Former US president signs aid deal
FORMER US president Jimmy Carter will today hold talks with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in Dublin.
The 2002 Nobel Peace Prize winner is in Ireland to speak at the annual Human Rights Forum tomorrow.
Mr Carter (83) will also sign an agreement between Irish Aid - the Government's programme of assistance to developing countries - and the Carter Centre, the foundation he founded to promote global health, democracy and human rights.
The retired peanut farmer and his wife Rosalynn will pay a courtesy call on the Taoiseach at Government Buildings today.
The 39th US president served one term in the White House from 1977-1981 but was defeated by Ronald Reagan in the 1980 presidential election.
Mr Carter has since travelled extensively to monitor international elections, conduct peace negotiations and establish relief efforts.
He had been the 76th Governor of Georgia, from 1971 to 1975.
Coincidentally, senior politicians from Georgia are paying a two-day economic and diplomatic visit to Ireland and Northern Ireland this week.
Current Governor Sonny Perdue will also meet the Taoiseach tomorrow, along with the Lieutenant Governor of Georgia and the Commissioner of Economic Development.
The governor is due to attend a reception hosted by the Georgia Tech Ireland research facility in Athlone. Companies based in Georgia such as Coca-Cola, UPS and Georgia-Pacific have significant investments in Ireland.
Georgia's exports here reached €121m in 2006, making Ireland the state's 12th biggest export market.
- Senan Hogan
