IRISH SOLDIERS will be deployed to Syria as unarmed military observers on a new UN mission, following Cabinet approval for a measure put forward by Minister for Defence Alan Shatter yesterday.
Up to six members of the Defence Forces will be made available for service with the international supervision mission, which will monitor the fragile ceasefire following the cessation of armed violence in Syria.
Mr Shatter said the soldiers’ participation would reaffirm Ireland’s continued support for the UN.
“The UN supervision mission will contribute to improving the situation on the ground, not only in saving lives but in bringing about reform and political transition in Syria,” he added.
The mission will also be tasked with observing the implementation of the so-called six-point plan to bring an end to the crisis in Syria proposed recently by the UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.
A UN advance team is already in place in Syria. During yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Ministers also agreed that three Defence Forces personnel could be made available to that team if required.
The supervision mission has been established for an initial period of 90 days. The mission’s official title is the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria and it is tasked with monitoring a cessation of armed violence “in all its forms by all parties”. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton this week described the situation in Syria as “still very dangerous”, adding: “we don’t have a proper ceasefire”.
Baroness Ashton said she hoped the presence of observers would make a difference.
