The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, presided over the signing yesterday of a long-awaited deal between the European Union and Russia that could speed Moscow's accession to the World Trade Organisation and persuade the Kremlin to back the Kyoto Protocol on combating climate change.
In a high point for Ireland's Presidency of the EU, six years of often-heated discussion on Russia's membership of the WTO yielded a definitive protocol after a final, all-night session of wrangling over outstanding issues.
"I am so pleased that this summit could achieve a positive outcome on talks between the EU and Russia on WTO membership," Mr Ahern said in the Kremlin at the end of a top-level EU-Russia meeting.
"The . . . agreement is a joint step forward for open markets and trade liberalisation in Europe.
"The tone and quality of discussion give great confidence that relations between us are reaching a new level of co-operation," Mr Ahern added, alongside his host, President Vladimir Putin, and Mr Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission.
The EU Trade Commissioner, Mr Pascal Lamy, said the deal should help sweep Russia - the largest economy outside the 147-member WTO - into the bloc.
"The Russian Federation still has to sign a series of deals with countries like the United States and China, but I hope that after today's deal talks will move quickly and Russia will soon be a member of the WTO," Mr Lamy said, after signing the agreement with the Russian Trade Minister, Mr German Gref.
Russia agreed to gradually increase domestic gas prices and give private companies access to state-run gas pipelines, as well as to liberalise its banking and telecommunications sectors.
Moscow also pledged to reduce its average import tariff to 8 per cent from 18 per cent, and lower overflight charges for European airlines that cross Siberia, and to abolish them by 2013.
"This deal is, of course, a compromise, as it must be. Both of us have moved, taking into account important political and economic sensitivities," said Mr Prodi.
The summit was somewhat clouded by Moscow's continuing refusal to ratify the embattled Kyoto Protocol, which needs Russia's participation to come into force. But Mr Putin said the success of the WTO talks had improved chances that the pact could ultimately win the Kremlin's definitive backing.
"The fact that the EU has met us halfway in negotiations on the WTO could not but have a positive effect on Moscow's attitude towards ratification of the Kyoto Protocol," Mr Putin said. "We will accelerate our efforts to ratify this protocol."
The Kremlin says it fears Kyoto could restrict industrial output and scupper Mr Putin's declared ambition to double the size of the Russian economy by 2010.
Mr Ahern said the EU favoured Russia's speedy ratification of the pact and insisted that the expansion of the EU on May 1st into the former Soviet bloc offered major mutual benefits.
"The EU has underlined that enlargement will not lead to new divisions in Europe," he said. "Enlargement will bring the European Union and Russia closer together. It will bring us more opportunities for co-operation."
Mr Ahern noted discussion of alleged gross rights abuses by Moscow's troops in Chechnya and on efforts to rebuild the shattered region, as well as EU concerns about media freedom in Russia.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, said Moscow had asked the EU for details of any specific cases of suspected rights abuses so it could investigate them. The EU also pressed for free and fair elections for a new Chechen president, due on August 29th.
"We will have to wait and see and hope they are better than the last ones," he told The Irish Times, referring to last October's blatantly rigged elections. Their pro-Kremlin winner, Akhmad Kadyrov, was blown up earlier this month.
Mr Putin skirted over Chechnya in his public comments, but rejected lingering suggestions that a legal onslaught against the Yukos oil firm and several top company officials was intended to quash dissent among big business.
Mr Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former head of Yukos, Russia's richest man and a Kremlin critic, goes on trial next week charged with fraud and tax evasion.
"The main signal /[from the case]/ is that you shouldn't steal and everyone should obey the law, regardless of your position or how many millions you have," Mr Putin said.
The former KGB agent concluded the summit with a handshake and a brief hug for Mr Prodi, who was attending his last EU-Russia summit before standing down, and had thanked Mr Putin "for your co-operation but, more importantly, your friendship."