The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, has confirmed he is planning to visit the United States again now that the IRA has reinstated its ceasefire. He revealed his plans after a meeting in west Belfast last night with a group of leading Irish Americans, including publisher, Mr Niall O'Dowd.
Mr Adams had wanted to visit the US last year on a book promotion tour but did not apply for a visa because the White House signalled it would be refused following the ending of the previous ceasefire.
Meanwhile, President Clinton has named the head of the US Small Business Administration, Mr Philip Lader, as US ambassador to Britain and Northern Ireland, writes Joe Carroll from Washington. Mr Lader, who must still be confirmed by the Senate, previously served as assistant to the president, the White House deputy chief of staff and deputy director for management of the Office of Management and Budget. "The president believes that Phil Lader, who has an enormous wealth of experience within this administration . . .and has worked on so many interesting international efforts on behalf of the administration, would be an excellent ambassador," said the White House spokesman, Mr Michael McCurry.
Mr Lader will replace Admiral William Crowe who had some differences with the ambassador to Dublin, Ms Jean Kennedy Smith, over Northern Ireland issues such as decommissioning.
While Northern Ireland is the London ambassador's territory, as it were, there has been some overlapping because of Ms Kennedy Smith's involvement in the peace process.