Dublin - Ireland's new Prime Minister Brian Cowen plans to travel to the Northern Irish capital Belfast later Thursday to meet with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on his first official duty since taking over from Bertie Ahern. A statement from Cowen's office said he would also meet with Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley and his deputy, Martin McGuinness, and address a US-Northern Ireland investment conference currently under way in Belfast.
"I am delighted that on my first full day in office, I will be meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, First Minister Ian Paisley and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
"Today's meetings and investment conference are a mark of the huge progress we have made in recent years and a clear signpost to the better future that we are together building for everyone on the island of Ireland," Cowen said in advance of the trip.
Cowen and Brown are expected to discuss progress in the peace process in Northern Ireland, where a power-sharing executive between rival Irish nationalists and British Unionists ended decades of strife almost exactly one year ago.
"They will also reflect on the bilateral relationship between Ireland and Britain and discuss key European and global issues," the statement from Cowen's office said.
At the investment conference, Cowen is also due to meet US Special Envoy Paula Dobriansky, New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, incoming first minister Peter Robinson, who takes over from Paisley next month, and "senior political and business leaders from the US and Northern Ireland."
Cowen was elected prime minister Wednesday afternoon after Bertie Ahern stepped down on Tuesday amid allegations about his personal finances.
