Cowen to Meet with Cheney, Powell and Rice in Washington
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Brian Cowen, T.D., will have his first formal meetings with leading members of the new US Administration during his visit to Washington D.C. on 27-28 February 2001.
The visit will begin on Tuesday 27 February with a call on the new U.S. Vice-President, Dick Cheney, at the White House where, amongst other things, the Minister is expected to convey the Government's appreciation to the Vice-President for the continuing support of successive U.S Administrations for the Northern Ireland peace process.
Later in a series of meetings on Capitol Hill the Minister will address the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and brief Senators Edward Kennedy, Chris Dodd and Susan Collins on current developments in the peace process. The Minister will be present that evening for President George W. Bush's inaugural address to both Houses of Congress.
Following a meeting with the Editorial Board of USA Today on Wednesday 28 February, Minister Cowen will discuss issues pertaining to international peace and security at the White House with the new National Security Adviser, Condoleezza Rice.
After a meeting in Congress with the House International Relations Committee he will have talks at the State Department with the new US Secretary of State, Colin Powell. These will include a briefing by the Minister on the continuing efforts to secure full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. Minister Cowen and Secretary Powell will also discuss the Middle East, EU-US relations and the United Nations, including issues currently before the UN Security Council (Ireland currently occupies a non-permanent seat on the Council until the end of 2002).
