An advance party of Irish soldiers is to leave for Kosovo next week to examine possible campsites for the transport unit being assembled for service in the country later this summer, writes Jim Cusack, Security Correspondent.
The Defence Forces Director of Operations, Col Frank McKevitt, is to lead the reconnaissance team to examine sites in or near the Kosovan capital, Pristina. It is expected the full Irish contingent will be in Kosovo by late August or early September.
The five-member reconnaissance team will be followed by a group of between 20 and 30 soldiers, which will include a specialist search team and ordnance officers to examine the potential site for mines and other dangers.
The team will decide whether the contingent will be based in existing premises or whether it will be necessary to transport tented or prefabricated accommodation to the country.
The Defence Forces yesterday announced that three senior officers are going to Kosovo to participate in the United Nations programme to help to rebuild the civilian administration. Brig Gen Richard Heaslip, from Kildare, will hold a senior administrative post with the UN's interim administration mission in Kosovo. The two other officers are Lieut Col Tadgh Crowe from Limerick and Comdt John Ryan from Naas.