|
|
The Minister for Foreign
Affairs Mr Brian Cowen |
The Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Brian Cowen met with Pope John Paul II during a visit to Rome today. The Minister had a private audience with the Pope this morning, during which they discussed the situations in Northern Ireland and Afghanistan.
The Pope told the Minister he had fond memories of his visit to Ireland in 1979, and expressed particular interest in the peace process, on which he was briefed by Mr Cowen.
Mr Cowen also gave the Pope a run-down on Ireland’s chairmanship of the UN Security Council, in particular regarding events in Afghanistan and efforts in the area of humanitarian aid.
Mr Cowen is to meet Italian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the Vatican, Monsignor Tauran this evening. Yesterday, he had talks with Italian Secretary of State with special responsibility for Afghanistan Ms Boniver as part of his visit to Rome and the Holy See.