The Taoiseach will raise the issue of the spread of AIDS in the African continent at a summit of European Union and African nation leaders, due to begin in Cairo on Monday.
Mr Ahern has taken an interest in the subject since his visit to southern Africa in January. The two-day Africa-Europe Summit was one of the issues discussed between Mr Ahern and Dr Javier Solana, the High Representative for EU Foreign and Security Policy, in Dublin yesterday.
Dr Solana was on the second day of a two-day visit. He outlined progress achieved in relation to an EU Common Foreign and Security Policy since his appointment as High Representative last October. Before his appointment, Dr Solana was Secretary-General of NATO.
Among the subjects discussed at the meeting were the situation in Chechnya, restoring stability in the Balkans and the enlargement of the EU.