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Politics : War -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Tom Clarke who wrote (957)	3/29/2001 1:53:02 AM
From: Michael M	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 23908

ITALIAN FURY AT NATO FOUR Army row ... fury over vote Picture: REUTERS/FATIH SARIBAS By TREVOR KAVANAGH Political Editor THE Italian army last night blasted "treacherous" plans to put the new European Army under the command of neutral Finland. They cried foul after their own candidate was outvoted 8-7 by EU leaders. General Mario Arpino, chief of the Italian Defence Staff, stormed: "Italy has been betrayed." The decision to hand command to Finnish General Gustav Hagglund raises fears about the future of the Nato defence alliance which has kept the peace in Europe for 50 years. Finland was backed by Austria, Sweden and Ireland - all EU states NOT in the Nato alliance. But Italian anger was aimed at the FOUR other countries in Nato who voted against them. Gen Arpino said: "They have kicked us in the teeth. "They have behaved badly. They have broken the bond of solidarity among the Nato countries." The appointment of Finnish Defence Chief General Hagglund to head the 60,000-strong EU army stunned the world this week. And Finland rubbed salt in Italy's wounds last night by insisting that it will never join Nato. President Tarja Halonen said: "Finland's security interests do not require us to join Nato." The latest bust-up came as France insisted the new army must be free of Nato control. French defence chief Gen Jean-Pierre Kelche said he wanted the army up and running by the end of the year - even if agreement is not reached with Nato. And he stressed it would see a shift in the balance of power away from America. He said: "It must have its own planning staff. "European politicians need to know what's going on. They need to be able to select options and then conduct operations. "Why should we have to go through Nato? We have our own timetable. "If everything is blocked in Nato, it is not our fault. It is clear that by the end of the year, the EU must declare that it has an operational capability." This flies in the face of assurances by Tony Blair that the army will not act without Nato approval. And it will dismay US President George Bush who fears France is trying to drive America out of Europe. _______________ If it quacks like a duck..... m