Ireland is supplying four people to a 200-member EU observer group being deployed to Georgia next week, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin confirmed today.
Mr Martin made the announcement after holding talks with this Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Dublin.
Last month, Russian troops entered Georgia to push back Georgian forces trying to regain control of Moscow-backed breakaway state, South Ossetia. An EU-Russia peace plan is sending EU observers to Georgia on October 1st to monitor a ceasefire as Russian troops withdraw.
Four retired Irish military personnel are expected to be part of the observer group.
"The EU Monitoring Mission, which will include four [Irish] personnel, will deploy in the next few days as part of the EU's commitment to conflict resolution in the region," Mr Martin said.
Mr Lavrov said Russia was very glad to see Irish representatives taking part in the operation.
"Irish peacekeepers have a reputation for impartial and neutral peacekeeping and I'm sure will give an objective evaluation of the situation," he said.
A member of Ireland's Rapid Response Corps is already working in Georgia as a logistics officer with Unicef.
Mr Lavrov said it was fitting that he was visiting Dublin on the eve of the UN General Assembly just as Ireland and Russia were marking 35 years of diplomatic relations.
Both ministers also discussed initiatives to develop co-operation on investment, science, culture and tourism.
Current issues in the Middle East, Iran and Darfur/Chad were also on the talks agenda, at Iveagh House.
The EU Monitoring Mission was part of a six-point point plan agreed by EU president Nicolas Sarkozy and Russian premier Dmitry Medvedev on September 8th.
Mr Martin added: "In the coming period, the EU needs to maintain dialogue with Russia and continue cooperation so that misunderstandings can be avoided."
Further talks to discuss the situation in Georgia are scheduled for Geneva on October 15th.