President lights up the hopes for peace Ulster hails Clinton

In Dublin, ahead of Mr Clinton's arrival there in this morning, Mr Bruton said he believed the American leader's visit was having ``a huge influence'' in encouraging the politicians to follow the line adopted by the British and Irish Governments this week.

Mr Clinton sent a blunt message to the Ulster paramilitaries that their time was finally over, just an hour before shaking hands for the first time in public with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams in the Falls Road. Later he had a private meeting with the Rev Ian Paisley, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party.

Thousands of people from both sides of the divide turned out to cheer his historic visit across the Province, the first by a serving US President.

He called on the Ulster people to stand up with courage to the terrorists in the fight for a just and lasting peace.

``The greatest struggle you face now is not between opposing ideas or opposing interests,'' he said. ``The greatest struggle you face is between those who deep down inside are inclined to be peacemakers and those who deep down inside cannot yet embrace the cause of peace.''

He said there would also be people who could never escape the ``dead-end street'' of violence.

``But you, the vast majority, Protestant and Catholic alike, must not allow the ship of peace to sink on the rock of old habits and hard grudges.''

The discussions which, it is hoped, will shape the future of the land, are being staged side-by-side with the work of the special three-man international body on the difficult arms decommissioning issue. The body will be chaired by US Senator George Mitchell.

The aim is for both the preparatory talks and the body's task to be completed in time for all-party negotiations on the future of Northern Ireland to get under way by the end of February.

Mr Bruton said he believed Mr Clinton's engagements yesterday ``would do wonders for the morale of the people''. He added: ``It will show the peace they have been able to build is recognised internationally by the most powerful politician in the world.

``I think that will give them and their political leaders the confidence that they need to make the compromises, to give the ground that is essential if the potential of the twin-track process is to be realised.

``The timing could not be better. It was very important that we got the structure together so that the President could give us the boost that was necessary.''

There were two poignant moments yesterday which boosted the hopes for peace and encapsulated the high emotion of the presidential visit.

Pleas for peace from a Roman Catholic girl and a Protestant boy visibly moved Mr Clinton as he listened to their tales of horror and dreams for the future from different sides of the Belfast peace line.

The children addressed the Mackies metalworks in west Belfast before the President spoke.

Catherine Hamill, nine, whose father was gunned down by loyalist killers, said her Christmas wish was for peace and love in Ireland to last forever.

``My first daddy died in the troubles,'' she said. ``It was the saddest day of my life. I still think of him. Now it is nice and peaceful. I like having peace and quiet for a change instead of people shooting and killing.''

Ten-year-old David Sterrett added: ``I think the peace is great because there is no shooting or bombing. It means that I can play in the park without worrying about getting shot.'' Then they held hands, and introduced the President.

Later, as the 50-car presidential motorcade cruised slowly down the Falls Road, Mr Clinton stopped for a brief meeting with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, which had been set up amid intense secrecy just hours earlier.

The Sinn Fein president stepped forward and, shaking Mr Clinton's hand, greeted him with the traditional Gaelic Cead Mile Failte, a thousand welcomes.

He escorted the President into a cafe, where he had been having a cup of tea, for a short discussion in the Republican heartland of West Belfast.

Mr Adams said: ``He is obviously pretty pleased to be here and enthused by the reception of the people.''

There was an equally tumultuous reception for Mr Clinton when he made an impromptu stop in loyalist Shankill Road after making a symbolic crossing of the peace line dividing the two communities.

He stunned cheering crowds by walking into a fruit shop and buying apples and a bunch of flowers for his wife Hillary. He then happily paid the #3 bill with sterling.

But it was the President's keynote speech at the Mackie plant that cemented his support for the twin-track peace process agreed this week by London and Dublin.

He called on all the parties to put aside their differences and seize this new opportunity for peace in the Province.

``Engaging in honest dialogue is not an act of surrender but an act of strength and common sense,'' he said.

``Moving from ceasefire to peace requires dialogue. For 25 years the history of Northern Ireland has been written in the blood of its children and their parents.

``The ceasefire turned the page on that history. It must not be allowed to turn back.''

He paid tribute to the courage of British and Irish political leaders for their commitment to peace but also 1

praised Mr Adams and fringe loyalist political leaders for helping to silence the guns.

Mr Clinton then pledged American political and economic support for all those prepared to take risks for peace.

Later he met Ulster political leaders away from the glare of publicity at a reception hosted by Secretary of State Sir Patrick Mayhew at Queen's University.

He talked with Mr Paisley in a room away from the reception, the DUP leader having refused to go in to the main function where Mr Adams and his Sinn Fein colleague Martin McGuinness were among 300 guests.

He told the President: ``We will not put up barriers to a real peace, but it can't be a real peace when people have murder weapons in their hands.''

At the reception, Mr Clinton met many of the Province's local politicians, including Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble, and the leaders of the two fringe loyalist groups, Mr Gary McMichael of the Ulster Democratic Party and Mr David Ervine of the Progressive Unionist Party.

The various political groupings all stayed away from each other, Sinn Fein members at one end of the room, Ulster Unionists at the other end, and the fringe loyalists in the middle.

The President said he would remember his day in Northern Ireland ``for as long as I live. I am proud the United States stands with the peace makers.''

That theme had been emphasised when the Clintons turned on the Christmas lights. They were accompanied by two children, Mark Lennox and Cathy Harte, who had won a competition to write a letter to the President.

Mrs Clinton read from the winning letter of Cathy, 12, a Catholic from Belfast, and Mark, a 15-year-old schoolboy from Glengormley.

Cathy wrote: ``I love it here, it's green, it's beautiful and well, it's Ireland.

``All my life I've only known guns and bombs, with people fighting. Now it's different, there are no guns and bombs. Hopefully, the peace will be permanent, that one day Catholics and Protestants will be able to walk hand in hand, and will be able to live in the same areas.''

This was greeted with rapturous applause from the large crowd.

Cathy had added: ``What I hope is that when I have my own children, that there will still be peace, and that Belfast will be a peaceful place from now on''.

Mark had written that ``we must all learn to live with each other in a more tolerant way . . . Some people want to destroy peace and the peace process in Northern Ireland. We must not allow this to happen.''

Mrs Clinton said: ``Let us remember why we light Christmas trees. Let us remember that we seek peace most of all for our children.

``May this be one of many, many happy and peaceful Christmases in Northern Ireland this year and for many years to come.''

Mr Clinton, as he switched on the lights, said: ``May the Christmas spirit of peace and goodwill flourish, and grow in you.''

He finished: ``Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall inherit the Earth.''