Clinton in Belfast to Boost Peace Talks
B E L F A S T, Dec. 13 -- President Bill Clinton, ona farewell trip to troubled Northern Ireland, swept into theBritish province’s deeply divided parliament today fortalks aimed at anchoring the drifting peace process.
Key players in the slow-moving drive for stability weregreeted by Clinton, making his third visit to Northern Irelandbefore he steps down as president on January 20.
Clinton went into the meetings increasingly sure that hissuccessor would be George W. Bush and not vice-president Al Goreafter U.S. Supreme Court rulings on recounts that favored Bush.
After the universal adulation that marked his visit to theneighboring Irish Republic and its capital Dublin, Clintonswiftly found a sourer mood in Belfast.
Playing Favorites?
Hardline Protestant leaders like fiery preacher Ian Paisleylost no time in making clear they felt Clinton favored minorityRoman Catholics in negotiations about the future of theprovince, where 3,600 people have died in the 30-year conflict.
Paisley’s Democratic Unionist Party complained Clinton andBritish Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is joining the talks, hadsnubbed them by not including them in today’s main talks.
Clinton and Blair are meeting the leaders—from ProtestantFirst Minister David Trimble to Irish republican Sinn Feinleader Gerry Adams—in a string of contacts that they hopewill ease the current deadlock.
The peace process is faltering, with the local governmentarguing over delays in guerrilla disarmament and reform of thepredominantly Protestant police.
Mitchell in Talks
Former U.S. senator and Northern Ireland mediator GeorgeMitchell will also join the talks.
Mitchell chaired meetings of the divided politicians through22 months of ultimately successful talks, doggedly keeping themat the negotiating table with a mixture of optimism, calmnessand fairness which won him the respect of both the Protestantand Roman Catholic communities.
The former Senate majority leader oversaw the signing of theGood Friday accord in April 1998, only to be called back for asuccessful 11-week rescue mission in late 1999.
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