Partnership For Peace

Sir, - Bertie Ahern (Opinion, May 20th) states that the nature of European security policy has changed: "The growing emphasis…

Sir, - Bertie Ahern (Opinion, May 20th) states that the nature of European security policy has changed: "The growing emphasis has been on co-operation, not confrontation . . . on building confidence and stability through dialogue." This can hardly be said to be true of NATO, which has opted for confrontation of a particularly disastrous sort in relation to the Kosovo crisis.

Given that NATO policy seems to be so out of line with what the Taoiseach sees as the future thrust of European security policy, is it wise for Ireland to join a Partnership for Peace which is closely associated with NATO? It is this issue of association with NATO which is at the heart of the PfP debate. - Yours, etc., Andy Storey,

Chairperson, Afri, Lr Rathmines Road, Dublin 6.