Archbishop speech - EU must offer a peace strategy

THE Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, has become a clarion voice on behalf of minority groups and the oppressed.

So, in yesterday’s keynote speech on European issues, he did not flinch from criticising the international community for failing the people of Iraq.

In his view, that happened long before the US and British military invasion. It is also happening today in Darfur and in Sri Lanka.

Given the failure of military invasions to resolve conflict, the challenge facing the EU, according to Dr Martin, is to be in the forefront of promoting peace.

EU and world leaders should heed his call for a new strategy for peace, for conflict prevention and for building up true democracy as opposed to maintaining national strategic interests.