Brian Cowen said that the UN must lead a concerted international effort to establish a new broad-based government in Afghanistan. The Minister for Foreign Affairs was speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York.
During the meeting, which went ahead despite today's plane crash, Mr Cowen also called for the military action against Afghanistan to be as short-lived as possible.
He appealed to the international community to place a greater focus on the humanitarian crisis in the region and said that every possible step must be taken to minimise civilian casualties during the bombing.
At the same time, he told the assembly that sustained resolve and sustained determination were now needed to protect future generations from the threat of international terrorism.
