Irish Prime Minister to Pay Official Visit to CyprusIrish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern will arrive in Cyprus on January 9 for a two-day official visit to the island, local newspapers reported on Saturday.Ahern will meet Cyprus' President Glafcos Clerides, along with Cyprus' Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Kasoulides, Finance Minister Takis Clerides, and Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Nicos Rolandis. Ahern will also have talks with Cyprus' Parliament President Spyros Kyprianou, Cyprus' Chief European Union negotiator George Vassiliou and prominent Cypriot businessmen. During the meetings, the Cyprus issue, issues relating to Cyprus' EU accession process and bilateral relations between Ireland and Cyprus in various fields are expected to be discussed. Ahern will also meet Acting special representative of the UN Secretary-General and Chief of Mission in Cyprus Zbigniew Wlosowicz and tour areas where Irish peace-keepers are serving. There are four Irish serving in the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. Ahern leads the Irish Fianna Fail party, which forms the government with the Progressive Democrats, led by Mary Harney and the independent members of the Irish parliament. |
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