President Michael D. Higgins announces Latin America visit
Date: Fri 27th Jan, 2017 | 14:25
President Michael D. Higgins today (26 January) confirmed that he has accepted the invitations of the Heads of State of Peru, Colombia and Cuba to undertake a three country visit to Latin America in February.
This will be the first official visit by a serving President of Ireland to Peru, Colombia and Cuba.
The President made his announcement as he opened the exhibition on 'The Irish in Latin America', an exhibition celebrating the profound role of Irish men and women in the development of the modern and independent republics of Latin America.
As Patron of the Society for Irish Latin American Studies (SILAS), the President spoke of the deep and extensive scholarship that currently exists on the relationship between Ireland and Latin America, highlighting our shared history of colonialism and subsequent independence and revolutionary struggles. President Michael D. Higgins will pay an Official Visit to Peru, at the invitation of President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, before going on to meet senior members of the Peruvian Government.
The President will deliver a keynote address on issues of indigeneity and the contribution of Roger Casement to human rights in the Putamayo region in Peru. In addition, the President of Peru has indicated that he will be awarding President Higgins with the 'Gran Collar' of the Order of the Sun, Peru's highest honour.
At the invitation of President Juan Manuel Santos the President will visit Colombia for a meeting with President Santos and discussions on the background to the peace process in Colombia. President Higgins will also have meetings with participants involved in the peace process, such as trade unions, church leaders and representatives of the victims of the conflict. The President will deliver a keynote address on peace, reconciliation and ethical remembering.
The President will then travel to Havana at the invitation of the President of Cuba, Raúl Castro. The President will attend the Havana International Book Fair, (Feria Internacional de los Libros), one of the largest book fairs in the world, and which Ireland will participate in for the first time.
The President, as Guest of Honour, will attend the launch the Cuban edition of ‘Star of the Sea’ by Irish author Joseph O’Connor, along with the Cuban Minister of Culture Mr. Abel Prieto.
As Patron of the Society for Irish Latin American Studies (SILAS), the President has been invited to deliver his keynote address at the bi-annual gathering of university academics from Ireland, South America, Spain and North America, in partnership with the University of Havana. The President will also formally open the Cuban launch of the Irish in Latin American exhibition, developed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Embassies of Ireland in Mexico and Argentina, in collaboration with the Society for Irish Latin American Studies (SILAS).