The chief-of-staff of the Defence Forces, Lieut Gen Gerry McMahon, today begins an eight-day visit to former Yugoslavia to meet senior peacekeeping personnel and the Irish troops and gardai serving there.
He will meet senior officers from the Croatian army, the UN and the Allied Command European Rapid Reaction Corps.
About 80 Irish military personnel are serving in the former Yugoslavia area with the UN and the European Community Monitoring Mission which is headed by an Irish diplomat, Mr Antoin Mac Unfraidh and a Defence Forces officer, Maj Gen Paddy Keogh.