O’Dea to meet chiefs ahead of Chad mission

DEFENCE Minister Willie O’Dea will meet military chiefs in Paris today ahead of theexpected deployment of Irish and international troops to Chad next week.

The deployment of the 3,700-strong European Union force to the central African country was stalled last week after rebels attacked the capital, N’Djamena.

Mr O’Dea will meet operational commander General Pat Nash at the mission’s headquarters in Mont-Valérien, Paris.

The Defence Force’s chief of staff, Lieutenant General Dermot Earley, will also attend the meeting.

More than 450 Irish soldiers will take part in the mission, aimed at protecting civilians including Darfuri refugees, in eastern Chad.

Irish troops are expected to begin arriving as early as Thursday week when deployment of the EU troops resumes.

Four plane loads of equipment and one of troops are planned next week.

Fifteen members of the elite Army Ranger Wing are expected to travel as part of the advance party for the Irish contingent.

Mr O’Dea will seek assurances of conditions and logistics for Defence Force members, as well as details of the situation in Chad after rebel attacks last week.

Rules of engagement and intelligence on rebel activities will also be discussed, Mr O’Dea’s spokeswoman said last night.

Following the meeting, Mr O’Dea is scheduled to meet French deputy Defence Minister Alain Marleix for discussions about Chad.

France has accused Sudan of giving rebel groups bases in neighbouring Darfur.

France, the former colonial power in Chad, has more than 1,400 troops there. It is also the main contributor to the EU peacekeeping mission.

Reported threats this week that Irish troops would be targeted because of links to the French would not delay deployment, an EU force spokesman said last night.

“We have no interest in having any truck with the Chadian rebels.

“We will achieve the mission and it is to provide a safe environment for the humanitarian relief, to help the internally displaced people and refugee camps. If anything interferes with that we will react,” Comdt Dan Harvey said last night.

The first EU mission flights resumed yesterday with a Cargo plane landing in the town of Abeche in eastern Chad.

Nearly 360 peacekeeping troops are already inside Chad. These include troops from France, Sweden, Belgium, Austria and eight from Ireland.

Meanwhile, the Defence Forces yesterday announced the sale of six army helicopters.

The Alouette helicopters — the oldest operational aircraft in the Air Corps — were bought in the 1960s and 1970s and retired last year. The helicopters, traditionally used for emergency rescues, are being replaced at a cost of €87 million.