Sir, - The Africa-Europe Faith and Justice Network is a network of missionary congregations which campaigns for just relations in all dealings between Europe and Africa. One of our chief concerns is the awful destruction to the peoples and continent of Africa caused by the proliferation of armaments, both conventional and small arms, over the past 15 years.
Many of these weapons are manufactured in Europe and our members have personally witnessed the horrible destruction they cause. We are very proud of the excellent work our Irish Government has been doing in lobbying colleagues in Europe and globally for stringent controls on the export of arms.
It is from this background that we wish to voice our deep concern at the implications of a Yes vote on the Nice Treaty in its present form. By voting Yes not only do we agree to enlarge the European Community - something we warmly support - but we go down the road of also supporting, both financially and morally, the increased militarisation of Europe.
We are indebted to the excellent work of Afri for highlighting the disturbingly close and increasing relationship there will be between the EU's Rapid Reaction Force and NATO. This makes the Taoiseach's insistence that the foreign and defence considerations of Nice are "minor details" a huge understatement. Furthermore, Patrick Smyth's report on the massive increase likely in US military spending (The Irish Times, May 8th) to a scandalous figure of $302 billion this year alone makes it clear that EU spending in this area will increase substantially. The US plans to withdraw significantly from its European NATO presence, knowing its needs will be adequately cared for by the RRF.
Ireland can make a statement, along with our Danish colleagues, that we refuse to participate in this increased militarisation of Europe. It would require a similar protocol to that of Denmark. This is not currently catered for. We are very much in favour of enlargement and would like to vote Yes to this aspect, but we have no choice but to vote No on this occasion and insist that the Government includes such a protocol. There is still ample time to do so before the end of 2002, so a conscientious No vote now should not be construed as a vote against enlargement.
Our experience of the killing fields of Africa convinces us that increased militarisation is not the road for Europe to travel. We urge the Irish people to give leadership on this issue. - Yours etc.,
Sr Margaret Ivers, Rsc, Fr Niall Geaney, Sps, Sr Irene Bailey, Lsa, Fr Raymond Mcquarrie, M.Afr., Fr John Feighery, Svd, Sr Mary Delargy, Rsm, Fr Fachtna O'driscoll, SMA, African Missions, Blackrock Road, Cork.