The Taoiseach yesterday ruled out a referendum on the Republic joining Partnership for Peace and said there was no connection between that organisation and NATO.
Mr Ahern also said he believed the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia would continue and, despite the decision to keep as many Kosovans as possible close to their homeland, Ireland could expect to start receiving refugees shortly.
Responding to claims that Fianna Fail had reneged on a commitment to keep Ireland out of PFP, Mr Ahern said what Fianna Fail had done a number of years ago was to ask for people's views and to try to start a debate on the issue. "Unfortunately that [starting a debate] was not done. I'm glad that particularly Fianna Fail's involvement in this has led to an understanding in this country of what Partnership for Peace is and isn't," he said. The Fianna Fail parliamentary party and the party in general had an open debate and there was now "a far clearer understanding".
He told reporters in Waterford, where he opened the annual conference of the Local Authority Members' Association, there was no connection between PFP and NATO. "This unfortunately was the misinformation which was put forward a number of years ago."
Asked if there should be a referendum on the issue, he said an examination of the constitutional position showed clearly there was "no requirement whatsoever" for one, as our neutrality would not be affected.
"I think Partnership for Peace is a useful co-ordinating area where a country can join under arrangements that are negotiated." He added that, in the light of current events, "any area of foreign policy where there is useful co-operation, it's a good idea".
Asked if NATO should call off its bombing, he said: "I don't think NATO are going to do that, it's a matter for themselves." The Government had stated its position, which was that "if these things could have been avoided in the first place it would have been better, but that isn't the position.
"The NATO forces are involved now in trying to bring what are obviously very dangerous people to some kind of heel, and they have to deal with that military situation as they see fit. We're not part of NATO. We're not part of that decision-making process."
On the question of taking refugees from Kosovo, he said the decision not to move large numbers of people from the Balkans did not change the position that there were some who could not tolerate the conditions they were in. These people, including the aged and infirm, would be moved and "we'll certainly play our role in participating in that effort".
Exactly when Ireland would be receiving some refugees was a matter for the aid agencies.
