Reconciliation is theme as President visits Belfast

RECONCILIATION was the theme of the President's 14th visit to Belfast, which included her first public handshake with the Sinn…

RECONCILIATION was the theme of the President's 14th visit to Belfast, which included her first public handshake with the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams. She also addressed the European conference of Methodists.

One hundred and twenty delegates from 35 congregations all over Europe were at the Consultative Conference of European Methodist Churches in Stranmillis College.

Mrs Robinson praised the work of the church, which "places a very great emphasis on reaching out and on the language of reconciliation. The emphasis on fairness and balance is central to the Methodist approach.

"Perhaps because the Methodist church is the smallest of the four churches in Ireland it has more freedom to speak out," she said.

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Mrs Robinson then visited the nationalist enclave in the Short Strand estate in east Belfast, where she officially launched the Short Strand Partnership. There she received an ecstatic welcome from hundreds of people waving tricolours.

The Short Strand Partnership combines the efforts of community and voluntary groups with the statutory agencies in improving the quality of life for local residents and providing training. It is part of a wider East Belfast Partnership. Its chairman, Mr Sammy Douglas, joined the chairman of the Short Strand Partnership, Mr Joe O'Donnell, in welcoming Mrs Robinson.

"As someone from the Protestant and unionist tradition I appreciate the efforts you have made to understand the fears and aspirations of both communities. After the summer we've had we must redouble and retreble our efforts for peace," he said. "Cead Mile Failte."

However, protesters at her next appearance, at the Women Toc centre in the loyalist Village area, clearly did not appreciate and such efforts.

Apart from the 15 to 20 protesters, the streets were almost deserted as she arrived. They shouted, "Go home, you Fenian bastard," and other abuse.

Inside the centre she was welcomed, although in more muted manner than in the Short Strand. She said she would speak of the centre, built for women in consultation with women themselves, as an example to be followed all over Ireland.

Among the groups using the centre are the "Golden Girls", older women who undertake training in crafts, cookery and other skills.

One of them, Rose, said of Mrs Robinson: "She's a lovely lady."

Her friend, Elsie, added: "I really admire what she's done for women down south.

In St Aidan's school in west Belfast, another community initiative was being launched, this one concentrating on the training needs of youth.

Mrs Robinson referred to her previous visit to the area, and said: "I have a very strong sense of community here. What interests me is growth, and I see growth here."

She mingled with the several hundred community activists. Among the group from Upper Springfield Development Staff was Mr Adams. When they were introduced she briefly shook his hand, murmuring, "How are you?" before moving on.

There was a muted response from the Ulster Unionist Party to the President's first public handshake with Mr Adams. Its secretary, Mr Jim Wilson, said the handshake would cause "eyebrows to be raised, particularly as there is no IRA ceasefire.