"South Africa has sent a prophetic message to the world" said the President, Mrs McAleese, in Pretoria yesterday on the eve of the inauguration of Mr Thabo Mbeki as president of the Republic of South Africa.

Mrs McAleese, on her first visit to South Africa, said: "We have watched with deep respect the transition out of profound suffering of the evil of apartheid to a system based on consensus, forgiveness and partnership. This has given the world tremendous comfort and hope." Indeed, the President's presence here underlines the strong bonds linking Ireland and South Africa. While most other European countries are represented at ministerial level, President McAleese is one of the few Heads of State from Europe.

"This is a strong statement. It is a symbol of our deep empathy with South Africa and our commitment to this country" she said. She noted that in a different time in Ireland's history, and on a very different scale, "many of the issues that face South Africa also faced us as a developing country".

As a result the Irish could, understand these difficulties and empathise. In a manner of speaking, the President said, "we can be described as a first-world country with a third-world memory. As a result, there is no doubt that our commitment to this country will continue" she said.

The President, who met her former Trinity College colleague, Dr Kader Asmal, a government minister, during the afternoon, expressed her own delight at finally being in South Africa, a country for which she has had "a deep and abiding passion" over many years.

President McAleese joins a host of visiting dignitaries such as the Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi, the Palestinian chief Mr Yasser Arafat, as well as the British Deputy Prime Minister, Mr John Prescott, in the celebrations set to take place throughout the country today in an extravaganza reminiscent of President Mandela's swearing-in five years ago.

Over 130 foreign delegations have confirmed their participation in the day-long events planned to mark the inauguration of South Africa's second democratically-elected president and the official farewell to President Mandela.

About 4,500 people will attend the official ceremony, thousands more will crowd the lawns in front of Union Buildings and millions will follow the event on television and radio throughout the country.

A soccer match between South Africa and Zimbabwe and the Comrades marathon are among the big events of the day. Several top African musicians will play to the people in a large-scale concert late into the night.

Although the world's richest countries will not be represented at the highest level due to their G8 commitments, and European countries, for the most part, have sent lower-level representatives, it is significant that African nations will be represented in large numbers at the most senior levels.

In response to criticism about the huge expense of the inauguration celebrations, the head of the Inauguration Committee, Minister Kader Asmal said the event provided a unique chance to strengthen democratic ties with other countries. And even amongst the opposition parties there is a general acceptance of the positive implications of such a splash.

About R10 million of the R47 million budgeted for the entire event will come from be footed by the private sector.