(14 Jan 2000) English/Nat
In the first official meeting by a member of Ireland's new governing coalition, former Sinn Fein leader Martin McGuinness met with U-S Education Secretary Richard Riley in Washington on Friday.
The Minister of the Irish New Executive Committee met with his American counterpart not to discuss peace in Northern Ireland but education.
Minister for Education of the New Executive Committee for Northern Ireland Martin McGuinness met with Riley on Friday to discuss a variety of issues in education.
They exchanged views about new approaches to improving academic achievement, parental involvement and special education.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The peace process had to be worked at and it required many many people to be involved in the building of it. And over the course of many many years my self and Jerry Adams and others in the leadership of Sinn Fein have worked hard to try and make that peace process a success. To have all the issues that were at the heart of the conflict addressed by the British Government and the Unionists and to bring about a process of implicit negotiations whereby everybody would seriously examine what was wrong and what was required to put it right. And throughout all of that period, Jerry Adams and myself have been in constant contact with their present Clinton's Administration. His support has been absolutely tremendous."
SUPER CAPTION: Martin McGuinness, Minister for Education, New Executive Committee for Northern Ireland
McGuinness also drew attention to the inevitable historical aspect of the meeting, in which he was representing his fragile coalition government for the first time.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I suppose it is a great day for the Irish peace process and for all of that work that I can came here this morning as a new minister for education in a totally new dispensation to express my thanks and gratitude to secretary Riley and to president Clinton for the work they have done in the past. But the meeting also clearly indicates to them all that there is still much work to be done."
SUPER CAPTION: Martin McGuinness, Minister for Education, New Executive Committee for Northern Ireland
They also talked about a new Irish program called Civic Link, which encourages links between schools and students in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Civic Link is sponsored jointly by the U-S Department of Education, Northern Ireland's Department of Education and the Department of Education and Science in the Republic of Ireland.
Later in the day, McGuinness travelled to visit Paint Branch High School, a Maryland science magnet school.
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