Cowen's White House meeting with Cheney lifts Irish hopes

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, yesterday briefly met the US Vice-President, Mr Dick Cheney, in his office at the White House, the first in a series of meetings over two days in the capital.

Although the meeting lasted only 15-20 minutes, Irish officials were delighted.

Mr Cowen briefed Mr Cheney on the current state of the peace process and expressed gratitude for the President's comments on Friday that the US was still willing to act as a facilitator.

Mr Cowen, who was accompanied by the Ambassador, Mr Sean O hUiginn, and the political director, Mr Richard Townsend, also spoke of Ireland's role on the Security Council of the UN. Today he is due to meet Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell and the President's national security adviser, Ms Condoleezza Rice.