The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, met the interim leader of Afghanistan, Mr Hamid Karzai in Dublin this evening.
He also received the foreign minister of East Timor, Mr Ramos Horta at Government Buildings.
The two men are guests of the International Acheivement Summit, which is taking place amid tight security in a Dublin hotel this week. Other guests include former US President Bill Clinton and U2 frontman Bono.
Mr Ahern discussed the ongoing reconstruction of war-ravaged Afghanistan with Mr Karzai, who was appointed interim leader following the fall of the Taliban last year.
Ireland has played a financial role in the rebuilding of the country, to the tune of €5.3 million for reconstruction and €2.2 million for emergency humanitarian assistance. The Government has pledged a total of 12 million in structural funds for Afghanistan.
In his meeting with Mr Horta, Mr Ahern discussed East Timor’s formal declaration of independence last month and assured him of Ireland’s continued commitment, both in financial and military terms, to the new republic.
Ireland currently has 43 troops serving with the UN peacekeeping mission in the former province of Indonesia. The State has also contributed €7 million in aid since 1999.