BRIEF REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE IN RESPONSE TO WELCOME AT THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE IN HONDURAS
BRIEF REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE IN RESPONSE TO WELCOME AT THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE IN HONDURAS WEDNESDAY 31 MARCH 1999
President Flores
I am truly honoured to be here in Honduras and I would like to express my sincere thanks, on behalf of my husband, Martin and my delegation, for the very warm welcome we have received.
We in Ireland are very much aware of the scale of the devastation visited on the people of Honduras by Hurricane Mitch. I would like to express, on behalf of the people of Ireland, our support and solidarity for people of Honduras as they work to rebuild their houses, lives and communities.
We have sought to give expression to that solidarity by contributing both bilaterally and through the multilateral debt initiatives which have been set up.
Most importantly, perhaps, Irish people are seeking to help in a very tangible way through the work of voluntary agencies on the ground. Irish organisations, such as Trócaire and the voluntary service agency APSO, have long been associated with Honduras and will, I am sure, continue their work when the present crisis has passed.
I will have the opportunity to visit a number of badly affected areas and of seeing the work the Irish Army and the NGOs are doing to support the reconstruction efforts of the affected communities.
I wish to assure you that Ireland will remain engaged with the rehabilitation effort and I hope, too, that the international community will continue to provide assistance at this difficult time.
We wish you well in your continuing efforts to rebuild your country and we thank you once again for making us so welcome in your country.