Mr. Patrick Smyth:

I cannot think of a direct comparison with Shannon in the sense that I cannot think of any other base that has been used in the particular wars we are talking about. However, in the context of the European Union, the Partnership for Peace, PfP, programme involves close co-operation between the military forces of the neutrals - Austria, Sweden and Finland - and NATO forces. In that context, NATO planes would visit the PfP countries and would use the facilities, not to specifically transport military personnel. Nevertheless, they would be the planes of a military alliance.