The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, today begins a three-day visit to Malta, Cyprus and Morocco.
He is seeking to strengthen political and economic relations with Malta and Cyprus, furthering contacts with future EU partners, according to a statement from Government Information Services yesterday.
It will be Mr Ahern's first official visit to Morocco, and the first official visit by a Taoiseach. According to the statement it will provide an important opportunity "to extend our bilateral and economic relations with an increasingly important State". He will meet both King Mohammed VI and Prime Minister Youssoufi.
In Malta, the Taoiseach will meet Prime Minister Adami and President De Marco. In Cyprus he will meet President Clerides. Both Malta and Cyprus are seeking to join the EU and the Taoiseach will address meetings of social partners in Valetta and Nicosia on Ireland's experience of EU membership.
Speaking before his visit, Mr Ahern said Ireland was profoundly and unreservedly in favour of enlargement.