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British Irish Council
16/07/2007
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond was among the leaders of the devolved administrations and the British and Irish Governments who took part in a meeting of the British Irish Council at Stormont in Northern Ireland today.
Mr Salmond met UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown who said he looked forward to working with the new Scottish Government 'with the common purpose of bringing prosperity to Scotland'.
Mr Salmond said:
"I see it (the British Irish Council) as a body that is positive. It is not against anyone. It is how we co-operate as administrations across and around these islands in the interests of the people. I think that is an entirely positive agenda."
Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley and Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern were also at the Stormont meeting.
The British Irish Council was created in 1998 to promote positive, practical relationships among the British and Irish Governments, the devolved administrations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.