Regardless of whether George Bush or Al Gore becomes the next US president, the interest of the American administration in Northern Ireland would not wane and efforts would continue to help the process along, the American ambassador to Ireland, Mr Michael Sullivan, said yesterday.
The peace process was the best opportunity in the lifetime of the present Irish generation to resolve differences, he said.
The ambassador was speaking in Cobh, Co Cork, yesterday , where he addressed the Chamber of Commerce. He said a lot of effort and energy had gone into making the process work, and nobody now wanted to see a return to violence.
"Peace must be maintained, and I have to be optimistic that it will be maintained," Mr Sullivan said.
"The intensity of American and Irish relations in regard to the peace process makes me think that all that energy will still achieve a lasting peace at the end of the day."
On decommissioning, the ambassador said the issue should properly be left to those competent to deal with it and added that he was regularly in touch with President Clinton about Northern Ireland.
"I speak to him when I want to on the issue, but the President is well advised and is personally interested. You can take it any assistance we can give will be given," he added.