Mrs Hillary Rodham Clinton has said the peace process in Northern Ireland would have been impossible without the courage and strength of women. She was addressing the Women in Democracy conference at a packed Waterfront Hall in Belfast yesterday. She looked relaxed as she delivered a keynote address on women's rights and achievements.
It was her first public speech since her husband admitted his "inappropriate" relationship with Ms Monica Lewinsky. It was delivered in a cool, professional style.
Mrs Clinton did not refer to the scandal and showed no signs of strain. Looking confident and elegant in a navy suit, she received a standing ovation.
Those present included the wife of the First Minister, Mrs Daphne Trimble; the RUC Chief Constable, Mr Ronnie Flanagan; the Sinn Fein leaders, Mr Gerry Adams, Mr Martin McGuinness and Mr Pat Doherty; Ulster Unionist representatives Mr Jim Wilson and Mr Peter Weir; the US ambassador to Ireland, Mrs Jean Kennedy Smith; and the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Fair Employment Commission, Mr Bob Cooper.
Mrs Clinton said women's voices could not be ignored. "If you listen you can hear the voices of women who withstood jeers and threats to make themselves heard in the political world once reserved primarily for men."
She praised the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, for her "vision and dedication". She said the role of women in the search for peace in Northern Ireland could not be ignored and she paid a warm tribute to all those involved.
"None of this would have been possible were it not for the courage and strength of generations of women."
She expressed optimism about the future and promised that the US would continue to do all it could to support the North and the peace process. "You will only move forward, and as you do please know that America will stand with you."
She said women's voices must be heard in the new Northern Ireland, "a Northern Ireland people have lived for, died for and, yes, finally voted for".
In one of her few references to her husband, Mrs Clinton spoke about their joint visit to Omagh, Co Tyrone, today. "When my husband and I visit Omagh, we will pay tribute to those who were murdered by the enemies of peace.
"They were mostly women and children, Catholic and Protestant, unionist and nationalist, young and old. They were people simply living their lives, working in a drapery story, hanging out with friends, buying school uniforms for their children.
"The terrorists targeted the people of Northern Ireland, and in response it was the people, all the people, who bravely stood side by side to say hatred and violence will no longer have a place here.
"We have chosen ballots not bombs, democracy not division. We have resolved to live in peace. We will never go back. We will only go forward."
She said the last few months had shown that the road to peace was not easy, but she had no doubt that the bombs and terrorists would not prevail.
She expressed delight when she was praised by a Derry student, Ms Fiona Hughes, who introduced her as a "role model to me and to young women around the world".
There was no opportunity for journalists to interview Mrs Clinton, although the media scrutinised her every gesture for signs of stress. She did not seem concerned and smiled broadly.
As she arrived at the conference, she turned and waved to photographers and reporters who had gathered, and shouted: "Hello". She told her audience she was delighted to be back in Belfast.
Mrs Clinton said it was important that people shared ideas to transform their hopes for peace into reality. The new state-of-the-art Waterfront Hall symbolised everything wonderful that was happening in Northern Ireland.