Ireland to Open New Resident Embassies

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Brian Cowen, T.D., who is today on an official visit to Prague, announced that the Government have decided to open resident embassies in four of the EU candidate countries. These are Cyprus, Estonia, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia.

The Government also decided that resident missions would be opened in all the candidate countries over a two year period.

The Minister said that the decision should be seen as evidence of the Government's continuing commitment to the enlargement of the European Union.

“It signals Ireland's determination to work for the strengthening and developing of close and cordial relations with the candidate countries”, the Minister said.

He emphasised the importance which the Government attach to strengthening our bilateral ties with these countries. He said that many of the candidate countries look to Ireland as a model for what they hope to achieve through making effective use of EU membership.Top