Some members of the Irish Army are to join the UN peacekeeping mission in Syria, Defence Minister Alan Shatter has said.
Speaking after the Cabinet agreed to deploy members of the Permanent Defence Force as unarmed military observers to the new UN mission in Syria, the minister said up to six army personnel will be made available to the UN for service with the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (Unsmis).
The UN Security Council took a unanimous decision to authorise Unsmis for an initial period of 90 days. But it is believed that the mission will be extended, and could last for many years.
Among other roles, the new supervision mission will monitor a cessation of armed violence “in all its forms by all parties” across Syria.
It will also monitor the full implementation of joint special envoy Kofi Annan’s six-point peace plan aimed at bringing an end to the crisis.
“The UN supervision mission will contribute to improving the situation on the ground not only in saving lives but in bringing about reform and political transition in Syria, ” said Minister Shatter. “Participation by the Defence Forces in the UN supervision mission will, once again, reaffirm Ireland’s continued support for the United Nations.”
Speaking prior to the Government decision to contribute personnel for peacekeeping in the troubled sate, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said that “deployments will proceed expeditiously, subject to his assessment of developments on the ground, including the consolidation of the cessation of violence.”
A spokesperson for Ban repeated his call for an end to the crisis.
“The Secretary-General calls upon the Government of Syria and other parties swiftly to create the conditions necessary for the deployment of the mission.
“He stresses the need for the Government of Syria to end all violence and human rights violations, and in particular to stop the use of heavy weapons and to withdraw such weapons and armed units from population centres.”
