17 June 2000

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NATO war-planes fly into flak from Sinn Fein

Sinn Fein has said the participation at this weekend's air show at Dublin's Casement Aerodrome of NATO war-planes is a public relations move to ``soften up'' the Irish public towards full membership of NATO.

Dublin County Councillor Seán Crowe, EU candidate in last year's elections, said:

``I don't want to spoil people's fun but this is clearly a PR move to soften up public opinion towards full membership of the NATO nuclear military alliance.''

Cllr Crowe described NATO as ``a Cold War relic trying to carve out a new role as world policeman answerable to no one''. He added:

``Ireland has an honourable record in the United Nations and we should stay out of NATO. We won't correct the UN's operational problems by joining a nuclear war club that flouts international law.''

Cllr Crowe accused Fianna Fáil of reneging on its promise not join the NATO-linked `Partnership for Peace'. ``Now Fianna Fáil is setting us up for full membership of NATO.''

ENDS

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