A Defence Force contingent gathered today for the last address by their Chief of Staff before they leave for a six-month tour of duty in Sarajevo.
The 50-strong 11th Military Police Company will be last contingent join the Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Sarajevo as Irish forces are due to withdraw in December.
In 2003 the Defence Force intends to transfer all Irish forces in Bosnia to the Kosovo Force (KFOR). This will increase the 112-strong company in Kosovo to a 250-strong infantry group which will operate as part of a Finnish Battalion.
"It is more efficient from a personnel point of view. We want to be more involved in the Kosovo mission, and it makes more sense to have a big military base in Kosovo than to have two small bases in Bosnia," said Comdt Kieran McDaid.
Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Colm Mangan and the Minister for Defence, Mr Michael Smith, will visit the Irish bases in Sarajevo and Kosovo next week.