President Clinton arrives in Dublin this morning for his third Irish visit as Irish and British officials continue intensive discussions in Belfast aimed at breaking the impasse in the peace process. Before leaving the US, Mr Clinton said he was keen to use his remaining time as President to boost the North's peace process. "If there is something I can do before I leave to make one more shot to resolve this, I will do it," he said.
The President said disputes over decommissioning and police reform had to be overcome. "Both issues . . . reflect the lingering demons of the past and we just have to get over them and try to purge a few more," he said. "Those are the two things that could still threaten the progress that we are making. The President, Mrs Clinton and their daughter Chelsea arrive at Dublin Airport at 8 a.m. on Air Force One to be greeted by the Taoiseach and Ms Celia Larkin, and members of the Government and diplomatic corps.
The highlight of the day is an open-air speech this evening at Dundalk, Co Louth. Tomorrow he meets the parties at Stormont and on Thursday he meets Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace and takes part in a joint news conference in London with the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair.
While there was consensus that the President's visit would improve the mood among the participants in the peace process, sources said there was little likelihood of an immediate breakthrough.
There were no indications so far that a dramatic act of demilitarisation by the British Government in south Armagh was imminent. The mood among republicans was described as sombre and there was thought to be little likelihood of active engagement by the IRA with the de Chastelain decommissioning body, given the anger in republican circles over the fate of the Patten Report and the perceived lack of significant movement by London on demilitarisation.
"There is very little happening, folks," the Sinn Fein President, Mr Gerry Adams, told reporters yesterday. However the US Attorney General, Ms Janet Reno, decided to stop deportation proceedings against nine Irish republicans currently in the US. They had served sentences in Northern Ireland or Britain for activities connected with the IRA.
Mr Clinton said he "strongly supported" Ms Reno's decision. "While in no way approving or condoning their past criminal acts, I believe that removing the threat of deportation for these individuals will contribute to the peace process in Northern Ireland."
The President will make a courtesy call on President McAleese this morning before traveling by motorcade to Government Buildings for a meeting with Mr Ahern.
Later the two men will host a reception for almost 2,000 people at the Guinness Storehouse - the Government hopes this event will help promote investment by US technology firms in the area.
Mrs Hillary Clinton will separately address women parliamentarians at the US ambassador's residence in the Phoenix Park.
Mr Clinton will fly to Dundalk by helicopter for his speech, which is scheduled after 7 p.m.