It was established in the wake of the Cold War with the aim of promoting regional stability and provide a political framework in deeply troubled places. All European states, including Monaco and the Holy See, and all the states that emerged from the former Soviet Union, as well as the US and Canada, participate. These states number 56 and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore will succeed the Lithuanian foreign minister, Audronius Aubalis, as its chair. It is a role that will demand a substantial commitment from him.

Ireland’s reputation is only slowly recovering from a debacle of lacerating global financial and economic coverage. Lost reputation was counted in increased borrowing costs on the bond markets, a harder job to sell Ireland as a destination for inward investment, and an appreciable loss of political pull in critical international fora such as the European Union.