The former US president, Mr Bill Clinton, is to make a return trip to Belfast next month to receive an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Queen's University for his services to peace in the North.
As president, Mr Clinton took a keen interest in the peace process and appointed Senator George Mitchell as his personal representative to Northern Ireland.
Senator Mitchell, the Chancellor of Queen's, chaired the multi-party talks which led to the signing of the Belfast Agreement. He said Mr Clinton had "a deep and continuing personal interest in Northern Ireland" and he would be honoured to welcome him to the university.
The Queen's Vice-Chancellor, Prof George Bain, said Mr Clinton had earned the respect of both traditions in the North.
Mr Clinton will be in Belfast on May 24th for the conferring. A gala concert featuring the internationally-acclaimed Northern Ireland pianist, Barry Douglas, will follow the ceremony in the Waterfront Hall.
The concert will officially launch the Queen's University of Belfast Foundation and raise funds for the restoration of the Great Hall.