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During Taoiseach's time at the US summit, he will meet world leaders in order to win a seat on the UN Security Council.
LEO Varadkar hailed the Good Friday agreement to bring peace after "decades of violent violence" during a speech at the United Nations.
Speaking at an American summit, An Taoiseach said that there was closer cooperation between Northern Ireland and the Republic in the 20 years since the signing of the historic agreement of 1998.
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Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks at Nelson Mandela Peace Summit
He told more than 70 heads of state that he had co-operated in the Northern Ireland Assembly on power-sharing "at least most of the time".
In his speech at the Nelson Mandela Summit for Peace in New York, the leader of Fine Gael said: "The peace process in Northern Ireland has been conducted with the wisdom and assistance of friends around the world, including President Ramaphosa.
"For that, we will always be grateful."
During his stay at the summit, Varadkar will meet with world leaders to win a seat on the UN Security Council.
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The late Nelson Mandela
Ireland will be competing for one of the two seats available for the 2021-22 term with Canada and Norway.
Varadkar arrived in New York Sunday for the UN General Assembly.
Speaking today, he said: "With each of you today, I reaffirm that Ireland will continue to uphold the ideals of the United Nations and will work with the international community to achieve the goals that Mandela himself has worked tirelessly.
"In Mandela's story, we recognize the struggles and triumphs of an individual, as well as the challenges and hope for humanity.
"His fight for freedom and dignity for all – regardless of race, sex, sexuality, color or belief – spoke of our common vision of humanity and proved that the impossible can become reality.
"This was reflected in South Africa's first democratic constitution, written for a rainbow nation. It's a model for the new democracies today.
Mr Varadkar spoke about Mr Mandela's legacy and how he went to the Irish Parliament a few months after he was released from prison in South Africa in 1990.
He added: "Twenty-eight years ago, just a few months after being released from prison, Nelson Mandela had the honor of being invited to speak in front of the Irish parliament.
"There he inspired us with his words as he tackled the" arrogance of racism "and honored those who" dared to cry for freedom ".
"I believe that Nelson Mandela's legacy points to a deeper truth.
"A voice can be silenced by death, but its message can never be deleted. It is understood for all times.
"And he finds a place in the hearts and minds and values of those who follow after."
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