An Taoiseach outlines Balkans commitments during visit to Kosovo 22nd December 2008
Speaking today from Kosovo where he is visiting 230 Irish Defence Force personnel currently serving there, An Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD has confirmed that Irish troops will remain on the ground in Kosovo for the foreseeable future. Ireland has participated in KFOR since August 1999.
"The KFOR mission has restored confidence in Kosovo. We are rightly proud of the role that we have played in helping the people of Kosovo to move from war, misery and fear towards a stable, secure and peaceful future. However, there is still some work to do and, subject to ongoing assessments of the situation on the ground, Ireland will maintain a presence in KFOR for some time yet," stated An Taoiseach.
"Kosovo, is a newly independent small country and has Ireland's support and recognition. This milestone event last February proved to the world that the political landscape of Kosovo is changing and democracy is taking hold. Ireland can be proud of the role that we have played in reaching this point and I am privileged to be here on the ground today to see at firsthand the great work our troops are doing in the cause of peace," added An Taoiseach.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD also confirmed that this week the Government approved Irish troops remaining with EUFOR, the UN mandated EU-led Mission in Bosnia Herzegovina for a further period, up to a maximum of 12 months beyond December 2008. Ireland has participated in EUFOR since December 2004, when it replaced the UN mandated NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ireland had previously been a participant in SFOR since 1997.
It is expected however that in March/April 2009 EUFOR will change, from its current configuration of some 2,000 troops, to a support and training operation involving only 200 personnel. This will take approximately six months to complete. It is proposed that the Irish Defence Forces will withdraw from the mission when it moves to this new phase. However, there will be no change to Ireland's contribution to the mission until June 2009 at the earliest.
The Irish contingent with EUFOR currently comprises of 44 personnel. The role of the Defence Forces in the mission is to provide personnel for EUFOR HQ, Camp Butmir HQ, the International Military Police Unit, and Verification Teams who operate nationwide. (The role of the Verification Teams, established under Dayton Agreement, is to monitor arms caches and arms movements by the two forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina.)
Ends.