The Taoiseach last night talked down claims of a historic decision by all EU member states to take part in a stabilisation force in Afghanistan, saying Ireland will support but not necessarily join such a mission.
The Government was among several which last night disputed claims by the Belgian Foreign Minister that the EU had created its first multinational force to police Afghanistan. Mr Louis Michel, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency, called this decision "a turning point in the history of the European Union", saying the force would number between 3,000 and 4,000.
However, the Taoiseach contradicted the claim of a "turning point". While everybody had "agreed in principle to support a mission", this did not mean Ireland would actually participate.
"Ireland only considers participating where there is a UN mandate," he said. "As soon as that happens, Ireland, in principle, will consider its participation depending on the requirements of the force."
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, added that before making any decision to take part "we have to take into account the safety of our people, the nature of the mission, what the logistical requirements are and whether we can play a role . . . all the usual military considerations." He said all EU members were committed to participating "in appropriate circumstances. It's a matter for individual member states". Government sources said that while participation was possible, this was "a good way down the road".
Just three member states were committed to taking part at the moment, they said.
Other EU Ministers also lined up to contradict Mr Michel. The German Foreign Minister, Mr Joschka Fischer, told reporters: "Even if we wanted to, we could not do it as we are not as far as we need to be with the (defence) structures. No, no. This is an issue that will be handled in the (UN) Security Council."
The Swedish Foreign Minister, Ms Anna Lindh, called it a "slight misunderstanding" while a British official said more bluntly: "Clearly it is not an EU force."
The summit, in the town of Laeken, just outside Brussels, also saw the by now traditional violent protests. While many thousands demonstrated peacefully in Laeken and Brussels on globalisation and environmental issues, outside the Laeken royal palace, a demonstration by 8,000 anti-globalisation activists degenerated into violence. Masked anarchists attacked two banks and a police station about two miles from the summit site. Belgian police used water cannon and tear gas yesterday to disperse protesters.
Meanwhile, the EU firmly supported the continuation of Mr Yasser Arafat's role in the Middle East peace process, warning Israel that "his capacity to combat terrorism must not be weakened".
The Union also renewed its appeal to the Palestinian Authority "to do everything within its power to prevent acts of terrorism". Last night over dinner, the 15 heads of state and government were discussing the shape of the convention to discuss the future of Europe, and who would be its president. The convention, which will include a Government representative and two Oireachtas members yet to be chosen, begins work in March and will reports to the European Council in June 2003. An inter-governmental conference is then expected to begin work on a new treaty, expected to conclude in 2004.
Diplomats reject suggestion of joint EU force; Solbes predicts economic recovery next year: page 6; Editorial comment:
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Follow developments at the EU Summit at Laeken today on the breaking news section of The Irish Times website at: www.ireland.com.