TAOISEACH BERTIE Ahern will join Senator George Mitchell and other key negotiators from the Northern Ireland peace talks on Thursday to mark the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Belfast Agreement.
Organised by the US-Ireland Alliance, the event is to be held in the BBC's Blackstaff studios in Belfast and will be hosted by presenter Noel Thompson. The audience will comprise the almost 100 alumni of the George J Mitchell Scholarship programme.
Trina Vargo, president of the US-Alliance, said: "The Taoiseach has been tireless in his efforts to bring lasting peace to Northern Ireland. We are honoured that he will be participating."
Others who will be attending include Gen John de Chastelain, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, Gerry Adams, John Hume, Mark Durkan, Sir Reg Empey, Dawn Purvis, Lord Alderdice and Monica McWilliams.
On Thursday morning, Mr Ahern will address a UCD conference, organised by the Institute of British Irish Studies, with the Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward.
On Friday, the Taoiseach will host former British prime minister Tony Blair and Senator Mitchell at an event in Dublin Castle organised by the Turn The Tide of Suicide group.
The anniversary will also be marked by a special conference on conflict resolution to be held at Belfast's Waterfront Hall on Thursday and Friday.
More than 400 participants from around the world will take part in the European Mediation Conference which aims to allow international conflict resolution experts learn from the Northern Ireland experience. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern will be among the keynote speakers.
Former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, who was involved in overseeing the process of IRA decommissioning, will also be speaking at the event.
Sinn Féin will be holding a series of nine public meetings across the North to mark the anniversary of the agreement. The first will be held tonight at the Europa Hotel in Belfast.
