THE GOVERNMENT would have to give "serious consideration" to Irish participation in a new international military force in former Yugoslavia's which is almost certain to be under NATO command, according to the Tanaiste, Mr Spring.
The fact that it would be NATO fled should not present a problem so long as the force has a UN manate, he said in an interview with The Irish Times. Troops from non NATO countries, such as Russia and Austria, were participating in the present force, Ifor. "We could look at it in that context. It's an international force under a UN mandate."
Ifor has been in former Yugoslavia for almost a year to implement last year's Dayton peace accord which ended Bosnia's four year war. That force is to leave at the end of this year but there is an international consensus that it must be replaced by another strong military presence.
Mr Spring said consideration of Irish participation would have to take account of the availability of troops. "We are in 14 missions as things now stand. We tend to examine these things on a case by case basis and if there is a new force being put together in relation to former Yugoslavia, I personally believe we would have to give it serious consideration, depending on availability of troops."
The Government was also involved in preliminary discussions with NATO about possible involvement in the NATO sponsored Partnership For Peace (PFP) programme, he said.
PFP is a programme involving joint training of military personnel from NATO and non NATO countries for peacekeeping and other operations.
Military sources believe that unless Ireland gets involved in the programme its troops will not be considered to have enough joint training to allow them to participate in future international peace keeping and peace enforcing military forces.
Others, including Fianna Fail, have suggested that this is the "thin end of the wedge" and is a step towards joining NATO. But Mr Spring said yesterday: "My own view is that it is consistent with Irish neutrality."
Switzerland and Ireland were now the only European countries not involved in the PFP, he said. Both were having talks about the possibility of involvement.