President Clinton will be bringing a "strong message" to Northern Ireland today that there must be "no harbouring or condoning" of violence. He will tell the thousands of people he will meet across Northern Ireland that there must be "no shelter for those people" who did reprehensible acts such as the bombing in Omagh or the burning to death of the three Quinn boys "in response to Drumcree", according to Mr Clinton's adviser on Northern Ireland, Mr Jim Steinberg.
He said in a briefing here for the President's visit that "the people who were associated with the `Real IRA' and their political arm, the 32-County group, are on the run. They're defensive, they're unwilling to stand up and defend the actions that they've taken."
Mr Steinberg said this would be "a very powerful message, but that's not to say there won't be more bombs. There will always be more bombs." But it would be impossible for the "small minority who is now essentially reviled by the vast majority of the people of Northern Ireland to derail" the peace process.
Mr Steinberg told The Irish Times the US government would take all possible steps to cut off funding for the `Real IRA' and the 32 County Sovereignty Movement of Ms Bernadette Sands-McKevitt. She had been refused a visa and they were discussing putting the `Real IRA' on the terrorist lists of the State Department and the Department of Justice.
Mr Steinberg praised the "very important" statement of the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, indicating that "violence in support of the political process is over, done and gone". The White House had been involved in consultations with Mr Adams leading up to the statement but "I think other than to suggest unequivocally about what the message ought to be, we did not draft language".
Mr Clinton's visit could be seen as "trying to give a further impetus to the peace process". He would be meeting the First Minister, Mr David Trimble, the Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, and other political leaders.
Asked if the President would be meeting the Rev Ian Paisley, who has criticised the US role in the peace process, Mr Steinberg said he would be meeting him with two or three other DUP members.
The President "doesn't have great illusions that he will necessarily convince Mr Paisley of what we're trying to accomplish, or what our role ought to be, but we know that the vast majority of the parties and the people welcome the President coming there and I think the President feels that it's an opportunity for Mr Paisley and all the party leaders to have a chance to say their piece and he's ready to answer them in turn."