Ireland is regarded by the United States as 'a valued member of the coalition against terror', US President, Mr George Bush yesterday told the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
Emphasising the long ties that bind the US and Ireland, Mr Bush, pointedly declared: "The strong ties between Ireland and the United States go back centuries. The strong ties have been affirmed at critical moments in our countries histories." Speaking during the presentation of the traditional bowl of shamrock in The White House, the US President said both two countries are deeply committed to building a world of peace and security and prosperity.
The remarks by the US President were interpreted as heightening the pressure on the Government to support, or at least not actively to oppose, a US invasion of Iraq . Mr Bush went on: "The American people appreciate Ireland's work on the United Nations Security Council to help secure the passage of Resolution 1441. The Resolution demands that Iraq disarms its weapons of mass destruction." Ireland's support is appreciated, he said: "The responsibilities of freedom are not always easy to bear. But Ireland and the United States are joined by a common commitment to freedom's defence against tyranny and terror." On Northern Ireland, the President, speaking before he met privately with Mr Ahern for over 30 minutes, said the US has always supported "this vital work".
The Taoiseach did not express any public reservations about the US handling of the crisis and of its threat to act against Iraq without UN sanction.
He said it had been "a great source of encouragement" to know that "the generous support and good offices" of successive US Administrations have been available to help on Northern Ireland. "We particularly appreciate at this time the unstinting support which the US has consistently offered for the efforts to achieve peace in Ireland," said Mr Ahern, "The real and measurable progress which the Good Friday Agreement has brought to date would simply not have been possible without the active support and goodwill of so many people on this side of the Atlantic," he declared.
Describing the US "as a beacon of justice and liberty", the Taoiseach said President Bush had demonstrated leadership last September when he went to the UN and called upon the Security Council "to face up to its responsibilities".
"Ireland, then a member of the Security Council, worked with you for the unanimous adoption of Resolution 1441, which gave Iraq a final opportunity to surrender its weapons of mass destruction," he said.
"The attacks on September 11th, 2001 demonstrated to all of us that fanatical and ruthless terrorists are prepared to strike at the very heart of our common civilisation."
Emphasising that Ireland takes its lead from the UN on foreign policy issues, Mr Ahern said the Irish goal remains the disarmament of the Iraqi regime, by peaceful means if at all possible.
"For the UN to be effective; for the United Nations to be respected, it must be united in purpose as well as in name. The brutal regime in Iraq poses precisely the kind of threat to international peace and security that the US was created to deal with.
Mr Bush said that throughout America's history they had benefited from the industry and talents of millions of Ireland's son and daughters. The two countries stand together on another issue, working together to ensure lasting peace in Northern Ireland. Recent years have seen historic progress thanks to the tireless efforts of Prime Ministers Ahern and Blair and many other people who have longed for peace. Now, our parties can and must build on this progress made so that the people of Northern Ireland can replace old resentments with new co-operation and new hope.
