Seanad debates
Thursday, 27 November 2003
Address by President of the European Parliament.
As regards the case of Macedonia, I had the privilege two months ago to speak in every Parliament in the western Balkans with a differentiated but European message. The people in Macedonia are struggling in the most desperate economic circumstances, but they are wonderfully good. They are trying to constitutionalise pluralism between a Slavic and Albanian population, to hold the line against threats of terrorism and to connect to a European vision. I am sorry Ireland will not be there for the triple-lock reason, of which we are aware. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia recognised Taiwan, which led to the payback. This raises an operational question. If ever there was a place where the qualities of Irish peacekeepers and policemen could mean so much on the ground, that is it. I do not believe we would necessarily dishonour the triple-lock commitment if we explained to the public that this is such an exceptional case that it fits into the philosophy of the triple-lock even if there is a Taiwanese exception.
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