Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin believes Ireland and Belarus are close to signing an agreement to end the travel ban on children affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
Up to 50 local charities have been bringing 2,500 children to Ireland every year since the early 1990s.
However, the failure of a small number of children to return from the United States during the summer led the Belarus authorities to impose a ban in late August on all such overseas visits.
The Attorney General and officials from several departments are studying the text of the deal drafted by Belarusian authorities, and Mr Martin has also secured formal Cabinet approval to sign the agreement as soon as talks end.
“Close contact is being maintained with the charities dealing with Chernobyl children as the situation evolves, and I am personally determined to find a satisfactory outcome to this issue,” the Minister said.
The Belarusian ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Senko, said in Brussels yesterday: "Our primary belief is that this matter will be resolved in good time and that a decision concerning these issues will be taken in the very near future, and possibly this week. There is a positive mood in Minsk towards Irish partners.
"The government of Belarus regards Ireland and NGO groupings as a concrete partner."
The Chernobyl Children’s Project International led by Adi Roche hopes that 100 children can travel to Ireland for Christmas.
Earlier this year, Irish Aid allocated €600,000 over three years to the project's day-care centres in Belarus.
Additional reporting PA