IRISH TROOPS serving in Kosovo are helping to secure a safe environment that will benefit generations of Kosovars, Taoiseach Brian Cowen has said.
On a pre-Christmas visit yesterday to some 236 Irish troops in Pristina, Mr Cowen said the Irish soldiers based in the region were “honouring the Irish flag” and enhancing Ireland’s role as peacekeepers in the eyes of the rest of the world.
“Ireland has participated in KFor since 1999 and, during this time, you have played a hugely significant role in restoring peace and confidence to Kosovo,” he told a gathering of troops at Ireland’s Camp Clarke, just outside Pristina.
“The people of Kosovo have moved from war, misery and fear towards a stable, secure and peaceful future as an independent nation. In large measure, this has been made possible by what your predecessors have done and what you continue to do,” he added.
Mr Cowen said the Irish, who are one of six European nationalities in the UN-mandated mission, were playing a vital role in protecting minority communities and in monitoring tensions that continue to arise from time to time.
“It is your presence, your patrolling day and night, that has ensured the possibility of a multi-ethnic Kosovo remains a live one,” he told the soldiers, mainly from the 4th Western Brigade.
Mr Cowen also met with a small group from An Garda Síochána now serving with EULex, the EU’s mission to assist the Kosovo government in developing the legal, judicial and policing systems of the newly independent state.
He told the soldiers and gardaí that being away from home represented a “considerable sacrifice” and that they faced real dangers during their mission.
“In total this Christmas, 765 members of Óglaigh na hÉireann will be serving overseas and I know it is a difficult time to be separated from family so I sincerely wish you a happy Christmas and peaceful New Year.”
Mr Cowen was accompanied on the one-day visit by Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea and the acting Defence Forces chief of staff Maj Gen Pat O’Sullivan.
Mr O’Dea said he was delighted to visit troops overseas so close to Christmas and said morale among the Irish contingent serving with KFor was “as high as I expected”.
The officer commanding the 39th Infantry Group KFor, Lieut Col Eamon Caulfield, said the visit from Mr Cowen, Mr O’Dea and Maj Gen O’Sullivan was a very significant boost to morale.
He said while the situation in the Irish area of responsibility remained calm, ethnic tensions arose infrequently and were monitored. The Irish needed to be particularly vigilant because a Serb enclave was located within their area of responsibility.
The Irish had a number of quick reaction force patrols that were ready to respond within minutes to any dangerous situation on the ground.In addition to shoring up security, Irish troops in Kosovo visit schools to teach landmine awareness. The soldiers also assist in the reconstruction of facilities such as schools and hospitals.