February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
As reported in the Echo last week, Secretary Clinton said she will continue to keep personal interest in the finalization of agreements outlined in the Good Friday accord.
But she has stated the view that there is no need for a full time envoy, at least of the political variety.
“I and my team are on call to help in any way we can as the continuing decisions have to be made to realize the full benefits of a Northern Ireland at peace and moving toward the kind of prosperity they’re looking for,” she told the BBC while traveling recently in Thailand.
Pressed as to whether a part-time envoy might be employed, Secretary Clinton responded: “Well, it’s part of the responsibilities that we’re taking on that, just like I supervise the special envoys for the Middle East and for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and climate change and everything else, as well as running the dialogues with India, Russia, China, and so much, this is one that we’re going to really keep a close eye on.
“I’ve been in consultations with representatives of the Irish government, the British government, the Northern Ireland leadership, and we’re going to be as helpful as we can.”
Acknowledging the work of the original special envoy, former Senate Majority Leader and now special envoy for the Middle East, George Mitchell, Clinton said all the parties involved with Northern Ireland had achieved a great deal of what was envisioned back in the 1990s and, as a result, there was no necessity for a singularly dedicated, fulltime U.S. official to oversee the situation.
“The problems that the continuing efforts toward finalizing the agreements in the Good Friday accord are really up to the parties themselves, and certainly in consultation with the British government and, to a lesser extent, the Irish government,” she said.
“So I don’t see the need for someone fulltime. But obviously, I’ve spent many years in this, on this issue. I care deeply about the outcome. I know the players. I stayed closely in touch with them when I was in the Senate, so I’ve made it clear that I and my team are on call to help in any way we can as the continuing decisions have to be made to realize the full benefits of a Northern Ireland at peace, and moving toward the kind of prosperity they’re looking for.”
Secretary Clinton’s interest in Irish issues began during her husband’s presidency. She traveled frequently to Ireland, north and south, as first lady and sponsored and participated in cross community discussions.
During her closely fought 2008 presidential primary campaign against fellow Democrat Barack Obama, some former Clinton administration officials downplayed her role in the Northern Ireland peace process.
Former Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble also minimized the role she played during the 1990s. However, former taoiseach Bertie Ahern and other leaders from the North defended the input Clinton contributed to the peace process.
Clinton continued to follow the process from the U.S. Senate, more than once meeting with leaders from the North.
As Secretary of State, she continues to have regular meetings and discussions with those leaders and officials from Dublin, Belfast and London. With such a background, Clinton now says it makes sense for her and her advisors to “take stewardship over this.”
Even with an envoy, this would have been the case given that a State Department-appointed envoy would have ultimately answered to Clinton and would have certainly received instruction from her office.
Meanwhile, it remains to be seen if the U.S. will appoint an economic/business envoy to the North as has been widely anticipated.