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NI leaders to meet US president Clinton promises open door for NI
(about 11 hours later)
Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers are to meet President George W Bush at the White House later. Senator Hillary Clinton has said there would be an open door for Northern Ireland's first and deputy first minister if she is in the White House.
Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness are also scheduled to meet the US senator and Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Mrs Clinton, who greeted Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness in Washington, said she hoped to be able to return to Belfast next year.
She said Americans were ready to help the new administration.
Mr Paisley and Mr McGuinness will meet President George W Bush at the White House later.
The meeting follows five days of intense lobbying in New York and Washington in a bid to persuade US business to invest in Northern Ireland.The meeting follows five days of intense lobbying in New York and Washington in a bid to persuade US business to invest in Northern Ireland.
The pair hope the visit to the White House will bolster that effort.The pair hope the visit to the White House will bolster that effort.
Mrs Clinton is also taking time out from the campaign trail to greet the ministers. Mrs Clinton took time out from the campaign trail to meet the ministers.
"I am going to do whatever I can as president, to make sure that the first minister and the deputy first minister, know that they have an open door in the White House," she said.
"They have as much support and encouragement as we can possibly can provide, not only from our government but from, as the first minister said, our private sector and I would go so far as to say even Americans individually."
She was among a group of congressman and senators, along with Ted Kennedy, who passed a resolution formally welcoming their visit to the US capital.She was among a group of congressman and senators, along with Ted Kennedy, who passed a resolution formally welcoming their visit to the US capital.
Another congressman, Jim Walsh, has also proposed that formal links be established between Stormont and Congress.Another congressman, Jim Walsh, has also proposed that formal links be established between Stormont and Congress.