Sir, – The carefully and diplomatically worded comments on Irish neutrality by French ambassador to Ireland Vincent Guérend need to be challenged.
He stated that: “Neutrality is not respected by Russia and China in the way Ireland would like to think it is”.
While nothing justifies Russian war crimes in Ukraine, there is no basis for accusing China for breaching the neutrality of any foreign country in recent decades.
France itself arguably committed very serious breaches of Libyan neutrality in 2011 when it led the efforts to overthrow the Libyan government by abusing the terms of the UN no-fly-zone resolution, leaving Libya in chaos ever since.
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Rwanda was arguably a neutral state when France intervened in Rwanda’s internal affairs by militarily supporting the genocidal Rwandan government in 1974, with catastrophic consequences for the people of Rwanda.
Nato and the European Union Nato members, 23 of which will also be members of Nato when Finland and Sweden abandon their neutrality, appear to be engaged in a campaign toward eliminating the concept of neutrality in Europe.
On such sensitive matters ambassadors should remain silent to avoid being seen to interfere in the democratic processes of their host countries. – Yours, etc,
Dr EDWARD HORGAN,
Castletroy,
Co Limerick.
Sir, – I am glad that Vincent Guérend, the French ambassador, respects Irish neutrality (“Russia does not respect Irish neutrality, says French ambassador”, News, May 23rd).
Mr Guérend should know a thing or two about matters of war and peace and the troubles non-aligned states might face. His own country has been involved in more than 30 large and small wars (of which four are ongoing), on four continents since the second World War. Many millions of people were slaughtered in these wars.
I note that he welcomes and hopes for more Irish military involvement with the EU. He points out, perfectly plausibly, that Russia, for example, would not respect Irish neutrality if its own interests were involved.
However, I think it fair to point out that Russia’s only interest in Ireland lies in the fact that for the last 70 years our near Atlantic is replete with submarines and aircraft from France, Britain, and the US, which have nuclear missiles permanently targeted at Moscow, Saint Petersburg and other Russian cities.
A more certain way to protect our security would be for these vessels and aircraft to be removed from the vicinity of our country. – Yours, etc,
DERMOT NOLAN,
Monkstown,
Co Dublin.