Ireland is to send troops to Kosovo as part of a United Nations international security presence, the Minister for Defence announced. Mr Smith said the Government had decided, subject to the approval of the Dail before the summer recess, to send a transport group of between 80 and 100 personnel, equipped with 32 vehicles, for service with Kfor for an initial period until June 2000. He said it was hoped the Irish soldiers would form part of a battalion of about 400 which would also probably involve Britain and Norway.
"It is envisaged that it would take a minimum of six weeks from the date of Dail approval to the commencement date of deployment of the contingent."
He said the cost to the State for the remaining part of this year would be in excess of £1 million and £1.2 million for the first six months of next year. The money would be found from the Department's existing budget, he added. The Minister said a military fact-finding mission to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe, Mons, Belgium, was seeking clarification on a number of practical matters relating to the proposed participation of Irish troops. It would be necessary to send a Defence Forces reconnaissance party to the mission prior to deployment and before a final decision was made on the actual composition of the transport group.
In the meantime, all necessary forward planning relating to the recruitment of personnel, the preparation of vehicles and equipment was ongoing within the Defence Forces in anticipation of approval by the House to participate in the mission, he added.
Mr Smith said it was intended that Defence Forces personnel would undergo specific Kfor training prior to their departure for Kosovo. Welcoming the Government's decision, the Fine Gael spokeswoman on defence, Ms Frances Fitzgerald, said the public would want to know that they would have the equipment, training, information and logistical support required. "This is a mission which will go on for a long period, and I think it is indicative of the changing type of peacekeeping in which our Defence Forces will be involved."
Mr Smith said safety and security would be a primary issue. Ireland would be supplying its own vehicles, but the new APCs would not be on stream for the mission. "This is a transport mission primarily. It will be involved in humanitarian tasks and the transport of equipment, particularly relating to infrastructural development where there has been a lot of damage done and where it will be necessary to support those efforts and enterprises to bring back some sense of normality for the refugees as they return to Kosovo." Mr Billy Timmins (FG, Wicklow) also welcomed the decision to send troops to Kosovo and asked if Ireland had indicated to the United Nations that it could supply a transport group.
Mr Smith said that early on he had publicly indicated, largely because of what he saw on television, that Ireland would play its part when a decision was taken on an international force. Ireland, he added, did not have the formal request yet. "We are expecting it any day now."
Mr Timmins asked if the Minister agreed it would be more beneficial for Ireland to make a major contribution to Kfor and downsize its commitment to UNIFIL. "Ireland has been part of UNIFIL for 21 years, and while I appreciate that good work has been done, we are one of the few remaining countries from the initial group involved in the mission. It is time to consider pastures new, particularly in the light of the disdain the Israeli government appears to have for UNIFIL."
Mr Smith said he was anxious to reach the day when Ireland could substantially reduce its commitment to UNIFIL in south Lebanon. "However, the scenario there is still difficult and we are prepared to stay and to try to finish the job. It may be possible to reduce our commitment within a short time if prime minister-elect Barak is able to complete the withdrawal of Israeli troops under the terms of the UN resolution. This would provide an opportunity to deploy a much larger contingent in Kosovo."
