Remarks by President Bush, First Minister of Northern Ireland Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Martin McGuinness in Photo Opportunity
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--Oval Office
1:49 P.M. EST
PRESIDENT BUSH: One of the great experiences for me during my
presidency is to witness historic occasions, and I'm witnessing such
an occasion with the arrival of Reverend Paisley and Mr. Martin
McGuinness here to the White House. These two men are -- have
dedicated themselves to embettering their -- Northern Ireland through
their courage and conviction and desire to put aside the past and
focus on a hopeful future.
And so I want to welcome you all here. I congratulate you for
seizing the moment, and writing a hopeful chapter. I'm looking forward
to hearing about how the United States can help Northern Ireland move
forward. I know one way we can help, and that is to encourage our
business leaders to take a good look at the economic opportunities
that Northern Ireland presents.
And so I welcome you here. I'm proud of your accomplishments. And
I welcome you all to say a few comments to the TV, if you care to do
so.
FIRST MINISTER PAISLEY: Well, Mr. President, our first words on
that -- (inaudible), we want to say from the people of Northern
Ireland: Thank you. Thank you to the American people for all they have
done for us in the past. We did a lot for you in the past, too.
PRESIDENT BUSH: That's right. (Laughter.)
FIRST MINISTER PAISLEY: But what I can say is we deeply appreciate
that. And we also deeply appreciate the fact that we're here today,
and that you have met us, and have tried to encourage us on this. We
have had our political squabbles and fights. I think we have come to
the end of that. I think that peace has come, there will be a fight
for peace. You don't win peace, you have to fight to keep it.
PRESIDENT BUSH: That's right.
FIRST MINISTER PAISLEY: (Inaudible) that. We're dedicated to that.
But we do need help in the economic field. And we're glad that the
door has opened. We have had a very good reception in your country so
far, and of course (inaudible) and when we look back and see this
mighty army that's following hard in your tracks we know that this is
your final -- and we say thank you, and we look forward to good
dealings between our little country and yours in the coming days.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, sir. Martin.
DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER MCGUINNESS: Can I, too, reiterate the
comments of the First Minister in expressing our deepest thanks and
appreciation to you and your administration for the tremendous help
that we have received throughout the course of the process; follows on
from the tradition of President Clinton and his administration.
So we're hugely appreciative of both of you for all of the
tremendous support that we have received. Up until the 26th of March
this year, Ian Paisley and I never could accomplish anything about
anything -- (laughter) -- not even about the (inaudible). And now we
have worked very closely together over the course of the last seven
months, and there hasn't been an angry word between us.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you.
DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER MCGUINNESS: So I think that that clearly
shows that we are set for a new course. There is peace and stability.
We have transformed the political situation. What we now need to do,
as you have correctly identified, is transform the economic situation
so that we can give our young people, in particular, a better future.
I am confident that we can do that, and with the tremendous
assistance we've received here in the United States, and particularly
working towards the economic investment conference in May, the future
looks greater than it ever has in the course of Irish history.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, sir.
END 1:53 P.M. EST
White House Press Office
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