For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 7, 2007

President Bush Meets with First Minister of Northern Ireland Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Martin McGuinness
Oval Office

Play Video   Presidential Remarks   Audio

      In Focus: Global Diplomacy

1:49 P.M. EST

PRESIDENT BUSH: One of the great experiences for me during my presidency is to witness historic occasions, and I'm witnessing such an occasion with the arrival of Reverend Paisley and Mr. Martin McGuinness here to the White House. These two men are -- have dedicated themselves to embettering their -- Northern Ireland through their courage and conviction and desire to put aside the past and focus on a hopeful future.

And so I want to welcome you all here. I congratulate you for seizing the moment, and writing a hopeful chapter. I'm looking forward to hearing about how the United States can help Northern Ireland move forward. I know one way we can help, and that is to encourage our business leaders to take a good look at the economic opportunities that Northern Ireland presents.

And so I welcome you here. I'm proud of your accomplishments. And I welcome you all to say a few comments to the TV, if you care to do so.

FIRST MINISTER PAISLEY: Well, Mr. President, our first words on that -- (inaudible), we want to say from the people of Northern Ireland: Thank you. Thank you to the American people for all they have done for us in the past. We did a lot for you in the past, too.

PRESIDENT BUSH: That's right. (Laughter.)

FIRST MINISTER PAISLEY: But what I can say is we deeply appreciate that. And we also deeply appreciate the fact that we're here today, and that you have met us, and have tried to encourage us on this. We have had our political squabbles and fights. I think we have come to the end of that. I think that peace has come, there will be a fight for peace. You don't win peace, you have to fight to keep it.

PRESIDENT BUSH: That's right.

FIRST MINISTER PAISLEY: (Inaudible) that. We're dedicated to that. But we do need help in the economic field. And we're glad that the door has opened. We have had a very good reception in your country so far, and of course (inaudible) and when we look back and see this mighty army that's following hard in your tracks we know that this is your final -- and we say thank you, and we look forward to good dealings between our little country and yours in the coming days.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, sir. Martin.

DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER MCGUINNESS: Can I, too, reiterate the comments of the First Minister in expressing our deepest thanks and appreciation to you and your administration for the tremendous help that we have received throughout the course of the process; follows on from the tradition of President Clinton and his administration.

So we're hugely appreciative of both of you for all of the tremendous support that we have received. Up until the 26th of March this year, Ian Paisley and I never could accomplish anything about anything -- (laughter) -- not even about the (inaudible). And now we have worked very closely together over the course of the last seven months, and there hasn't been an angry word between us.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you.

DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER MCGUINNESS: So I think that that clearly shows that we are set for a new course. There is peace and stability. We have transformed the political situation. What we now need to do, as you have correctly identified, is transform the economic situation so that we can give our young people, in particular, a better future.

I am confident that we can do that, and with the tremendous assistance we've received here in the United States, and particularly working towards the economic investment conference in May, the future looks greater than it ever has in the course of Irish history.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, sir.

END 1:53 P.M. EST

Printer-Friendly Version   Email this page to a friend

• Afghanistan
• Africa
• Budget Management
• Defense
• Economy
• Education
• Energy
• Environment
• Global Diplomacy
• Health Care
• Homeland Security
• Immigration
• International Trade
• Iraq
• Judicial Nominations
• Middle East
• National Security
• Veterans

more issues

News

• Current News
• Press Briefings
• Proclamations
• Executive Orders
• Radio
• Setting the Record Straight

more news

October 2007   |   September 2007   |   July 2007   |   July 2007   |   June 2007   |   May 2007   |   April 2007   |   March 2007   |   February 2007

News by Date

•   |   February 2007
•   |   January 2007
•   |   December 2006
•   |   November 2006
•   |   October 2006
•   |   September 2006
•   |   August 2006
•   |   July 2006
•   |   June 2006
•   |   May 2006
•   |   April 2006
•   |   March 2006
•   |   February 2006
•   |   January 2006
•   |   December 2005
•   |   November 2005
•   |   October 2005
•   |   September 2005
•   |   August 2005
•   |   July 2005
•   |   June 2005
•   |   May 2005
•   |   April 2005
•   |   March 2005
•   |   February 2005
•   |   January 2005
•   |   December 2004
•   |   November 2004
•   |   October 2004
•   |   September 2004
•   |   August 2004
•   |   July 2004
•   |   June 2004
•   |   May 2004
•   |   April 2004
•   |   March 2004
•   |   February 2004
•   |   January 2004
•   |   December 2003
•   |   November 2003
•   |   October 2003
•   |   September 2003
•   |   August 2003
•   |   July 2003
•   |   June 2003
•   |   May 2003
•   |   April 2003
•   |   March 2003
•   |   February 2003
•   |   January 2003
•   |   December 2002
•   |   November 2002
•   |   October 2002
•   |   September 2002
•   |   August 2002
•   |   July 2002
•   |   June 2002
•   |   May 2002
•   |   April 2002
•   |   March 2002
•   |   February 2002
•   |   January 2002
•   |   December 2001
•   |   November 2001
•   |   October 2001
•   |   September 2001
•   |   August 2001
•   |   July 2001
•   |   June 2001
•   |   May 2001
•   |   April 2001
•   |   March 2001
•   |   February 2001
•   |   January 2001

Appointments

• Nominations

Federal Facts

•   |   Federal Statistics

West Wing

•   |   History