Clinton and Blair pay tribute to Adams

President Clinton and the British Prime Minister paid tribute to the Sinn Fein leader for his role in furthering the peace process.

However, an expected public handshake between both leaders and Mr Gerry Adams failed to materialise during Mr Clinton's visit to the West Belfast MP's constituency.

At a site dedication ceremony for the new £70 million Springvale education campus, Mr Clinton said the Sinn Fein leader's comments this week about ending violence were music to ears around the world. "I thank Gerry Adams, who has worked hard to bring justice and a better life to the people of this constituency," he told an audience of 150 educationists and local politicians.

In a speech which quoted from Van Morrison and Seamus Heaney, Mr Clinton said Springvale would become a "living, breathing monument to the triumph of reconciliation". "The future has begun," he declared.

Mr Tony Blair said many people had played a part in delivering the Belfast Agreement but he singled out Mr Adams.

He continued: "I know Gerry, like so many other people, wants to get to the situation in Northern Ireland where the basic elements are in place that should form the major part of any political debate."

Springvale, a joint venture between the University of Ulster and the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education, aims to provide a "seamless progression route" for learners at all levels of higher education. The campus is located on old industrial land close to the peaceline between nationalist and unionist parts of west Belfast.

Mr Clinton said he was glad to be in Mr Adams's constituency: "There is much to be done by people on all sides. But his words, and I quote: `the violence must be a thing of the past - over, done with, gone' - those words were music to ears all over the world and they paved the way for the progress still to come. Thank you, Sir."

He also referred to those violently opposed to the peace process: "There are people who would oppose the vision you share for reconciliation and tolerance. Thank God they live in the past and their support is dwindling".

Little local interest in the visit was apparent, perhaps because police had sealed off the area hours in advance of the President's arrival. A few nearby houses displayed the Stars and Stripes and small knots of residents gathered in vain for a glimpse of Mr Clinton as he emerged from the marquee in which the sod-turning ceremony was held.

Mr Blair said it was "awesome" to have the will of the whole world behind the efforts for peace in Northern Ireland. Today's young people deserved a better future and a better chance of prosperity than their parents had.

The attendance at the ceremony included prominent Sinn Fein figures such as Mr Gerry Kelly and Mr Alex Maskey. However, few unionists attended and the PUP leader, Mr David Ervine, said later he was disappointed at their turnout.

Both leaders were flanked by their spouses for the visit; Mrs Cherie Blair was making her first visit to Northern Ireland with her husband.

The biggest applause was reserved for the Northern Secretary, Dr Mowlam, who promised that Springvale would be inclusive of both communities and deliver all levels of higher education. "If we're talking about a new future for Northern Ireland, it has to be a new future for everyone."

The ground-breaking ceremony was performed by two local teenagers, one Protestant and one Catholic. Gerard Quinn (15) said he had discovered a "common purpose" with young people in the other community when playing on the same football team. "I would want all of my generation to have the same opportunities as I have had, and I appeal to all of those involved in the peace process to have the coura ge to make it work."

Margaret Gibney (13), from the Shankill Road, came to prominence last year when she wrote to Mr Blair urging him to press forward with the peace process. "No matter what the conflict is, it is always children who suffer most - they lose their parents, they lose their homes and, sometimes, they even lose their lives," she said.