President Clinton will make his last visit as President to both parts of Ireland and Britain in mid-December, hoping to strengthen the peace process at a difficult time.
The President has made it clear for some time he wants very much to make a third visit to Ireland before he leaves office on January 20th. He has been keeping closely in touch with the changing situation in the North and his aides see this visit as an opportunity "to overcome the obstacles that exist, achieve peace and the full implementation of the Good Friday accord".
Confirmation of the visit coincided with intense speculation in London circles last night that the chairman of the Patten Commission, former Hong Kong Governor Mr Chris Patten, may be ready to endorse Mr Peter Mandelson's controversial reforms of the RUC.
Approval of the new Police (Northern Ireland) Act by Mr Patten - possibly as early as today - would give a huge boost to the Secretary of State's attempts to win broad nationalist approval for Northern Ireland's new policing dispensation.
It would also dramatically underline the potential of the President's visit to spark the "choreography" the British and Irish governments have been seeking to resolve the standoff in the political process.
White House spokesman Mr Jake Siewert limited his announcement of the visit to the dates, December 12th to 14th. The President is likely to be accompanied by Ms Hillary Clinton. Sources would not confirm at this stage that Dublin and London would be on the itinerary. But Mr Clinton is certain to go to Belfast.
A White House official told The Irish Times it was "not a celebratory trip". The President would "be engaged with the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Blair and with party leaders to try and continue to encourage them to work towards a full implementation of the Good Friday accord and to secure the peace that the people of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom really want".
A diplomat in Washington said the Clinton visit could be a "catalyst" for a package which would have something for everybody. This could include the First Minister, Mr David Trimble, withdrawing his ban on Sinn Fein ministers attending cross-Border ministerial meetings; a commitment by the IRA to engage in dialogue again with Gen John de Chastelain's commission on decommissioning; and a plan as part of the policing reform which would help overcome objections to nationalists joining the new force.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said he was delighted Mr Clinton's visit had been confirmed. It "will provide an opportunity for the Irish people to celebrate and applaud the Clinton presidency which has been marked throughout by an unprecedented interest in Irish affairs", he said.
SDLP leader Mr John Hume, said: "I am delighted. . .He has been a consistent friend to the peace process."
Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams said the visit was most welcome and could "provide a dynamic" to move forward at a time of "decreasing confidence" among republicans at the British government's management of the peace process and Mr Trimble's "clear breach" of the Belfast Agreement.