Скачать или смотреть IRELAND: LIMERICK/BALLYBUNION: US PRESIDENT CLINTON VISIT

(6 Sep 1998) English/Nat

U-S President Bill Clinton has again made an impassioned plea to the people of Ireland not to let the peace they have achieved slip away.

During the final day of his visit to the island of Ireland, Mr Clinton received the freedom of Limerick and an award to mark his contribution to the peace process.

Later, he played a round of golf at the world-famous Ballybunion course in County Kerry before flying back to Washington and the turbulent Monica Lewinsky affair.

Around 20-thousand people crammed into Limerick city centre hoping to catch a glimpse of the U-S President.

Many had been waiting since dawn.

When Bill and Hillary Clinton finally arrived, over an hour behind schedule, the crowd went wild.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern praised Bill Clinton for his part in the Ulster peace process, thanking him for allowing two U-S senators to help with talks.

Bill Clinton made a passionate, rallying speech to crowds who packed the streets, but he played down his own role in the peace process.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Make no mistake about it, the main credit for the peace process belongs to the Irish, to the people, to the people who voted for the Good Friday agreement, to the leaders of the various groups in Northern Ireland who supported it, to the prime minister of Great Britain and to your extraordinary Bertie Ahern who has been brilliant."
SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President

The U-S President said there are still enemies of peace who want to destroy what has been achieved, but they must not be allowed to break the will of the people.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"No matter what happens between now and then, remember what it was like on this day, looking up this street, looking up that street, this is you at your best, do not let them break your will."
SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President

For his help with the peace process Bill Clinton received an award from the nine universities of Ireland.

For the first time in history they've combined to bestow honours on three heads of state who've helped in the peace process.

That's U-S President Bill Clinton, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.

Bill Clinton was also presented with the highest honour Limerick City can bestow, the freedom of the city.

The same honour was given to former U-S President John F. Kennedy, when he visited Limerick many years ago.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Now that you have given me the freedom of the city, I can say 'my fellow citizens'."
SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, US President

After the formalities were over Bill and Hillary Clinton took to the crowds, shaking hands and greeting people.

In the afternoon Bill Clinton relaxed with a round of golf at the world famous Ballybunion course.

He was supposed to play there in 1995 but had to cancel so he could fly to Bosnia-Herzegovina to meet U-S peacekeeping troops taking up duty in the Balkans.

A game of golf was President Clinton's last chance to relax before heading back to the White House on Air Force One and face the latest fallout from the Monica Lewinsky affair.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...