Bush to visit NI next week

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday April 04, 2003 20:11 by Sparks

Hmmmm.

April 4, 2003
(18:53) The US President, George Bush, is to visit Northern Ireland on Monday and Tuesday to discuss the situation in Iraq and the peace processes in Northern Ireland and the Middle East.
According to officials at Downing Street, Mr Bush will have talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
A spokesperson for the Irish Government has said the US had played a vital role in advancing the peace process in recent years, and the engagement of President Bush at this key moment was a clear reflection of the continued commitment of the administration.
It is understood Tony Blair and President Bush will discuss Iraq on Tuesday morning, before being joined at noon by the Taoiseach.
The three leaders will have a brief discussion, before chairing a round-table meeting of all the pro-agreement parties in the North.
President Bush is expected to have left the North by mid-afternoon.
The meeting is in advance of Thursday's session at which the British and Irish governments are expected to unveil their proposals for restoring the Good Friday institutions.

One has to wonder if Bertie will maintain his "The UN must be in charge of Iraq" stance at that meeting.

I personally wonder how big a protest will take place...