Cowen to visit Irish troops

Taoiseach Brian Cowen will today pay a pre-Christmas visit to Irish peacekeepers serving as part of the Kfor mission in Kosovo.

Defence Minister Willie O’Dea will accompany the Taoiseach on the trip to Camp Clarke outside Pristina where 233 members of the 39th Infantry Group are based.

The politicians will also meet the eight members of the Garda Siochana who are based in the Balkan region.

While in Pristina, the Taoiseach will also call to see President Fatmir Sejdiu and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci.

The Taoiseach will return to Dublin this evening.