President Clinton and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, agreed yesterday that there were grounds for optimism in the Northern Ireland peace negotiations, but that there were still serious difficulties ahead.
The leaders praised each other's role in the peace process, and President Clinton also paid tribute to the efforts of the Irish Government. President Clinton told reporters: "Though I don't minimise for a moment the enormous hurdles that lie ahead, I'm fairly optimistic."
Referring to recent sectarian killings, he went on: "I think the fact that the blows that have been rained on this process by people who thought that if they could go out and kill a few people it would come apart - the fact that it hasn't is a tribute to the Prime Minister, to the Irish Government, to the people of Northern Ireland working for peace, and to the public in Northern Ireland. That's where they are. They want this worked out in a peaceful way."
Mr Blair gave Mr Clinton what was described as a "very thorough assessment of the peace talks". The President "praised the Prime Minister and said he was demonstrating great courage", according to a spokesman. Mr Blair, for his part, "expressed admiration and gratitude for the role President Clinton is playing".
Irish-American members of Congress were also full of praise for Mr Blair's approach to Northern Ireland following a meeting to discuss the peace process.
Senator Edward Kennedy said: "It is gratifying that at long last leaders in London, Dublin and Washington see eye-to-eye on peace for Northern Ireland.
"I commend Prime Minister Blair for his impressive leadership in the search for peace in Northern Ireland. His commitment to the peace process and his skill in moving it forward are obvious," the senator said after the breakfast meeting between the senators, congressmen and Mr Blair.
Congressman Peter King, a co-chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs on Capitol Hill, said Mr Blair "understands all the nuances and how important it is to reach an accommodation".
Congressman Richard Neal said the meeting had gone very well. Mr Blair had said that he expected the May deadline for the talks to be met. He had asked the congressmen to encourage the nationalist community "to proceed with some faith" in the negotiations. He also asked the US legislators to encourage the unionists.
Mr Blair told them that the US attitude overall had been very helpful, but he did not ask for any specific action by President Clinton to help the negotiations along.
Mr Neal asked Mr Blair to assure the nationalist community that the unionists would not have a veto in the negotiations. He said Mr Blair indicated that there had to be "confidence-building measures" for both communities.
Mr Blair described the US role in the talks as very helpful.