Position of Irish Government on Iraqi crisis

national | miscellaneous | news report Thursday March 20, 2003 17:29 by Bertie

The following statement made on 20 March 2003, represents the position of the government on this issue:

The following statement made on 20 March 2003, represents the position of the government on this issue:

"The provision of facilities does not make Ireland a member of a military coalition. Nor does anybody regard us as such. We remain militarily neutral. The decision we have taken on this issue is our own.

Ireland has made overflight and landing acilities available to the US for the last fifty years. This period covers many crises and military
confrontations, which involved the US taking military action without specific UN endorsement - Kosovo, being the most significant. We did not withdraw or suspend those facilities at any stage during that period

There is no reason to act differently towards the United States now than we did during previous conflicts.

No other country is known to be contemplating the withdrawal of existing facilities from the US. This includes Germany and France, who have been the strongest opponents of US intentions on the Security Council. It also includes a number of Arab countries who have taken a strong position against war.

These countries would not accept that, by maintaining overflight or landing facilities to the US, they are endorsing or participating in the US military action."