HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK ---------------------------
The Scotsman Fri 15 Mar 2002 Nationalists back Scots withdrawal from NATO HAMISH MACDONELL Scottish Political Editor THE leadership of the SNP ended months of confusion yesterday by giving its support to withdrawal from NATO. A deep split appeared in the party last year when some senior figures suggested that an independent Scotland should stay within the NATO defence shield. But, rather than debate it at the conference, the leadership managed to shelve the divisive issue by farming it out to a review group. That group has now reported and its recommendations will go to the party for ratification. Its report stated that an independent Scotland would inherit NATO obligations so would not be able to leave the organisation immediately. But it reaffirmed the party's long-standing policy of withdrawal from NATO. An SNP spokesman insisted the policy did not represent either a snub or a reversal for Mr Swinney. He said: "John has always made his position clear: he remains opposed to membership of NATO." However, the decision to retain such a strong, unilateral position towards NATO will be used by the SNP's opponents to portray the Nationalists as a party dominated by hard-left fundamentalists. There was also criticism last night of the SNP's decision to announce the review group's decision on NATO at 5pm on a Thursday evening, just before MSPs left Edinburgh for the weekend and on the same day as the Lockerbie appeal ruling. A Labour Party spokesman said: "They are doing a Jo Moore and burying bad news." ��http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/politics.cfm?id=287352002 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Sports - live college hoops coverage http://sports.yahoo.com/ --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
