The Government would do what it could to facilitate the speedy organisation of a new date for the Ireland-Yugoslavia soccer match as soon as a UN resolution on Kosovo was agreed, the Taoiseach told journalists yesterday.
Mr Ahern was speaking at the end of the EU summit. It followed a reiteration by the leaders, at Mr Ahern's instigation, of the EU appeal to sporting organisations to refrain from sporting contacts with Yugoslavia.
"If the UN resolution is passed," he said, "it would then allow us to move quickly on a date."
He said he was aware there was scheduling pressure on both Ireland and Yugoslavia to finish the soccer championship matches by December and the closed season. He said the issue of the match was raised directly by President Milosevic with President Ahtissari as one of several issues of concern.
The Taoiseach said that in his telephone call to UEFA on Thursday night the German Chancellor, Mr Gerhard Schroder, had made it clear to the organisation that the EU was not divided on its call for a postponement of the match.
Mr Ahern expressed his disappointment at the decision not to extend duty-free sales, but said the Danish veto made that impossible.
No one was trying to reverse the 1991 decision on abolition, but it could have been phased. The decision would affect regional airports, and it would be necessary to look at means of addressing their fall in revenue.
He defended the decision to incorporate parts of the WEU into the EU.
"I was very pleased with yesterday's decision. We're talking about co-operation and co-ordination of Petersberg tasks (peacekeeping and humanitarian missions)."
He said the decision was consistent with the State's traditional involvement in such missions.
"We are talking about a neutral country, but a position where tonight and tomorrow there will be the funeral of an Irish soldier killed in southern Lebanon, our 40th such soldier killed holding the peace between Hizbullah and the Israelis.
"And the day before, at the Cabinet meeting, we had passed approval of a police force to go to East Timor. So we play a role comprehensively and fully and will continue to do that.
"There is an enormous pride in Irish people in our involvement in the UN. We have been in Sfor and all the recent operations. But people do not want any association or involvement with NATO."
He said he had heard with concern that overnight the condition of the wounded Irish soldier had deteriorated.
Mr Ahern also said he had again raised the issue of the blue whiting quota with fellow leaders.
