Visiting Irish President Mary McAleese called today for small countries to resist the attitude that "might is right" and press for international cooperation in addressing world problems.

"In conflict situations the interests of quiet majorities are commonly trampled on by those willing to resort to violence," McAleese said in a speech to at the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations.

"It seems to me that it is part of the mission of countries like ours to help resist the supposed realpolitik of 'might is right' and seek with all the vigour, wisdom and intelligence at our command to advance the indispensable tenets of international cooperation and the rule of law."

Ireland insisted on the "enduring centrality in world affairs" of the United Nations and saw the Security Council as having "the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security," she said.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said McAleese had agreed during a meeting with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that war was not the best way to resolve a dispute.

"She and Dr Mahathir are of the view that war will not solve problems. Only through dialogue and multilateral process problems can be resolved," Syed Hamid was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.

Syed Hamid's briefing was open to official media only, and Bernama did not elaborate on the statement.

Mahathir has publicly opposed any unilateral decision by the United States to attack Iraq.

Best way forward

Although Iraq was not mentioned, McAleese told a questioner after her speech that she believed "very passionately" that multilateralism was the best way forward.

McAleese, who is accompanied by her husband Martin, is leading a 55-member delegation that includes Minister of Science and Education Noel Dempsey, government officials and businessmen.

It is the first visit to Malaysia by an Irish head of state, but Syed Hamid said the two countries had a long history in bilateral relations, with Ireland being one of the preferred destinations of Malaysian students stydying abroad.

Malaysia is Ireland's main trading partner in Southeast Asia, with two-way trade totalling some RM6.5 billion, he said.

Earlier, McAleese, who began a three-day visit to Malaysia today after a trip to Thailand, received the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin and his wife.