[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 50 (Monday, December 18, 2000)]
[Pages 3071-3072]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With Prime Minister Tony 
Blair of the United Kingdom, First Minister David Trimble, and Deputy 
First Minister Seamus Mallon of Northern Ireland in Belfast

December 13, 2000

Supreme Court Decision

    Q. Mr. President, do you have any reaction to the Supreme Court's 
decision?
    The President. Actually, I haven't had a chance to read all the 
opinions yet. I think that what I'd like to focus on now is what I can 
do, what the United States can do to be helpful to this ongoing peace 
process. I may want to make a statement later, but I'd really like to 
have a chance to read all the opinions first and then I'll probably----
    Q. Have you spoken to the Vice President today?

Northern Ireland Peace Process

    Q. Mr. President, what would you say to your successor, whoever he 
may be, about continued involvement in the peace process here?
    The President. I think it's important for the United States to 
continue. I think it also has the side benefit of increasing confidence 
among American investors in Northern Ireland. I saw a story yesterday in 
the local press, indicating that some 600 million pounds in American 
investment had come here over the last 5 years. That's the sort of thing 
we need more of. So I hope the next President will be intimately 
involved and highly supportive of the efforts that the parties are 
making to carry out the Good Friday accords and get on with it.
    Q. Mr. President, what progress do you think can be made today? Do 
you think the peace process can be improved upon?
    The President. I hope so. But I think it's important for me to 
listen to the leaders here and see what we can do first.

[[Page 3072]]

    Q. Would you like to return and have a role in the peace process?
    The President. Oh, I'd like to return, but I won't be President. And 
that's--the next American administration that will have to take up that 
mantle.
    Q. Mr. President, will your last act--will one of your last acts be 
to do something in relation to dissident republican groups, like the 
Real IRA, and do something in terms of stopping them from fundraising 
and organizing in the United States?
    The President. Well, we've got this whole subject under review as 
part of our ongoing look at people who use violence for political or 
other means, not just here but throughout the world. And I may have 
something more to say about that later but not now.
    Q. Mr. President, the two men to your left and right, in many ways, 
hold the key to our future. What can be done--what can the Prime 
Minister do to bring the two men together, to secure this?
    The President. I don't--I think that we'd better get on with our 
talks. [Laughter] I want to give a speech later, but I'd like to get on 
with the business here.

Note: The exchange began at 11:26 a.m. at the Stormont Parliament 
Buildings. A tape was not available for verification of the content of 
this exchange.