Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea is visiting Irish troops serving in Kosovo today as part of a two-day trip to the fledgling state and Austria.
Mr O'Dea met members of the 38th Infantry Group serving in Camp Clarke and Camp Ville in Pristina, as part of his plan to visit 285 Irish troops serving in the region, which declared independence from Serbia on February 17th.
He told troops that their presence was a "great source of pride to Ireland".
"It is also a reminder that we, as a newly successful and prosperous country, have our obligations; particularly in the international arena," he said.
Ireland, which has participated in the KFOR (Kosovo Force) mission since August 1999, is currently the Lead Nation role in the Multinational Task Force.
Commanded by Brigadier General Gerry Hegarty, it is the first time Ireland has taken charge of a brigade-size force in such a peacekeeping operation, responsible for co-ordinating and controlling more than 1,200 troops from six nations.
Accompanied by Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lt Gen, Dermot Earley, Minister O'Dea was also due to meet with Brig Gen Hegarty to review the mission to date and to be briefed on the current situation on the ground in Kosovo.
A Government spokeswoman said Mr O'Dea will also view humanitarian projects, which are supported by Irish troops.
The Lisbon Reform Treaty will also be highlighted during the visits to both
Kosovo and Austria.
However, Mr O'Dea stressed that the Treaty clearly states that national security remains the sole responsibility of each member state and will not have any impact on Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality.
"Ireland's neutrality is in our hands and that is where it will be staying at all times," he said.
Tomorrow, Mr O'Dea will meet Austrian Defence Minister Norbert Darabos in Vienna. A spokeswoman said the ministers will discuss the positive role that Ireland and Austria can play, as members of the European Union, in responding to emergency crises, by providing humanitarian relief and in supporting the maintenance of international peace and security in line with the aims of the United Nations and the UN Charter.
"Austria and Ireland are both participating in the UN mandated EUFOR mission to Chad, and both ministers will discuss progress being made by both countries in deploying to the region," she added.