Charles Flanagan
Question:124 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Defence the duties he performed on his official visit to Cyprus in March 1996. [7602/96]
Written Answers. - Ministerial Visit to Cyprus.
I visited Irish troops serving with the United Nations in Lebanon, Cyprus and Israel during the period 13-25 March 1996. The primary purpose of my visit was to see for myself the work of Irish military personnel serving in the region and to assure them, on behalf of the Government and people of Ireland, of how proud we are of the outstanding manner in which they have consistently performed their duties on United Nations service.
I spent two days in Cyprus during which I met the chief of mission and the force commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. I attended briefings by the chief of staff of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus and the senior Irish officer in the force. I unveiled a plaque to the late Sergeant Whelan, who was a prominent member of the force in Cyprus and who was killed in a traffic accident in the Curragh in the recent past. I also attended a medal parade for Irish personnel.
Most of my visit was spent in the Lebanon where I met the Lebanese Defence Minister and the UNIFIL Force Commander as well as other local representatives and dignitaries. In all of these discussions there was consistent praise for Irish troops and a desire that they should continue in service in South Lebanon. I toured the Irish area of operations in the south of the country where I visited 14 Irish UN posts and saw at first hand the conditions under which Irish troops are required to operate. Towards the end of my visit I met with the Syrian Minister for Defence in Damascus. I was greatly impressed by the commitment of all our troops in the Middle East to the important work they are undertaking in the cause of international peace.