State Papers: Russian president Boris Yeltsin kept taoiseach waiting at Shannon due to 'unfortunate mishap'
22 Russian Officials Boris And Picture: In To Government Press Albert At President Meet 1994 Shannon Reynolds Yeltsin Airport Wait Taoiseach
Irish officials believed the Russian ambassador to Ireland, Nikolai Kozyrev, was “exquisitely embarrassed” by the failure of his president, Boris Yeltsin, to emerge from a plane to meet the taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, during a planned stopover at Shannon Airport 30 years ago.
Newly-released State papers by the National Archives about the infamous incident on September 30, 1994, show Mr Yeltsin subsequently wrote to Mr Reynolds to express regret their meeting did not go ahead due to “an unfortunate mishap".
Files reveal an Irish diplomat in Russia overheard Mr Yeltsin on landing in Moscow saying the flight had been “a nightmare".
They also highlight how Irish civil servants believed the Russians greatly appreciated how the Irish government handled the matter. In particular, they felt the Russians were grateful for how Irish spokespersons “stuck to the line” used by Mr Yeltsin’s handlers that his non-appearance was due to “indisposition or illness".
The taoiseach was advised by officials that if asked about the reason for what happened he should continue to stick with such an approach as “the events at Shannon could rebound to Ireland’s advantage".
The advice continued: “President Yeltsin has been the subject of criticism in Russia over the incident — in the parliament and in the media. There is no gain for Ireland in adding to this criticism.”
A group of dignitaries led by Mr Reynolds were left waiting to greet their guest for over an hour at Shannon while the aircraft carrying Mr Yeltsin circulated over the area before eventually landing.
However, Mr Yeltsin stayed on board the Aeroflot aircraft, which was flying him from the US to Moscow, with the taoiseach and several Government ministers left standing on a red carpet at the bottom of the steps of the airplane.
A month previously, Mr Yeltsin had garnered international headlines when he grabbed a baton to excitedly conduct an orchestra and joined young female dancers on stage at a ceremony in Berlin to mark the withdrawal of Russian troops from Germany.
The incident had further cemented his growing reputation for drunken, boorish behaviour.
State files released under the 30-year rule have now provided further insight into the incident, which was portrayed at the time as a major snub to Ireland by the Russian president.
They reveal an Irish diplomat in Russia was at the airport in Moscow when Mr Yeltsin landed several hours later. The diplomat said Mr Yeltsin was taken aback when they were introduced before stating in a loud voice that he had overslept at Shannon and “wanted to find out and punish whoever was responsible for not waking him”.
He noted the Russian president was in an angry mood when speaking to his own ministers at the airport in Moscow.
Notes prepared for the taoiseach for replies to any questions about why Mr Yeltsin had not left the plane at Shannon suggested Mr Reynolds should note the Russian president had observed on his return to Moscow he had slept through the stopover because his bodyguards were afraid to wake him.
Mr Reynolds said he understood President Yeltsin was not well and also recognised “the demands of a long flight from Seattle to Shannon”.
Mr Yeltsin subsequently wrote to the taoiseach on October 4, 1994, to express his sincere regret the planned meeting had not taken place “due to an unfortunate mishap” and to repeat the offer of an invitation to visit Russia.