President George Bush yesterday reiterated his strong support for the Irish peace process and asked the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, to keep him informed of developments. The two met at the White House yesterday for half-an-hour.
Mr Ahern heard an account from Mr Bush of the state of the US campaign in Afghanistan and briefed him on the stabilisation of the Northern peace process. Mr Ahern said their discussion had placed considerable emphasis on "the predicament of the ordinary people of Afghanistan" and the need for humanitarian relief.
Mr Bush is reported to have thanked Ireland for its role as chair of the Security Council in October, and they discussed the Middle East at some length, according to Mr Ahern. The Taoiseach outlined the thrust of his recent meeting with the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mr Yasser Arafat.
The meeting was diplomatically significant for a small country at a time when the attentions of the US are firmly elsewhere.
Officials say it was in part the product of US engagement in the Northern peace process, partly the result of Ireland's membership of the UN Security Council, and partly because the two men get on well together.
Following their first meeting last St Patrick's Day, administration officials are reported to have commented on the empathy between the men. Both have down-to-earth styles and see themselves as pragmatists, not theorists or ideologues.
They also managed to discuss the US economic stimulus package and Irish involvement in measures planned by the EU to clamp down on financial assets of terrorists abroad, as well as UN efforts to put together a post-Taliban coalition, the Taoiseach said.
Those also present at the meeting were: the Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell; Ambasador Richard Haass; the National Security Adviser, Dr Condoleezza Rice; the President's spokesman, Mr Ari Fleischer; and his Chief-of-Staff, Mr Andrew Card; the Irish Ambassador, Mr Sean ╙ hUig∅n; Mr Michael Collins, and Mr Gerry Hickey of the Department of the Taoiseach; and the Government Press Secretary, Mr Joe Lennon.
Eithne Donnellan adds:
Speaking at the US Council for Commerce and Industry annual dinner in New York, Mr Ahern said the Government faced a more difficult Exchequer position and difficult choices in the Budget next month. However, the Taoiseach was certain the "new confidence" of Irish people was "robust and strong and will weather the challenges of a global slowdown".
