Cowen departs on Mid-East fact-finding trip

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, begins a five-day fact-finding mission to the Middle East today as part of Ireland’s preparations to take over the presidency of the UN Security Council next month.

Mr Cowen will fly to Cairo today to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Later, he will travel to Tel Aviv for meetings with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.