The Irish media on the September 8 meeting between the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, and Mikhail Gorbachev

McAleese pays tribute to Gorbachev

President Mary McAleese has paid tribute to the former President of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev, describing him as a 'man of peace'.

At event tonight in Moscow, President McAleese said it was because of Mikhail Gorbachev's work that today's children of Ireland could get to know the children of Russia in way previous generations could only have dreamt about.

The two also held a private meeting together, and Mr Gorbachev revealed that since their last meeting in Dublin eight years ago, three members of his immediate families had gone to Ireland to study English.

Earlier, the President said Ireland's economy is beginning to 'come around' and said we have to do everything that is humanly possible to galvanise that momentum, and make sure it keeps going in the right direction.

The President is on the second day of her official visit to Russia.

She said the Russian economy is improving and said we must do everything that we can to try increase trade wherever we can.

The Minister of State, Billy Kelleher, said the Russia market has hue potential for Irish companies.

Also today, President McAleese met with Patriarch Kirill, who is the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The meeting was held in private and lasted for 45 minutes.

Among the matters discussed was the role faith communities can play in modern society and the importance of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ireland.

RTE News/Ireland, 09.09.2010

President praises Gorbachev's work

PRESIDENT MARY McAleese paid a warm tribute to former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev last night and told him we were a privileged generation to have witnessed the changes he spearheaded.

She made her comments as Mr Gorbachev attended a concert of traditional Irish music and dance held in honour of Mrs McAleese’s visit to Moscow.

“Thanks to you, President Gorbachev, our children can get to know each other in ways that previous generations could only dream of,” she told him. “They do so in peace. They do so in prosperity. They do so with a freedom and a confidence that so many generations longed for but never lived to see.”

Mr Gorbachev, now 79, played a key role in the demolition of the Iron Curtain and the ending of the cold war, with his reformist policies. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 and now runs the Gorbachev Foundation.

After the concert, Mrs McAleese and Mr Gorbachev had a private meeting which was described as warm and cordial.

Mr Gorbachev told the President he had fond memories of his visit to Ireland and to Áras an Uachtaráin in 2002. He said three members of his immediate family had come to Ireland to learn English. Mrs McAleese told him that he was held in very high esteem by the people of Ireland and Europe and she again referred to his leadership and his critical role at such an important time in history.

Hosting the concert, Irish Ambassador to Russia Philip McDonagh described Mr Gorbachev as “a great man of peace”.

The traditional music from Dónal Lunny, Paddy Glackin, Liam O’Flynn and Aimée Farrell Courtney and the dancing by Riverdance leads Brendan Dorris and Ciara McGillan received rapturous applause from the 350 Russian and Irish guests.

It was near the end of a busy day for Mrs McAleese who started the morning with a business network breakfast meeting and also addressed the Ireland-Russia Forum on Nanotechnology.

She said 200 Irish firms were doing business in Russia but the potential for more business was huge. The Russian market is beginning to do very, very well, she said. “As you know, our economy is beginning to come around so we have to do everything that is humanly possible to galvanise that momentum and make sure it keeps going in the right direction.”

Minister of State for Trade and Commerce Billy Kelleher is leading a trade mission to coincide with the State visit and said economic ties were growing between the two countries: “This is an emerging market. There’s a population of 140 million people.”

In keeping with its policy for visiting heads of state, Moscow police closed off the streets to allow the presidential motorcade move around the city. Traffic was at a standstill on sidestreets and people craned their necks to see who was in the Mercedes with the Tricolour as it swept in front of the Kremlin and through the wide empty streets.

Earlier yesterday, Mrs McAleese laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin Wall. The Russian president’s honorary guard and band played the Irish national anthem after she adjusted the ribbons on the wreath and stood for a moment’s silence.

Also yesterday, the President had a 45-minute meeting with Russian Orthodox bishop Patriarch Kirill, primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. They talked about the importance of the enduring cultural links between Russia and Ireland, and discussed the roles that faith communities could play in a modern society. Patriarch Kirill is a key public figure and has a strong interest in ecumenism. He recently said he agreed with Pope Benedict XVI on many pressing moral issues.

Irish Times.com, 09.09.2010

McAleese praises 'man of peace' Gorbachev

PRESIDENT MARY McAleese paid a warm tribute to former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev last night and told him we were a privileged generation to have witnessed the changes he spearheaded.

She made her comments as Mr Gorbachev attended a concert of traditional Irish music and dance held in honour of Mrs McAleese’s visit to Moscow.

“Thanks to you, President Gorbachev, our children can get to know each other in ways that previous generations could only dream of,” she told him. “They do so in peace. They do so in prosperity. They do so with a freedom and a confidence that so many generations longed for but never lived to see.”

Mr Gorbachev, now 79, played a key role in the demolition of the Iron Curtain and the ending of the cold war, with his reformist policies. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 and now runs the Gorbachev Foundation.

After the concert, Mrs McAleese and Mr Gorbachev had a private meeting which was described as warm and cordial.

Mr Gorbachev told the President he had fond memories of his visit to Ireland and to Áras an Uachtaráin in 2002. He said three members of his immediate family had come to Ireland to learn English. Mrs McAleese told him that he was held in very high esteem by the people of Ireland and Europe and she again referred to his leadership and his critical role at such an important time in history.

Hosting the concert, Irish Ambassador to Russia Philip McDonagh described Mr Gorbachev as “a great man of peace”.

The traditional music from Dónal Lunny, Paddy Glackin, Liam O’Flynn and Aimée Farrell Courtney and the dancing by Riverdance leads Brendan Dorris and Ciara McGillan received rapturous applause from the 350 Russian and Irish guests.

It was near the end of a busy day for Mrs McAleese who started the morning with a business network breakfast meeting and also addressed the Ireland-Russia Forum on Nanotechnology.

She said 200 Irish firms were doing business in Russia but the potential for more business was huge. The Russian market is beginning to do very, very well, she said. “As you know, our economy is beginning to come around so we have to do everything that is humanly possible to galvanise that momentum and make sure it keeps going in the right direction.”

Minister of State for Trade and Commerce Billy Kelleher is leading a trade mission to coincide with the State visit and said economic ties were growing between the two countries: “This is an emerging market. There’s a population of 140 million people.”

In keeping with its policy for visiting heads of state, Moscow police closed off the streets to allow the presidential motorcade move around the city. Traffic was at a standstill on sidestreets and people craned their necks to see who was in the Mercedes with the Tricolour as it swept in front of the Kremlin and through the wide empty streets.

Earlier yesterday, Mrs McAleese laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Kremlin Wall. The Russian president’s honorary guard and band played the Irish national anthem after she adjusted the ribbons on the wreath and stood for a moment’s silence.

Also yesterday, the President had a 45-minute meeting with Russian Orthodox bishop Patriarch Kirill, primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. They talked about the importance of the enduring cultural links between Russia and Ireland, and discussed the roles that faith communities could play in a modern society. Patriarch Kirill is a key public figure and has a strong interest in ecumenism. He recently said he agreed with Pope Benedict XVI on many pressing moral issues.

Independent.ie, 09.09.2010