NEXT week's state visit by the President to Britain makes the prospect of a reciprocal visit by Queen Elizabeth to Ireland more likely, Mrs Robinson said yesterday.
Although she has already travelled to Britain on 13 different occasions during her presidency, the four day visit which begins on Tuesday will be her first official one. As well as a historic visit to Buckingham Palace to meet the queen on Thursday, Mrs Robinson is scheduled to meet the British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, and Prince Charles.
The President yesterday reaffirmed her desire to see a royal visit by the queen to Ireland, but said this was a matter for the two governments to decide. "It is not something in which I would take the initiative," she told journalists at Aras an Uachtarain.
She acknowledged that the visit was taking place at a sensitive time in the political relationship between Britain and Ireland. The occasion would mark a new level of bilateral relations between the people of the two countries.
"I'm very conscious of breaking new ground. My aim will be to convey a sense of the modern Ireland and its positive new mood." The visit would also give the Irish community a sense of pride in its roots, she hoped.
Once again, Mrs Robinson said she was "not a candidate" for the job of secretary general of the United Nations, which becomes vacant next year. "I am not seeking the position," she said.
However, asked about continuing speculation that she is one of the favourites to succeed Dr Boutros Boutros Ghali as UN secretary general, Mrs Robinson said "informal approaches" had been made to her about the position. She declined to say who had made the approaches.
The President said she was committed to finishing her term of office, which runs until December 1997. She had not yet made a decision about standing for a second term.
Next week's state visit begins on Tuesday when the President, accompanied by the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, and his wife Kristi, flies to Heathrow Airport. Mrs Robinson will meet Prince Charles in St James's Palace before attending a reception at the Irish Embassy.
