The Minister of State for Defence and Government chief whip, Tom Kitt, commences a three-day visit to Kosovo today, where he will meet Irish troops currently serving in the province.
The trip comes after Ireland assumed the role of lead nation in the multinational taskforce centre based around Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, last month.
This represented the first occasion in which the State has commanded a brigade-size force in such a multinational peace support operation.
During the visit, Mr Kitt will also meet Brig Gen Gerry Hegarty, who has command of the multinational taskforce, and will view a number of humanitarian projects which are being supported by Irish troops.
He will also meet the deputy prime minister of Kosovo, Lufti Haziri, and Oliver Ivanovic, a Serb member of the Kosovo assembly.
Mr Kitt will be accompanied by Maurice Quinn, assistant secretary at the Department of Defence, and Maj Gen Pat O'Sullivan, deputy chief of staff of the Defence Forces.
