(30 Nov 1995) English/Nat
US President Bill Clinton has been given a hero's welcome in Northern Ireland, particularly in the province's pro-Republican areas.
Clinton had carefully divided his time between Catholic Republican and Protestant Unionist areas.
But a public handshake for the nationalist leader Gerry Adams, and a tumultuous greeting on the Catholic Falls Road showed the sympathies of both the U-S President and the people of Northern Ireland.
Clinton's first official engagement in Northern Ireland was his keynote speech at a factory.
But the American President made a surprise stop to meet the people of the fiercely pro-British Shankhill Road.
Security was intense as the president visited a small grocery shop and shook hands with some of the hundreds of people lining the road.
The Shankhill Road was the site of a number of shootings and bombings during the conflict between the mainly-Catholic pro-Republican I-R-A and pro-British Unionists.
Clinton then went on to the Mackie Metal factory, situated close to the peace line -- a wall which separates nationalist West and unionist East Belfast.
The company -- which dates back to the 1840s -- was once known for exclusively employing Protestants, but now has a mixed work force and prides itself as a model of sectarian relations.
Among the audience were 200 children from local schools who had all written letters to the U-S President.
President Clinton reminded the audience that the main beneficiaries of peace were children.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
For 25 years now the history of Northern Ireland has been written in the blood of children and their parents. The ceasefire turned the page on that history it must not be allowed to turn back.
SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President
Clinton cited the progress of peace and reconciliation throughout the world, from South Africa and Haiti to Bosnia and the Middle East.
The most controversial note of the speech came when he appeared to endorse the participation of Sinn Fein in peace talks -- a move which has so far been blocked by the British government.
He urged reconciliation, and the end of centuries of bitterness.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
There will always be those who define the worth of their lives not by who they are but by who they aren't -- not by what they are for but by what they are against . They will never escape the dead end street of violence.
SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President
Balancing his visit to the Shankhill Road, Clinton went on to the Falls Road -- a staunchly Catholic Republican area.
The enthusiastic reception included waving the tricolour flag of the Irish Republic.
Their support was rewarded with a public handshake on the street for Gerry Adams -- who for many years was not even allowed to be heard on British media.
Adams is the President of Sinn Fein, the political wing of the I-R-A.
His party has been blocked from taking part in peace talks because of the British government's demand that the I-R-A give up its weapons first.
Clinton went inside a bakery before visiting other shops and greeting the crowd.
Speaking afterwards Adams seemed to have moved closer to Clinton's endorsement of the recent Anglo-Irish agreement, which only Wednesday he was calling a "fudge".
SOUNDBITE: (English)
SUPER CAPTION: Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein President
Leaving Belfast in the afternoon Clinton went to Londonderry -- a town whose very name is the subject of sectarian dispute.
A massive crowd turned out, this time waving U-S flags.
He later returned to Belfast to switch on the city's Christmas lights.
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