V. American Leadership In the World -

Peace in Northern Ireland

"A just and lasting settlement that respects the rights and traditions of the two communities in Northern Ireland is, after so many years of bloodshed, finally within reach."

-- President Clinton
December 1, 1994

The transformation of Northern Ireland over the past two years has been extraordinary: the region isenjoying a peace unknown in a generation; there is new hope for economic revitalization; and the British and Irish prime ministers are deeply committed to working closely together with the people of NorthernIreland to reach a lasting, democratic political settlement. From the beginning of his Administration,President Clinton has been deeply engaged in supporting the search for peace and reconciliation inNorthern Ireland:

• The Clinton Administration was the first to put International Fund for Ireland (IFI) funding in the budget it sent to Congress, and is now proposing an increase in funding to help consolidate the peace.

• The Administration has reached out to a broad spectrum of views in Northern Ireland, and granted a visa to Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams in January 1993, a decision which helped bring about the IRA cease-fire.

Following the declaration of cease-fires by the IRA and loyalist paramilitaries in August and October 1994 respectively, the President in November set forth a number of initiatives to increase U.S. support for the political and economic revitalization of Northern Ireland and the border counties of the Republic including:

• President Clinton's appointment of former Senator George Mitchell to lead the efforts of all U.S. government agencies promoting economic development in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland;

• The White House Conference on Trade and Investment in Ireland, scheduled for May 24-26 in Washington, D.C.;

• Increased funding for the International Fund for Ireland to total $60 million over the next two years; and

• New and expanded efforts by the Department of Commerce, USIA and the National Endowment for Democracy to seize the opportunities presented by peace. Commerce Secretary Ron Brown led a delegation of U.S. businessmen to the British government-sponsored Belfast Investment Conference and to Dublin in December 1994.

Americans have deep ties of kinship, culture and history with the United Kingdom and Ireland. U.S. interests also flow from our commitment to a peaceful, democratic and prosperous Europe and to the protection and enhancement of human rights throughout the world. The Administration will continue to be actively engaged in supporting the extraordinary opportunity for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland that now exists.