The Taoiseach is to proceed with a visit to Moscow next month, despite early fears that the political convulsions arising from the sacking of the Russian Prime Minister, Mr Sergei Stepashin, could mean a postponement.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed yesterday that Mr Ahern's scheduled visit to the Russian capital would go ahead as planned, on September 13th, 14th and 15th.
The confirmation will be greeted with relief by Irish companies operating in Russia. One company official said yesterday: "The Taoiseach is going to Russia to do business. There are a lot of companies depending on his help."
The Taoiseach is to be accompanied by a large trade delegation. This will include six companies involved in the beef trade, Ireland's leading export to Russia. They are Clonmel Chilling, Agra, AIBP, Food Bridge, Irish Farm Foods, and Oliver McAvinia.
Four other Irish companies hope to have contract signings with their Russian counterparts during the Taoiseach's visit. These are: Murray O'Laoire Design Ltd, which is designing a multi-million dollar urban plaza and business centre in the heart of Moscow; Boart Longyer, which makes drill-bits for Russia's leading mining company, Norilsk Nickel; Spectel, a manufacturer of audio-conferencing equipment to be purchased by Gazprom, Russia's largest company; and Baltimore, the producer of high-technology software for encryption.
Mr Ahern was first invited to make his visit four Russian prime ministers ago, when Mr Victor Chernomyrdin headed the government. He lost power in March 1998, and the visit, scheduled for September 1998, had to be postponed.
