30/04/2008
Bertie Addresses US Congress
The Taoiseach is to give an historic address to a Joint Session of the US Congress.
Mr Ahern will become only the fifth foreign leader to speak at both Congress and Westminster.
He follows in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela, Ethiopia’s last Emperor, Haile Selassie and French leaders Charles de Gaulle and Francois Mitterand.
Mr Ahern was also the first Irish leader to address British MPs at Westminster.
The engagement is one of the outgoing Taoiseach’s last roles in office before he stands down next Tuesday.
Mr Ahern is expected to reflect on the North's peace deal before turning to issues of mutual concern and the strong economic, cultural and social links between Ireland and the US.
The Taoiseach said his address would focus more on the present rather than dwelling on past achievements.
After his speech Mr Ahern will meet President George W Bush in the White House, the second time the two leaders have met this year following St Patrick’s Day talks in March.
The formal proceedings at Congress will be followed by a star-studded reception at the Irish ambassador’s residence.
Talks with Senator Ted Kennedy are also planned along with an address at Harvard University near Boston.
He returns to Dublin on Friday, just five days before his departure from office.
The Taoiseach’s last official engagement will be next Tuesday, when he visits the Battle of the Boyne site with Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley.
(DW)
Mr Ahern will become only the fifth foreign leader to speak at both Congress and Westminster.
He follows in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela, Ethiopia’s last Emperor, Haile Selassie and French leaders Charles de Gaulle and Francois Mitterand.
Mr Ahern was also the first Irish leader to address British MPs at Westminster.
The engagement is one of the outgoing Taoiseach’s last roles in office before he stands down next Tuesday.
Mr Ahern is expected to reflect on the North's peace deal before turning to issues of mutual concern and the strong economic, cultural and social links between Ireland and the US.
The Taoiseach said his address would focus more on the present rather than dwelling on past achievements.
After his speech Mr Ahern will meet President George W Bush in the White House, the second time the two leaders have met this year following St Patrick’s Day talks in March.
The formal proceedings at Congress will be followed by a star-studded reception at the Irish ambassador’s residence.
Talks with Senator Ted Kennedy are also planned along with an address at Harvard University near Boston.
He returns to Dublin on Friday, just five days before his departure from office.
The Taoiseach’s last official engagement will be next Tuesday, when he visits the Battle of the Boyne site with Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley.
(DW)
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