President McAleese is to begin three-day State visit to Romania today.
On her arrival in the capital, Bucharest, President McAleese will address a business dinner hosted by Enterprise Ireland which will be attended by Irish companies operating in Romania and their Romanian partners.
The President will receive a ceremonial welcome to Romania tomorrow before a formal meeting with President Basescu. She will then lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and meet with the
Presidents of both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
President McAleese will also have the opportunity to meet with members of the Irish community resident in Romania and with the prime minister, Mr Calni Popescu Tariceanu. President Basescu will host a State Dinner in honour of Ms McAleese tommorrow evening.
On Wednesday, the President will visit Cluj where she will be conferred with an Honorary Professorship by the University of Cluj and meet with faculty and students of the Irish Studies MA programme. President
McAleese will then be guest of honour at a lunch hosted by the Mayor of Cluj and attend a performance of Irish traditional music and dance at the City Hall before returning to Ireland.
The President will be accompanied by her husband, Dr Martin McAleese and Minister for Social & Family Affairs, Mary Hanafin.