PRESIDENT Robinson will pay an official visit to Britain next June the first by a President since the State's foundation as a public demonstration of improved relations between the two countries.
The invitation by the Brit Prime Minister, Mr John Major breaks new diplomatic ground a time of growing tension in Northern Ireland affairs an anxiety to minimise future cord at all levels.
The Downing Street Declaration of 1993 enhanced rapport between the two governments and this visit is designed to reflect increased cooperation and an unwavering commitment to political progress through the other two strands of the process.
The matter was discussed with the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, and approved by Mr Spring and Mr Dc Rossa, at a summit meeting on December 21st. President Robinson accepted Mr Major's invitation and the Cabinet may formally approve it next Tuesday.
As the international arms decommissioning agency is to report on January 16th, both governments are determined to display a unity of purpose in there.
Even if things "went sour" in the North, one source said, the Downing Street Declaration had lifted relations between the two governments to a new level and this visit would reflect that.
The fact that the invitation came from Mr Major rather than from Queen Elizabeth represents an urgent need to invoke a potent symbol of the friendship between the countries. State visits, on the invitation of the queen, take from three to five years to organise. But an official visit, on the prime minister's invitation, can be arranged at short notice. In this case, time appeared to be of the essence.
A further indication of cooperation came yesterday with the announcement that President Robinson and Queen Elizabeth had agreed to become joint patrons of Cooperation North. This nonpolitical, non denominational body was established to advance in mutual understanding and respect on the island and to promote practical co operation.