Minister with responsibility for Defence, Mr. Paul Kehoe T.D., is currently in Jerusalem to meet with Defence Forces personnel serving with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO). UNTSO is one of the first UN observer missions in which Irish personnel have participated. Ireland has been contributing to the UN observer mission since December 1958.
This morning, the Minister paid a visit to the Head of Mission and Chief of Staff, UNTSO, Major General David Gawn. Minister Kehoe was briefed on the current challenges impacting on the UNTSO mission. Following the meeting the Minister commented: “Today’s meeting was important in terms of my getting a complete picture of the complex political and security situation here in the Middle East. Over 90% of Irish Defence Forces personnel serving overseas are based in this region, serving with UNIFIL, UNDOF and UNTSO. From my perspective, it is essential to comprehend the dynamics at play in the region and the challenges facing our troops in these missions, so as to ensure their safety and security”.
Minister Kehoe also met with Colonel Eamon Caulfield, Deputy Chief of Staff, UNTSO and other Irish Defence Forces personnel serving with the UNTSO mission.
UNTSO military observers have remained in the Middle East to monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating and assist other UN peacekeeping operations in the region. Currently, twelve Irish Defence Forces personnel are serving with UNTSO as part of Ireland’s commitment to peace in Syria and the broader Middle East region.
Earlier in his visit to the region, the Minister also met with the Force Commander and Head of Mission in UNIFIL, Major General, Mick Beary of the Irish Defence Forces and the Head of Mission and Force Commander in UNDOF, Major General Jai Shanker Menon, who had briefed him on the situation and the challenges in their respective mission areas. The Minister also met with local community representatives and political leaders during the course of his visit. The Minister presented UN Service Medals to Irish Personnel in both missions.
In all my meetings with the mission military commanders and local community representatives, the professionalism, capability or our contingents and the service of our personnel to the local communities was remarked upon in very positive terms. In UNDOF, Major General Menon advised me that the Irish contingent was his go to group whenever a difficult situation arose, such was his confidence in their capability. I was also particularly struck by the warm relationship which our personnel have with the people in the communities where they are based. This commitment to serving these communities is something I emphasise at all contingent reviews. While I am always confident of the commitment of our soldiers to that service, it is particularly rewarding for me as Minister to see it in action, and to see the professionalism of our personnel on the ground. The Irish people can be justifiably proud of the work of the Defence Forces in support of International Peace and Security, the Minister said.
This evening, Minister Kehoe will attend a St. Patrick ’s Day reception in UNTSO Headquarters, Jerusalem.