Tánaiste to raise drugs issue on trip
THE Tánaiste will raise the issue of the global drugs trade in his five-day visit to Mexico and Colombia this week.
Micheál Martin will begin his visit in Mexico where he will meet foreign minister Alicia Barcena as well as other political figures.
The Fianna Fáil leader and Foreign Affairs Minister will travel to Colombia tomorrow for a number of high-level political meetings, including with minister of defence Ivan Velasquez and deputy foreign minister Francisco Coy.
Commenting on the Mexican leg of the visit, Mr Martin said: ‘Next year marks 50 years since the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Mexico, although our connections go much further back.
‘These links include Irishmen who fought alongside the Mexican army in the 1840s. I will attend a ceremony to honour their memory.
‘I look forward to returning to Mexico, which I last visited as Foreign Minister in 2009, and discussing with Ms Barcena what we can do together to build on the already very strong links between our two countries. Ms Barcena has invited me to address Mexican ambassadors on foreign policy issues.
He also said he ‘will formally open the new Embassy of Ireland premises in Mexico City’.
Mr Martin continued: ‘I will hear from successful Irish investors in Mexico and other business people.
‘Mexico is also Ireland’s largest trading partner in Latin America – with two-way trade in goods and services approaching €5billion. One of the messages I expect to hear is that there is huge potential to build on this success.’
The Tánaiste added: ‘While in Bogota, I will meet with senior members of the Colombian government, including for discussions on Ireland’s continued support to Colombian efforts to consolidate its peace process.’