Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 2

Written Answers. - Former Yugoslavia.

Austin Deasy

Question:

35 Mr. Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the accuracy of newspaper reports that all other countries in the EU with the exception of Ireland, supplied army personnel for peace enforcement duties in the former Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14316/96]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

During the course of the conflict in former Yugoslavia, Ireland has provided a number of personnel to UN peacekeeping operations, including members of the Permanent Defence Forces who served as military observers. Irish personnel served at one time or another with the UN peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Hercegovina, Croatia and the former Yugolslav Republic of Macedonia.

At present, three officers are deployed as military observers with the UN Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia, with which 15 gardaí are also deployed, and one Defence Force officer is serving with the UN Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP), both in Croatia. Two officers are currently deployed with the UN Preventative Deployment Force (UNPREDEP) in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

With regard to military peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Hercegovina, the Deputy will be aware that UNPROFOR — the UN Protection Force in Bosnia, to which Ireland made available a number of military observers — is no longer in existence. The involvement of the United Nations in peacekeeping in Bosnia and Hercegovina is now limited to its civilian police operation — the UN International Police Task Force. A total of 31 gardaí are deployed with this force, and the IPTF Commissioner is Assistant Commissioner Peter Fitzgerald.

In December 1995, the UN Security Council authorised a coalition of member states to form the international Implementation Force (IFOR). The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation has the role of establishing and leading the Force, with the main troop contributors being NATO members or states which are members of the "Partnership for Peace" programme. No approach was made to Ireland to participate.

The Irish Government intends to continue to make a significant effort to the efforts to implement the peace agreements for the former Yugoslavia. During the Irish Presidency of the European Union, 75 Defence Force personal, and five Irish diplomats, will be among those serving with the European Community Monitor Mission, which is making a significant contribution to the efforts by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to prepare for the elections which will be held in Bosnia and Hercegovina. Four further members of the Permanent Defence Forces are also serving as part of the OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Hercegovina.