THE independent chairman of the multi party talks, Senator George Mitchell, has said the Northern Ireland peace process remains a high priority for President Clinton and his administration.
The former senator also said that although progress in the talks was slow, there was no alternative to that process and he believed it would lead to a positive result.
Mr Mitchell, interviewed in Belfast on the BBC Northern Ireland television programme, Hearts and Minds, last night, said that when he returned to Washington recently to assist in preparations for the television debate between the two presidential candidates, President Clinton interrupted the practice sessions to hear his report on the North.
"He has a high level of personal interest," said Mr Mitchell. "It is not a major factor in the American presidential campaign. I think many people here, in the Republic of Ireland, and in the UK, have a mistaken view in that they think somehow this is all oriented towards the election. In fact, it hardly ever comes up and won't affect very many people at all.
"It is something he is interested in. He has roots here. He sees an opportunity to contribute to a peaceful resolution of a long conflict, and I think he very much wants to do it and will retain that interest in the second term.
"I told him progress was slow, that it is difficult centuries of division and mistrust have accumulated, which won't be easy to overcome.
"But I believe that it's worth continuing our efforts because I believe that there will be a positive result. The overwhelming majority of the people in Northern Ireland want a peaceful resolution. They do not want to go back to the bitterness of the past.
"The decisions will be made by the participants themselves, not by Americans, not by the President, not by me. But we can help, we can support, we can encourage, and that's what we're trying to do."
He accepted the talks process was not going "as well or as fast as everyone would like - but it is going, and it's an alternative to conflict. The participants are still talking. Progress is slow, but it has been made. You take a step forward, a step backwards.
"The important question to ask is: `What is the alternative?' And the fact is, there is no alternative. The only way forward is through peaceful democratic dialogue."