THE SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, yesterday welcomed President Clinton's re election and said he was confident that President Clinton would keep Northern Ireland at the top of his overseas agenda. Mr Hume said the President was very keen to assist the North in every way, particularly economically.
"That assistance would, of course, be very valuable in helping to build trust. It would also help on the political front. I have had many meetings with President Clinton and I know that not only does he understand our problems very thoroughly but also that he is very committed to helping us find a solution to the satisfaction of all sections of our community.
"I have absolutely no doubt that our problems will remain high on his agenda and equally I have no doubt that he will do everything in his power to assist both governments and all parties in resolving our problems.
"The area that I have talked to President Clinton quite a lot about is the economic area, because I believe that is the real area where we should try to harness the enormous goodwill that he is expressing towards us and to translate that into real benefits in terms of economic development," he said.
Mr Hume said that if speculation about an impending move to Washington by Senator George Mitchell was realised, such a move would be beneficial to Northern Ireland.
"If Senator Mitchell becomes a major figure in the Clinton administration, in the cabinet, then we will have a top class friend in a top class position and that could only be to our benefit. No matter where Senator Mitchell will be, particularly if he is in a very influential position, I have no doubt that he will be a great friend of our part of the world," he said.