PRESIDENT TELLS OF PASSION FOR PEACE
President tells of passion for peace
PRESIDENT Clinton spoke yesterday of the "personal passion" that has motivated his bid to help resolve the Northern Ireland conflict.
Speaking in Dublin, before meeting Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and other members of the Eire government, Mr Clinton said he had found his visit on Thursday to Omagh and other parts of Ulster "an amazing experience". He highlighted what he called the American responsibility to help resolve the Northern Ireland issue as "something; that goes beyond my personal passion for the Irish question".
Mr Clinton pointed to the opportunity for peace that had been created by the present position in Northern Ireland following the Good Friday peace accord and the election of a new Assembly.
"I think we should see the Irish position in that context - apart from my personal feelings."
The President looked forward to a meeting soon between Ulster Unionist leader and Assembly First Minister David Trimble and Gerry Adams, leader of Sinn Fein.
He singled out Prime Minister Tony Blair and Mr Ahern as well as all the Northern Ireland Party leaders for praise in achieving the peace deal and said statements over the last few days by Mr Trimble and Mr Adams had given genuine reason for hopes of early progress.
In turn, the part played by Mr Clinton was praised by Mr Ahern, who said no previous President had taken such a deep interest in the issue of Northern Ireland.
He felt the President's visit had advanced the rate of progress in relation to the peace accord and compressed what could have taken weeks or months into a very short period. He said: "We are very grateful."
The two leaders were spending around an hour in talks together about the peace process and related issues.
Mr Clinton arrived at Dublin's Government Buildings around half-an-hour behind schedule to begin the talks.
Later both he and Mr Ahern were attending other functions to deliver addresses about Irish-American links and the peace process question.
Mr Clinton later hailed Eire's booming economy and success in building peace and declared: "There has never been a better time to be Irish."
Addressing 550 of the country's leading industrialists, trade union chiefs community and political leaders, he said he hoped Eire would continue to be a model for the world in responsible citizenship.
The President received a warm welcome when he arrived at the Royal College of Surgeons in central Dublin with his wife Hillary and Mr Ahern.
He opened his address by leading a moment's silence for the victims of the Swissair disaster off the coast of Nova Scotia.
The President also spoke of Ireland's successes in the arts and its surging economy, clubbed the Celtic Tiger.
He also again spoke of his visit to Omagh. Those who tested the peace did not want to move into the future, he said.
The people who had suffered the most did not want to give into them. They do not want to go back.
"They want to summon their strength and courage, lean on their neighbours and go forward," he said.
PRESIDENT Clinton spoke yesterday of the "personal passion" that has motivated his bid to help resolve the Northern Ireland conflict.
Speaking in Dublin, before meeting Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and other members of the Eire government, Mr Clinton said he had found his visit on Thursday to Omagh and other parts of Ulster "an amazing experience". He highlighted what he called the American responsibility to help resolve the Northern Ireland issue as "something; that goes beyond my personal passion for the Irish question".
Mr Clinton pointed to the opportunity for peace that had been created by the present position in Northern Ireland following the Good Friday peace accord and the election of a new Assembly.
"I think we should see the Irish position in that context - apart from my personal feelings."
The President looked forward to a meeting soon between Ulster Unionist leader and Assembly First Minister David Trimble and Gerry Adams, leader of Sinn Fein.
He singled out Prime Minister Tony Blair and Mr Ahern as well as all the Northern Ireland Party leaders for praise in achieving the peace deal and said statements over the last few days by Mr Trimble and Mr Adams had given genuine reason for hopes of early progress.
In turn, the part played by Mr Clinton was praised by Mr Ahern, who said no previous President had taken such a deep interest in the issue of Northern Ireland.
He felt the President's visit had advanced the rate of progress in relation to the peace accord and compressed what could have taken weeks or months into a very short period. He said: "We are very grateful."
The two leaders were spending around an hour in talks together about the peace process and related issues.
Mr Clinton arrived at Dublin's Government Buildings around half-an-hour behind schedule to begin the talks.
Later both he and Mr Ahern were attending other functions to deliver addresses about Irish-American links and the peace process question.
Mr Clinton later hailed Eire's booming economy and success in building peace and declared: "There has never been a better time to be Irish."
Addressing 550 of the country's leading industrialists, trade union chiefs community and political leaders, he said he hoped Eire would continue to be a model for the world in responsible citizenship.
The President received a warm welcome when he arrived at the Royal College of Surgeons in central Dublin with his wife Hillary and Mr Ahern.
He opened his address by leading a moment's silence for the victims of the Swissair disaster off the coast of Nova Scotia.
The President also spoke of Ireland's successes in the arts and its surging economy, clubbed the Celtic Tiger.
He also again spoke of his visit to Omagh. Those who tested the peace did not want to move into the future, he said.
The people who had suffered the most did not want to give into them. They do not want to go back.
"They want to summon their strength and courage, lean on their neighbours and go forward," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/282
Published Date: 05-Sep-98
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