Vol. 435 No. 11
30 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, he has to pay an official visit or visits to Central and Eastern European countries which were formerly ruled by Communist regimes, and which are in urgent need of economic aid and political support.
In the light of the continuing political and economic transformation in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Government are working to consolidate and deepen Ireland's relations with these countries. Discussions with their Governments constitute an important element in this regard. The intensification of our direct contacts with these countries complements the important relationship which is developing between them and the European Union. Through these contacts, Ireland plays a role in providing urgently needed economic aid and political support.
Following the official visits to Poland and Hungary which I made earlier this year, I intend to visit other countries in Central and Eastern Europe, including the Russian Federation, next year, when mutually convenient dates can be arranged for these visits. The Government also encourage visits to Ireland by members of the Governments of the states in question. Discussions have been held in Ireland with the President of Kazakhstan, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation and, last week, with the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic.
The Government also avails of the opportunities offered by meetings of international organisations to develop relations with central and eastern European countries. At the UN General Assembly in September, I met with Ministers from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia. On the occasion of the Council of Europe Summit early in October, the Taoiseach met the President of the Czech Republic and the Prime Ministers of Estonia and Slovenia. Further ministerial meetings in the margins of the forthcoming CSCE Summit in Rome are also envisaged.
