US president Barack Obama has described the peace process in Northern Ireland as an example of what can be achieved when the US and Britain work together.
Speaking at a town hall-style meeting in London, Mr Obama said he was pleased that “tribal mentalities” were being broken down in Northern Ireland.
On the second full day of his visit to the UK, Mr Obama addressed young people in Westminster and then took questions from them.
Asked about the role America has played in the peace process and how this will continue, Mr Obama described it as a “story of perseverance” and said “folks are working these issues through”.
A questioner from Belfast, Keona McCarney (21), asked Mr Obama how the next US president after him will help to continue fostering the key role the US has played in the peace process.
He said: “What’s interesting is the degree to which the example of peacemaking in Northern Ireland is now inspiring others.
"So in Colombia and Latin America right now they're trying to undergo a peace process and they've actually brought people from Northern Ireland to come and describe how you overcome years of enmity and hatred and intolerance, and try to shape a country that is unified."
Encouraging developments
Mr Obama said integrated education is “one of the most encouraging” developments in Northern Ireland.
“One of the things that you’ve seen in Northern Ireland that’s most important is the very simple act of recognising the humanity of those on the other side of the argument.
“Having empathy and a sense of connection with people who are not like you.” He said it requires “forging a new identity that is about being from Northern Ireland as opposed to being Unionist or Sinn Féin”.
He said it is about deciding the country as a whole is more important than any particular faction. “This is a challenging time to do that because there is so much uncertainty in the world right now, because things are changing so fast, there’s a temptation to forge identities, tribal identities, that give you a sense of certainty, a buffer against change.
"And that's something, our young people, they have to fight against, whether you're talking about Africa, or the Middle East, or Northern Ireland, or Burma.
“The forces that lead to the most violence and the most injustice typically spring out of people saying ‘I want to feel important by dividing the world into us and them. And them threatens me, and so I’ve got to make sure that my tribe strikes out first’.
“And fighting that mentality and that impulse requires us to begin very young with our kids.
“One of the most encouraging things in Northern Ireland is children starting to go to school together and having a sense that we’re all in this together, as opposed to it’s us against them,” he said.
Mr Obama added it is “going to take some time” and will depend on the leaders of the future.
Close relationships
Mr Obama praised the close relationship between the US and the UK, which he said had improved dramatically since the British "burned down my house" — a reference to the torching of the White House in the war of 1812-1814.
The president insisted now was the best time in human history to be alive as he urged the audience to ignore cynical voices saying that nothing could change. “Take a longer, more optimistic view of history,” Mr Obama said.
Asked about his biggest achievement in the past eight years as president, Mr Obama cited bringing in health insurance and dealing with the financial crash. “Saving the world economy from a great depression, that was pretty good. I’ll look at the scorecard at the end. I think I have been true to myself,” he added.
Brexit
Though he did not refer directly to his controversial remarks that a post-Brexit Britain would be at the “back of the queue” when it came to American trade deals, Mr Obama said that generally such economic agreements were difficult due to “parochial” interests and “factions” within countries.
Mr Obama said racial tensions in America still needed to be dealt with and people could not be complacent just because an African-American was in the White House. “One of the dangers is that by electing a black president people say there must be no problem at all.”
Asked about which grassroots movements have been most impressive, Mr Obama cited the marriage equality campaign. “It’s probably been the fastest set of changes in terms of a social movement that I’ve seen,” he added. The president said he started out backing civil partnerships but gay friends helped persuade him that did not go far enough and full marriage equality was needed.
Mr Obama was urged to do more for the trans community by someone who said they were doing something “crazy” and coming out to him as a non-binary person at the meeting.
Mr Obama joked: “That wasn’t that crazy, I thought you were going to ask to come up here and dance with me.”
Black Lives Matter
The president then went on to praise the move to equality and said that controversial laws passed in North Carolina and Mississippi regarding trans people using public toilets were state issues. Mr Obama praised Prime Minister David Cameron for being "ahead of the curve" on LGBT rights issues.
A Sikh questioner called for movement on issues like discrimination at airport security. Mr Obama insisted it was explicit US policy not to racially profile at airports.
The president also praised the Black Lives Matter movement for raising awareness but cautioned you “can’t just keep on yelling” at people who want to sit down and talk. “Seek out people who don’t agree with you. That will teach you to compromise. Compromise does not mean surrendering what you believe.”
News of the meeting with Mr Corbyn, who opposes British military intervention in Syria, came after Mr Obama said the US and Britain were ready to take action to stop the Islamic State terror group securing a stronghold in Libya from which to launch attacks on Europe or America.