John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Defence the impact of the recent election results in Serbia on KFOR and Irish participation as the framework nation for KFOR until August 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2924/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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KFOR was established in June 1999 to support the maintenance of civil law and order within Kosovo, so as to develop a climate of safety and security, which will enable the transfer of increased responsibility to the civil authorities.

Ireland has participated in the KFOR since August 1999. The Irish contingent currently comprises an APC Mounted Infantry Group of some 215 personnel including a number of personnel in staff posts at various KFOR Headquarters.

A reorganisation and downsizing of the forces in KFOR, including the Irish contingent, was planned and had partly commenced when civil disturbances broke out in March 2004 in Kosovo. That downsizing was deferred to allow the situation to settle, this remains the current situation. Having regard to the fragility of the peace in Kosovo and subject to ongoing assessments of the situation on the ground, Ireland has decided to maintain a continued presence in KFOR in 2007/2008.

In September 2006, the Government agreed to the Defence Forces undertaking an additional responsibility as Framework Nation for the Multinational Task Force Centre (MNTF (C)) in KFOR from August 2007. This will be a new development for the Defence Forces as we have never before commanded a brigade size force in multinational PfP-led peace support operation. Undertaking this new responsibility will contribute significantly to the development of the Defence Forces, improving its capabilities and heightening its profile as a professional and well-organised force within the international peacekeeping community.

As the Deputy will be aware, parliamentary elections took place in Serbia on 21 January last. In Kosovo, participation in these elections was confined to the Serbian community (approx. 5% of the population). Following the elections, in which no single party obtained an overall majority of seats, political negotiations are under way on the formation of a new coalition Government in Serbia. These negotiations are anticipated to last for a period of up to 90 days. It is not expected that either the election results or this negotiation process will have any particular impact on KFOR or on the Irish participation in KFOR. KFOR's mandate will continue as before until amended or withdrawn by the UN Security Council in the context of decisions on the future status of Kosovo, which are expected in the first half of this year.