The president and the miracle

Six percent of all heads of state and leaders of the government in the world are female, the highest number ever. Right now six female presidents are in office in Chili, Finland, Ireland, the Philippines, Latvia and Liberia, and the same amount of female prime ministers, of whom Angela Merkel is the most famous one. Last week I had the honour of shaking hands with Mary McAleese, president of Ireland (in the centre of the picture). After her visit to the University of Leuven on the occasion of 400 years of Irish College (now known as the Irish Institute for European Matters) she paid a visit to the new office of Tourism Ireland in Brussels. How proud everyone was to have such a distinguished visitor. And how cheerful everyone was after her warm speech! I have memorized one particular part. She said: 'I still see a miracle happening every day: those thousands of visitors who come visit Ireland every year, while they have so many other options! There must be people over there who work hard behind the scenes to make that miracle happen every day over again.' And she winked at the team of Danielle Neyts (far right in the picture).
More presidents and prime ministers should pay a visit to the convention bureaus! Mrs. McAleese set an excellent example (www.discoverireland.com).