CLINTON TO GET UPBEAT VIEW OF PEACE
Clinton to get upbeat Irish view on peace
By Michael Devine
in Dublin
PRESIDENT Bill Clinton and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today assessed the prospects for permanent peace in Northern Ireland.
They met for over an hour at Government Buildings in Dublin to review recent political developments in the province.
They discussed the security situation in the Republic and Northern Ireland in the aftermath of the Omagh mass murder by the Real IRA and the new anti-terrorism legislation enacted by the parliaments at Westminster and Leinster House . Government sources in Dublin indicated that, despite the major setback of the Omagh atrocity, the Taoiseach gave the President an optimistic view of the future prospects for lasting peace.
He put forward the view that the recent statement by Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams that violence was ended for all time and the appointment of Martin McGuinnes as the party's contact with with Canadian General John de Chastelain on arms decommissioning as very significant steps in the search for permanent peace.
Mr Ahern has briefed the President on discussions he had with political leaders in Northern Ireland in the aftermath of Omagh.
He put particular emphasis on the importance of implementing the Good Friday Agreement in full and stressed that continued American support is essential to maintain the momentum.
The two leaders were also due to assess the prospects of keeping to the timetable for political progress envisaged in the Northern Ireland peace deal agreed on Good Friday by the British and Irish governments and Ulster's political leaders.
Mr Clinton was understood to have been tremendously encouraged by contacts he made on the political front in Northern Ireland yesterday and discussions he had with David Trimble, the Ulster Unionist First Minister of the new Assembly, and Seamus Mallon, his Social Democratic and Labour Party deputy.
Streets around the central Dublin venues for his schedule - light compared with the hectic series of engagements he fulfilled yesterday in Belfast, Omagh and Armagh - were sealed off for hours and severe parking restrictions were in force.
Following their meeting, the two leaders were to travel to the Royal College of Surgeons in St Stephen's Green where they were set to address a specially invited audience of businessmen, trade unionists and the leaders of farming organisations.
The Taoiseach and his partner, Cecilia Lynch, were to host a lunch at the college for President Clinton and his wife, Hillary.
This afternoon President Clinton and Mr Ahern were to visit the factory of the American computer giant, Gateway, where they were to meet the workers and make speeches. The theme of the President's address was prosperity and peace.
They were also due to sign an electronic commerce agreement which will facilitate selling on the Internet. They were to b the first two heads of state to sign such a deal in digital form, using swipe cards and codes to write electronic signatures instead of the traditional pens.
The President and his entourage were later scheduled to return to the residence of American Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, where he and his wife spent last night, to meet the staff.
Tonight they will fly from Dublin Airport to Shannon Airport. The Clintons will spend the night in the luxurious Adare Arms Hotel, where they will occupy the IR350-a-night Dunraven Suite, named after the Second Earl of Dunraven who had the castle built in 1832.
Tomorrow the President will be made a Freeman of the City of Limerick in recognition of his contribution to the peace process and his support for economic development.
The ceremony will be held in the city's main thoroughfare, O'Connell Street, where the President will also be presented with a signed parchment by the Conference of University Rectors of Ireland, which represents the nine universities in Northern Ireland and the Republic.
This is the first time that the Irish universities have come together to make such a presentation. It is to honour him for his work for peace in Ireland.
Professor George Bain, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's Univerity Belfast will read a citation and the presentation of the parchment will be made by Dr Daniel O'Hare.
After lunch he was due to travel to Ballybunion, Co Kerry, to fulfil a long-held desire to play the famous Old Course.
He leaves Ireland tomorrow night and returns to Washington.
By Michael Devine
in Dublin
PRESIDENT Bill Clinton and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today assessed the prospects for permanent peace in Northern Ireland.
They met for over an hour at Government Buildings in Dublin to review recent political developments in the province.
They discussed the security situation in the Republic and Northern Ireland in the aftermath of the Omagh mass murder by the Real IRA and the new anti-terrorism legislation enacted by the parliaments at Westminster and Leinster House . Government sources in Dublin indicated that, despite the major setback of the Omagh atrocity, the Taoiseach gave the President an optimistic view of the future prospects for lasting peace.
He put forward the view that the recent statement by Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams that violence was ended for all time and the appointment of Martin McGuinnes as the party's contact with with Canadian General John de Chastelain on arms decommissioning as very significant steps in the search for permanent peace.
Mr Ahern has briefed the President on discussions he had with political leaders in Northern Ireland in the aftermath of Omagh.
He put particular emphasis on the importance of implementing the Good Friday Agreement in full and stressed that continued American support is essential to maintain the momentum.
The two leaders were also due to assess the prospects of keeping to the timetable for political progress envisaged in the Northern Ireland peace deal agreed on Good Friday by the British and Irish governments and Ulster's political leaders.
Mr Clinton was understood to have been tremendously encouraged by contacts he made on the political front in Northern Ireland yesterday and discussions he had with David Trimble, the Ulster Unionist First Minister of the new Assembly, and Seamus Mallon, his Social Democratic and Labour Party deputy.
Streets around the central Dublin venues for his schedule - light compared with the hectic series of engagements he fulfilled yesterday in Belfast, Omagh and Armagh - were sealed off for hours and severe parking restrictions were in force.
Following their meeting, the two leaders were to travel to the Royal College of Surgeons in St Stephen's Green where they were set to address a specially invited audience of businessmen, trade unionists and the leaders of farming organisations.
The Taoiseach and his partner, Cecilia Lynch, were to host a lunch at the college for President Clinton and his wife, Hillary.
This afternoon President Clinton and Mr Ahern were to visit the factory of the American computer giant, Gateway, where they were to meet the workers and make speeches. The theme of the President's address was prosperity and peace.
They were also due to sign an electronic commerce agreement which will facilitate selling on the Internet. They were to b the first two heads of state to sign such a deal in digital form, using swipe cards and codes to write electronic signatures instead of the traditional pens.
The President and his entourage were later scheduled to return to the residence of American Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, where he and his wife spent last night, to meet the staff.
Tonight they will fly from Dublin Airport to Shannon Airport. The Clintons will spend the night in the luxurious Adare Arms Hotel, where they will occupy the IR350-a-night Dunraven Suite, named after the Second Earl of Dunraven who had the castle built in 1832.
Tomorrow the President will be made a Freeman of the City of Limerick in recognition of his contribution to the peace process and his support for economic development.
The ceremony will be held in the city's main thoroughfare, O'Connell Street, where the President will also be presented with a signed parchment by the Conference of University Rectors of Ireland, which represents the nine universities in Northern Ireland and the Republic.
This is the first time that the Irish universities have come together to make such a presentation. It is to honour him for his work for peace in Ireland.
Professor George Bain, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's Univerity Belfast will read a citation and the presentation of the parchment will be made by Dr Daniel O'Hare.
After lunch he was due to travel to Ballybunion, Co Kerry, to fulfil a long-held desire to play the famous Old Course.
He leaves Ireland tomorrow night and returns to Washington.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0376
Published Date: 04-Sep-98
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