The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, begins a four-day tour of the former Yugoslavia today in preparation for Ireland's presidency of the European Union next year.
Mr Cowen is to visit Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro and the UN-administered Serbian republic of Kosovo and Macedonia during his tour.
The EU will expand by 10 countries during the Irish presidency, which begins in January 2004.
Today, the Minister will hold meetings in Belgrade and Podgorica with the president of the new state union of Serbia and Montenegro, Mr Svetozar Marovic.
He will also meet Serbian Prime Minister Mr Zoran Zivkovic and the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Mr Milo Djukaovic.
Tomorrow, Mr Cowen will travel to Sarajevo for meetings with the three members of the collective presidency of Bosnia and Hercegovina, Foreign Minister Mr Mladen Ivanic and the top international representative in Bosnia, Mr Paddy Ashdown.
On Wednesday, he is to visit Kosovo for meetings with Mr Michael Steiner, the special representative of UN Secretary General Mr Kofi Annan, and Kosovo's President Mr Ibrahim Rugova and Prime Minister Mr Bajram Rexhepi.
He will also visit the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia on Thursday.