Clinton lauds Ireland as beacon to world

President Clinton presented Ireland as a beacon of peace, partnership and prosperity in the world on his visit to Dublin yesterday. After spending last night at Adare Manor he will be presented with the Freedom of the City of Limerick today before playing golf at Ballybunion in Co Kerry in the afternoon. He will then leave from Shannon Airport this evening. In Ballybunion, bedecked with the Stars and Stripes, a seven foot statue of the President - a plaster cast painted bronze - has been carried by fork-lift truck to the centre of the town, to be in place for Mr Clinton's arrival this afternoon.

At least 500 large colour posters of the President have been placed on every lamp-post leading to Ballybunion's world-famous golf course and 17 miles of road have been resurfaced.

Political developments had dominated yesterday, the second day of his visit. Mr Clinton expressed qualified optimism about the chances of progress in Northern Ireland. He hailed the success of the Republic's economy and acknowledged the contribution of social partnership to creating that success.

At a short press conference before his meeting in Government Buildings with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, Mr Clinton said statements in the last few days by the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, and the response of the First Minister, Mr David Trimble, "make me quite hopeful about next week".

He expected that "at some point" there would be a meeting between the two men.

Despite the political problems stemming from his private life, Mr Clinton was warmly hailed at political, economic and industrial venues for his active role in the peace process.

"Never before have we had such intense and sustained contact from the US President in a period when we desperately need it to be able to move forward," said Mr Ahern.

The President was informed of joint initiatives to be taken by the British and Irish governments within weeks to broaden the focus of the Belfast Agreement away from the current problems of decommissioning and the establishment of the shadow Executive.

After a half-hour meeting with Mr Ahern where the US air strikes in Afghanistan and Sudan were raised, the President met a large gathering of the social partners at the Royal College of Surgeons.