ONE of President Clinton's principal advisers on Northern Ireland, Ms Nancy Soderberg, is likely to move to a senior post in the US mission to the United Nations later this year. But she expects to retain some involvement in Northern Ireland affairs, according to informed sources.
Ms Soderberg is at present deputy assistant to President Clinton for National Security Affairs. Ms Soderberg and the National Security Adviser, Mr Tony Lake, are, regarded as the President's chief "advisers on Northern Ireland. Mr Lake already has been appointed to head the Central Intelligence Agency, but the appointment has yet to be confirmed by the Senate.
Ms Soderberg's expected appointment as US Representative for Special Political Affairs has ambassadorial rank and is the third-highest post at the American UN mission. The appointment would require confirmation by the Senate.
Ms Soderberg had no comment to make yesterday on any new appointment. A White House official pointed out that "no official decision on sub-cabinet appointments has yet been made". This was because no cabinet-level nominees of the President had yet been confirmed by the Senate.
The official said discussions were going on about appointments to the UN mission and other areas and that "people are being considered".
Ms Soderberg has indicated to friends that she hopes to keep some involvement in Northern Ireland affairs, perhaps through a part-time post on the National Security Council.
Since President Clinton's reelection, there have been rumours that Ms Soderberg would be moving to a senior post in the State Department. Under Secretary for Political Affairs, regarded as the number three post in the Department of State, was mentioned as her preferred choice but likely to be too senior for her experience.
Her involvement in Northern Ireland matters has been criticised by some unionist politicians as biased in favour of Sinn Fein, as when she lobbied for a US visa for Mr Gerry Adams. But she has also kept frequent contact with unionist and loyalist politicians and has met them on their visits to the White House. She has praised the loyalist paramilitaries for maintaining their ceasefire.
Ms Soderberg has mixed Irish and Swedish parentage. She regards herself as "one-quarter Irish" through her Scots-Irish mother. She was formerly a foreign policy adviser to Senator Edward Kennedy and also worked for the Democratic presidential candidates Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis.
During Mr Clinton's first presidential campaign she worked as a foreign policy adviser at the headquarters in Little Rock.
The UN is expected to be more significant in US foreign policy during President Clinton's second term. The new Secretary of State, Ms Madeleine Albright, has been US ambassador to the UN and is anxious to have a more co-operative attitude with the international body now that Dr Boutros Boutros-Ghali has been replaced by Mr Kofi Annan as Secretary-General.
The US administration has now indicated that it is ready to pay the $1 billion in outstanding dues to the UN in instalments. President Clinton will propose this in the budget he will send to Congress early next month.