[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
[June 21, 1997]
[Pages 780-781]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With Prime Minister 
Tony Blair of the United Kingdom in Denver
June 21, 1997

Northern Ireland Peace Process

    Q.  [Inaudible]--reaction to the bombing today, especially after you 
offered Sinn Fein a place at the table?
    Prime Minister Blair. Well, obviously, this is another appalling 
terrorist act, and it simply underlines the need for peace and to move 
this process forward, and that the longer we go on with these acts of 
terrorism, the less prospect there is of doing what everyone in Northern 
Ireland wants to happen, which is to get a lasting political settlement 
based on democratic and nonviolent means. And what is essential is for 
Sinn Fein and everyone else to realize that if they want to be part of 
that process, they have got to engage in purely democratic means. Now, 
that has been clear all the way through, it is clear now, and it is not 
right to make the people of Northern Ireland wait any longer for the 
lasting political settlement they want to achieve.
    Q. Mr. President, do you have a reaction?
    Q. Do you have any specific information--you say it was an act of 
terrorism--specific information on who caused it?
    President Clinton. Let me answer your question first. First of all, 
you know this is something that I attach great importance to, and I have 
been very encouraged by the approach that Prime Minister Blair has made. 
We have supported consistently the efforts of the British and the Irish 
Governments to bring peace.
    I was appalled at the murders of the two officers just a few days 
ago. I deplore this act today. But I, frankly, think now the ball is in 
Sinn Fein's court. We all have to decide now; everybody has decisions to 
make in life. And their decision is, are they going to be part of this 
peace process, or not? And so I hope the answer will be yes.
    I know what the people want. Just before I came out here I had two 
schoolteachers from Northern Ireland, one Catholic, one Protestant, who 
had received awards for working for peace. That's what the people want. 
That's the human face of this. And I think the politicians need to get 
in gear and give the people the peace they want.
    Prime Minister Blair. What we are doing----
    Q. Can you confirm that a place was offered----
    Prime Minister Blair. Michael [Michael Brunson, Independent 
Television News], let me just say to you that what we're doing and what 
we have been doing as a government is simply to try and give expression 
to the will of the overwhelming majority of people in Northern Ireland 
who want a decent, lasting, peaceful settlement to the problems there. 
And that chance is there, and we can do it. And I think enormous good 
will exists. It exists here in America, with the Irish Government, the 
British Government--enormous good will exists. And now it is for those 
people who have been holding up this process to come in and make sure 
that we get that lasting settlement the people want.
    Thank you very much.
    President Clinton. We've got to go back to work.

Note: The exchange began at 11:44 a.m. at the Denver Public Library. In 
his remarks, the President referred to teachers Gary Trew and Seamus 
McNeill, recipients of the President's Prize. A tape was not available 
for verification of the content of this exchange.

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