Minister Cowen visits Moldova
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen T.D., today travelled to Moldova to participate in the 113th Council of Europe Ministerial Session. Moldova is currently chair of the Council of Europe, the main inter-governmental human rights and democratisation organisation in Europe. The session will take place in the country's capital, Chisinau, from 5-6 November.
This is the first visit by an Irish Foreign Minister to Moldova, a former Soviet Republic and now, according to the UN Development Programme, the poorest country in Europe. On Thursday, the Minister will address the formal plenary session of the Ministerial supporting reform of the Court of Human Rights.
Minister Cowen will also use this meeting as an opportunity to have bilateral discussions with a number of partners. Tomorrow, the Minister is due to meet with the President of Moldova, Vladamir Voronin and with the Foreign Minister, Nicolae Dudau. On Thursday, he will meet with the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia. The Minister will travel back to Ireland on 6th November.
