Two international summits between European and African leaders will be held in Ireland next year, it was confirmed today.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, currently meeting ministers in Mozambique, announced details of the conferences to take place during the EU presidency.
The first will be a conference between EU leaders and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in February.
Although the agenda is yet to be decided, it is expected subjects will include conflict-prevention and crisis-management in west Africa.
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A second EU-Africa summit will be held in Dublin in April to discuss similar issues in relation to Mozambique and South Africa.
Ireland will hold the EU presidency for the first six months of next year.
PA