Ireland chooses military neutrality on Security Council resolution

Ireland will be ‘militarily neutral’ in the multinational force that is enforcing the no-fly zone on Libya, joining Germany and Malta from the European Union member states that have stepped back from joining the military coalition against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

At a breakfast meeting today in Madrid, organised by Europa Economic Forum, the Irish president Mary McAleese stated that Ireland will remain  neutral in the international community’s intervention in Libya and will not send troops or military equipment to the area.

However Ireland supported the UN decision and interventions which other countries are granting in this framework.

McAleese stressed that Ireland only provides troops to peacekeeping operations of the UN, as in the case of the mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

While insisting on support for the resolutions adopted by the UN on Libya, McAleese stated that their “military neutrality” would prevent them from participating in military operations in Libya.

McAleese said the Libyan authorities should “take very seriously” the no-fly zone agreed by the UN, because it is a measure to protect the life of Libyan people.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has said Malta will not be used as a military base for the enforcement of the no-fly zone, while Germany has dismissed Libya’s request to monitor its alleged ceasefire, saying that only the United Nations should carry out the task.

Germany on Thursday abstained in the United Nations Security Council vote for a resolution calling for a ceasefire and imposing a No-Fly zone over Libya.