‘Russian Threat’ or ‘Irish Obsession’: Ambassador Filatov’s Strong Rebuke to Dublin
Dublin, February 18: The tendency to see the specter of a ‘Russian threat’ in Ireland has now become an ‘obsession’ at the governmental level. Russian Ambassador to Ireland Yuriy Filatov, reacting strongly to the statements of Foreign and Defence Minister Helen McEntee, stated that the accusations against Russia are misleading and dangerous.
Criticizing Minister McEntee’s interview on RTE Radio, Ambassador Filatov said, “The notion of a ‘Russian threat’ to Ireland and ‘everyone else’ has not only taken root in the Irish government, it has turned into an obsession at Leinster House.”
Noting that the purpose of this scaremongering campaign is clear, the Ambassador said, “Minister McEntee is continuing the tradition of using the ‘Russian threat’ as a pretext to advance Ireland’s militarization and greater engagement with NATO.”
He clarified two facts: first, Russia has never threatened Ireland and its people; claiming the opposite would be wrong and misleading. Second, while formulating security and defense policy is Ireland’s sovereign right, such decisions should not be based on false assumptions.
Ambassador Filatov strongly objected to another statement by Minister McEntee, calling it ‘remarkable, unprecedented and unacceptable.’ The Minister had mentioned that the Irish government is considering the possibility of Irish defence forces boarding Russian cargo ships.
“The Irish minister is threatening Russian civilian ships with illegal hostile actions. Under international maritime law, this is an act of piracy, which carries serious consequences, as she should know,” the Ambassador said.
Stating that the Irish public should indeed be worried about this, he warned that the Irish government should seriously reflect on the consequences of such a reckless and thoughtless policy.
