The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, will meet US Vice President Dick Cheney during a four-day visit to the United States beginning tomorrow.
Mr Cowen will hold discussions on recent developments in the peace process and other transatlantic issues, during the visit.
In Washington, he is also scheduled to meet Deputy Secretary of State, Mr Richard Armitage, and Ambassador Richard Haass, President Bush's special envoy on Northern Ireland.
He will meet with prominent figures on Capitol Hill, including Senator Edward Kennedy, Senator Richard Lugar, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Representative Henry Hyde, Chairman of the House International Relations Committee.
Mr Cowen will also hold a meeting with a group of representatives, including the Chairman of the Friends of Ireland group, Mr Jim Walsh, and members of the Ad Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs.
On Thursday, the Minister will travel to Boston where he will meet with local representatives including the Mayor of Boston, Mr Thomas M. Menino, and representatives of the Irish community.