Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea today used an official visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina to tour the scenes of some of the worst atrocities of the three-year Bosnian War.
They included Sarajevo Maternity Hospital where 56 babies were killed in a shell attack in May 1992 and Trebevic Mountain which was once the most heavily mined in the world.
The 1992-1997 conflict in the former Yugoslavian region resulted in the deaths of more than 100,000 people. Mr O'Dea and officials also visited Bare Cemetery overlooking Sarajevo where war victims representing seven religious denominations are buried.
The Irish delegation also toured Kosevo Stadium - the venue for U2's symbolic concert to thousands of war-scarred music fans in September 1997.
On the itinerary was a visit to the once-secret Tunnel DB - a 850-metre underground passageway where food and medical supplies were smuggled through to starving citizens during the four-year Serbian siege of Sarajevo.
Mr O'Dea, who is accompanied on his trip by Defence Forces chief of staff Lt Gen Dermot Earley, also inspected Eufor sites storing weapons and ammunition collected by Irish-led Verification Teams.
A total of 44 Irish personnel are serving as part of the EU-led Eufor mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Ireland has participated in the operation since 1997.
Addressing the troops at their Camp Butmir base, Mr O'Dea said a track record of successful overseas missions like Bosnia-Herzegovina made possible a 400-troop deployment to protect refugees in Chad.
"There has been an overwhelming demand for the EU-led mission in Chad, which is testimony to your efforts in the Balkans and other overseas missions," he said.
"Senior political figures at EU and UN level are very appreciative of the current role of Irish personnel in Bosnia-Herzegovina and your impressive international reputation in conflict zones in general."
Bosnia-Herzegovina, which has a population of about four million people, is currently bidding to become a member of the EU.