UK: US PRESIDENT CLINTON ATTENDS BANQUET HOSTED BY JOHN MAJOR

(29 Nov 1995) Natural Sound

British Prime Minister John Major hosted a banquet on Wednesday night at Number Ten Downing Street for President Clinton.

The U-S leader and his wife are in London on as part of their tour to England, Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

John and Norma Major greeted their guests on the steps of Number Ten as the Clintons arrived for a banquet in their honour.

America's first family are visiting the British Isles to talk peace. The U-K and the U-S are partners in NATO, which is about to send peacekeepers into Bosnia.

Mr Clinton is also anxious to help ease tension in Northern Ireland. Thursday, he'll become the first American President to visit the Province.

SOUNDBITE:
Tomorrow you will become the first serving President of the United States to visit Northern Ireland. You'll find when you are there that you're visiting people to whom warmth and hospitality are second nature. I'm delighted you are going there, I'm delighted with the help and support that you have given our effort in the Northern Ireland peace process over recent years.
SUPER CAPTION: John Major, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

The United States government has been involved in the Northern Ireland peace process since its onset last year.

Both Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, and Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble, have been welcomed as guests of the American Government at the White House.

SOUNDBITE:
Let the real thanks go to Prime Minister Major and Prime Minister Bruton and his predecessors who were willing to take risks for peace. The United States supports those who take risks for peace. The risks may be political, we know they are severe, there's always a high risk of failure as I said in Parliament today, and even if you fail the people who wished you hadn't tried will hold it against you. Sometimes the risks are far, far greater as the Prime Minister and I saw not so long ago when we buried our friend Prime Minister Rabin.
SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, President of the United States

This Christmas will be the second one of peace in the troubled province. The people of Northern Ireland will be hoping that it won't be the last.

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