Taoiseach praises Irish peacekeepers on historic Christmas visit to Kosovo

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen paid warm tribute to the work of Irish peacekeepers yesterday, as he became the first Taoiseach to pay a Christmas visit to members of the defence forces abroad.

After flying from Dublin yesterday morning, Mr Cowen spent several hours in the company of the 233-strong Irish contingent serving with the Kosovo Force (KFOR), the UN-authorised, NATO-led international force responsible for establishing and maintaining security in the small republic.

“On occasions such as this, one cannot fail but feel great pride in the role that the Irish Defence Forces have played and continue to play as peacekeepers throughout the world,” Mr Cowen told the troops at their Camp Clarke base, about 20 minutes from the capital, Pristina.