The president, Mrs McAleese, will today pay a courtesy call on President Clinton at the White House before he leaves for China. This will be one of the highlights of her six-day visit to Washington and New York.
As this is not a state visit, there will be no formal welcome for President McAleese or official functions at the White House as there was for President Robinson's state visit two years ago. Mrs McAleese arrived yesterday by government jet, accompanied by her husband, Dr Martin McAleese, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr David Andrews, and Mrs Andrews.
Justin McAleese (13) travelled to the US separately and joined his parents in Washington.
Within hours of her arrival, Mrs McAleese attended a reception in the Four Seasons Hotel mainly for the Irish-American community and hosted by the Irish ambassador, Mr Sean O hUiginn, and Mrs O hUiginn. In her remarks to the several hundred guests, President McAleese praised the role of President Clinton in the peace process and of former Senator George Mitchell. She said Mr Clinton's contribution had been "remarkable". She said: "He was prepared to take risks for peace: without his courage and leadership we could not have made the progress we have."
She said many of those present "have descended from some of the first settlers of the early colonies - some of whom, like myself, come from the northern part of the island of Ireland. I am deeply honoured that all of you have retained such a close bond and pride in your Irish heritage and that you demonstrated your affection by the strength of the many vibrant organisations in this area."
She said when our forbears crossed the Atlantic they retained a yearning that some day the Ireland they left would be a better place. "Regrettably, they did not live to see a new Ireland but it is now a reality in the economic, cultural and social progress of the last number of years." Arranging today's meeting at the White House was a problem for US and Irish officials because of Mr Clinton's extremely busy schedule this week, as he prepares for his China visit. But the fact that he has made time for it is an indication of the importance he attaches to US-Irish relations.
Later today, President McAleese will have lunch at the US Supreme Court with Chief Justice William Rehnquist. This will be followed by a speech at Georgetown University, mainly dealing with Northern Ireland.
In the evening, she will attend a dinner in her honour at the Irish Embassy residence, to which leading political and administration figures have been invited. Tomorrow, following a press conference at the National Press Club and a lunch on Capitol Hill with members of Congress, President McAleese will fly to New York. She will pay a courtesy visit on the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, and later attend a trade show organised by the Irish Business Organisation. In the evening she will attend the "Dreamer of Dreams" awards ceremony organised by the Irish Voice newspaper.
On Thursday, the President has more engagements and returns to Ireland on Friday.
