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Irish soldiers may go to Kosovo

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

By Andrew Bushe

DUBLIN — A contingent of about 100 soldiers are expected to be given the go-ahead to serve as a transport unit with a British section of the NATO peace-keeping force in Kosovo.

A UN request for Irish soldiers is due to be considered by the government his week. The men will form a new company and it is exected they will serve alongside British troops in an area under the control of the Armored Brigade near the Kosovan capital Pristina.

Ireland’s possible involvement in a peace-keeping force in Kosovo was first raised in April when Defense Minister Michael Smith said an international force was needed in the Balkans and if it were to be set up, Ireland would not be found wanting.

The decision to send troops to Kosovo will have to be sanctioned by the Dail and Seanad and the taoiseach said he expected a request from the UN this week.

The unit will have up to 40 trucks and is expected to be similar to a transport company that served in Somalia in 1993-94 when they escorted food and aid convoys. It did two tours of duty.

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NATO has made clear it would welcome help from Irish troops. Previously, a unit to help clear mines and unexploded bombs had been mentioned.

Any request from bomb-disposal experts or mine-clearance teams from the Engineer and Ordnance Corps would be considered, but these specialized personnel are already heavily committed in South Lebanon with the UNIFIL force and also at home.

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