Bill Clinton: “Let me just, first of all, welcome you all here and say that I am deeply honored, as always, to have the Taoiseach here…”

“Let me just, first of all, welcome you all here and say that I am deeply honored, as always, to have the Taoiseach here, coming especially as he does today as the talks have opened again in Belfast. I'm looking forward to hearing his ideas about where we go from here and any suggestions he has about how the United States can help. I also want to talk about the work we can do together, as Ireland assumes the Presidency of the European Union, on international narcotics trafficking and any number of other issues. I have a very, very high regard for the Prime Minister for his leadership for what he has tried to do for the cause of peace in Northern Ireland, and I'm really looking forward to having this chance to visit with him. Prime Minister Bruton. Thank you very much. Obviously, I'll be updating the President on the talks in Belfast, which have gotten off to a very good start today. It's important that they should move as quickly as possible to discussing the substantial issues that they were set up to deal with, having dealt with the procedure and questions, which are very important but which I think can be dealt with quite quickly at this point. Also, I will be talking to the President in my capacity as President of the European Union and putting forward some ideas to him on closer business cooperation across the North Atlantic. And I will also be anxious to bring to agreement proposals that are in discussion about closer cooperation to combat the international drugs trade, both in the Caribbean area and in regard to what are known as precursors, which are chemicals which are used in the manufacture of drugs. I think we need cooperation between the European Union and the United States if we're to combat this menace at its source. Northern Ireland Peace Process”