FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER Eamon Gilmore is to meet with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in New York later today.

The two are expected to discuss a range of issues, including the ongoing conflict in Syria and the Middle East peace process.

It comes after the UN Security Council’s unanimous passing last night of a landmark resolution ordering the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons and condemning the murderous poison gas attack in Damascus.

The plan calls for Syria’s estimated 1,000 tonnes of chemical weapons to be put under international control by mid-2014

Minister Gilmore will welcome the progress made when he addresses the General Assembly later today.

According to an advance copy of his speech, he will say: “While it has taken much longer than we all would have wished, I welcome the decisive action the Security Council is now taking on Syria”.

“This resolution marks a watershed in the international community’s engagement on the crisis. It offers renewed hope and confidence that the UN is capable of discharging its responsibilities and meeting the expectations of the peoples of the world.”

The Tánaiste will also highlight Ireland’s contribution on Syria, noting the deployment this week of Irish troops to the UN mission in the Golan Heights, Ireland’s humanitarian support for victims of the conflict to the tune of €11 million, and funding for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (€200,000).

Read: UN votes to order destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons