Clinton ‘wants to continue peace role’

Former US president Bill Clinton, in Dublin for two days of engagements and private meetings, said today he hoped he would have a continuing role in the Northern Ireland peace process.

But played down his contribution, saying: ‘‘I’ll do the best I can. I feel that here the main thing I did anyway was just to encourage other people.

‘‘The actors in the Northern Irish peace process deserve all the credit.’’

Talking about his other ongoing role in the other major conflict area where he intervened, Mr Clinton added: ‘‘Even in the Middle East, which I keep in touch with, both sides have to make their own fate and maybe I can help them even though I’m not in office.’’

This morning, Mr Clinton paid a courtesy call on Irish President Mary McAleese and posed for cameras at her official residence.

On Sunday, he played a marathon 36 holes of golf with former Irish deputy prime minister and foreign minister Dick Spring at the prestigious Ballybunion Golf Club, before staying overnight at Dromoland Castle, Co Clare.

Mr Clinton’s solo trip is to take him the length of the island.

After meeting Taoiseach Bertie Ahern this afternoon, he was delivering this year’s Independent Lecture at Trinity College.

The highlight his stay in the Republic is a celebrity-studded dinner in Dublin Castle tomorrow, due to be attended by Mr Ahern and Senator George Mitchell, to raise funds for the Northern Ireland Fund for Reconciliation.

He is expected to visit Belfast, Enniskillen and Derry in the North on Wednesday and Thursday, before travelling to England.

In 1994, Mr Clinton granted Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams a 48-hour visa allowing to visit Washington, seven months before the IRA announced its ceasefire.

Later that year he stepped up his participation in the politics of the North, appointing Senator Mitchell his special adviser on the situation, and in November 1995 became the first US president to visit the province.

Senator Mitchell chaired the multiparty talks that resulted in the historic Good Friday Agreement.