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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Secretary-General to be honoured in Dublin

6 July 1999

Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku is to visit Ireland to receive an honorary degree from Trinity College Dublin on 9 July 1999. During his stay from 8-10 July, he hopes to have the opportunity of meeting the Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern, and other leading political figures.

The Secretary-General looks forward to renewing contacts he made in December last year, when he addressed the Irish Association in Dublin Castle. That was his third visit to Ireland since becoming Secretary-General in 1990, and came just after the Taoiseach had publicly stated that Ireland would be debating a possible return to membership of the Commonwealth.

Chief Anyaoku had reacted by saying that Ireland would be a very welcome member of today's Commonwealth, "given the country's long belief in democracy and its international commitment to human rights and sustainable development."

Note to Editors
The first official expression of recent Irish interest in Commonwealth membership came in 1994 when Irish President Mrs Mary Robinson attended the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. She held talks with Chief Anyaoku on Ireland's relationship with Commonwealth countries but stopped short of any commitment, saying this would be a matter for the Irish government and people. Subsequently, unofficial contacts between the Commonwealth Secretary-General and Irish representatives have taken place. Ireland left the Commonwealth in 1949.



Issued by the Information and Public Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat,
Marlborough House,
Pall Mall,
London SW1Y 5HX,
United Kingdom.
Tel: 0207-839 3411;
Fax: 0207-839 9081;
Telex: 27678


99/43 6 July, 1999

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ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6385/6 Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081
Email: info@commonwealth.int