The Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea TD secured Cabinet approval today for the continued deployment of Irish troops serving in Kosovo (KFOR) and Afghanistan (ISAF) for a further 12 months.
 
Irish peacekeeping troops have served in Kosovo since August 1999 in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244. Currently there are 213 Irish personnel serving with KFOR. They operate as part of a multi-national Czech-led grouping. Discussions are currently underway regarding Ireland’s possible enhanced future role beyond 2007, which could see Ireland becoming the Framework (lead) Nation for the KFOR mission. 

While the security situation in Kosovo has improved since the serious outbreak of violence in March 2004 - in which Irish personnel played a major role in protecting Serb enclaves in and around Pristina - the situation remains tense with sporadic violent incidents continuing. In view of the continued fragility of the situation in the region and the acute need to build stability there, Minister O’Dea advised his Cabinet colleagues of the importance of maintaining an Irish presence in the Western Balkins. 
 
Approval was also given today for Ireland’s continued deployment to the UN authorised International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.  Ireland has participated in ISAF since July 5^th 2002 and 7 personnel are currently serving there. All personnel are stationed in the Kabul area. Three personnel are employed at ISAF HQ while the remaining four personnel are working with the Kabul Multinational Brigade (KMNB).   The three personnel at ISAF HQ hold staff appointments in the information operations section. The four Defence Forces personnel employed with KMNB are solely engaged in liaison duties between KMNB, the Afghan National Directorate of Security, the Kabul city police and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and their liaison remit is strictly confined to information exchange concerning security issues directly related to the ISAF mission.
 
The overall threat to ISAF in Kabul is currently assessed as ‘significant’. Armoured protection vehicles are provided to the personnel serving in Kabul and additional security measures in relation to routes and travel have been taken.
 
Considerable progress politically has been made in Afghanistan. A democratic constitution, a representative National Parliament and a legitimate elected Government are all now in place. The National Assembly and Provincial Council elections which were successfully held last September, concluded the implementation of the Bonn Agreement of 2001 on arrangements for the re-establishment of permanent Government institutions in Afghanistan.  The opening session of the new Parliament was held on 19^th December 2005. In a particularly welcome development, women now hold more than a quarter of the seats in the National Assembly.
 
The illicit narcotics industry remains a major challenge however to the long-term security, development and effective Governance of Afghanistan. Afghanistan produces approx. 90% of the global opium supply.

"I am pleased to have secured Cabinet approval today for Ireland's continuing deployment in Kosovo and Afghanistan. Both missions are of vital importance, locally and Internationally and our troops serving there are a source of great pride for this Country. They save lives and maintain peace daily and are highly regarded and respected by the local population and their international military partners. This was clearly evident to me when I visited our troops serving in Kosovo two weeks ago. I thank them and their families for the sacrifice they make to ensure the lives of innocent people in Kosovo and Afghanistan are saved and improved," concluded Minister O'Dea.