Middle East dominates talks between Martin and Clinton

FOREIGN AFFAIRS:WITH US-ISRAELI relations at their lowest point in 35 years, according to Michael Oren, Israel's ambassador to Washington, it was natural that the Middle East dominated talks between Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin and US secretary of state Hillary Clinton yesterday.

Mr Martin told Mrs Clinton about his trip to the Gaza Strip, and Mrs Clinton said she looked forward to spending St Patrick’s Day evening in Shannon, en route for a meeting in Moscow of the “quartet” (US, UN, EU and Russia) who have for a decade tried and failed to make peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

"I don't buy that," Mrs Clinton said, responding to Mr Oren's remark, which was reported by Israeli newspaper Haaretz. "I've been around a long time. We have an absolute commitment to Israeli security. We have a close, unshakeable bond . . . common values."

In the wake of Israel’s announcement last week that it is building 1,600 new housing units in Arab East Jerusalem, Mrs Clinton upbraided Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu for 45 minutes on the telephone and told CNN the move was an insult.

Mrs Clinton did not answer directly a question about Mr Martin's comparing the Palestinian group Hamas and Sinn Féin in an interview published by The Irish Timeson Saturday. Mrs Clinton was scheduled to receive Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams yesterday afternoon.

Mr Martin had noted that “Sinn Féin, at the start of the process, was not forced to recognise the state of Northern Ireland”. But Mrs Clinton repeated the long-held position of the US government that Hamas may not enter negotiations unless it “renounces violence” and “recognises the state of Israel”.

Responding to Mr Martin’s statement that the siege of Gaza must end, Mrs Clinton said: “The US has on a number of occasions expressed concern about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”

Mr Martin said Sinn Féin’s renunciation of violence was “the fundamental trigger” that ended the Troubles and called the Northern peace process a “template” for resolving such conflicts. But, he noted, in reference to Gaza, “the voice of extremism is enhanced by the siege”.

The Irish community in the US planned to thank Mrs Clinton for her role in the Northern Ireland peace process last night by feting her as guest of honour at the American Ireland Fund dinner.

A year ago, Mr Martin and Mrs Clinton first discussed the completion of devolution of policing and justice in Northern Ireland. Last October 12th, Mrs Clinton addressed the Northern Ireland Assembly, urging politicians to move forward on the issue.

Mr Martin said Mrs Clinton’s greatest contribution had been maintaining personal contact with the leaders in Northern Ireland, especially during the two weeks preceding conclusion of the Hillsborough Agreement. In particular, Mrs Clinton vaunted the “peace dividends” – economic benefits – of completing the process. Her efforts included a 2am-3am telephone call to Mr Martin, he recalled, laughing.

Building on her experience as First Lady when the Clinton administration was brokering the Belfast Agreement during the 1990s, Mrs Clinton reserved the position of special envoy for Northern Ireland for herself, and chose Declan Kelly, a successful Irish businessman, as special economic envoy. “It was an inspired choice,” Mr Martin said.

Mr Kelly met Northern Ireland leaders yesterday to discuss an all-Ireland economy.

Mr Martin and Mrs Clinton also discussed the International Fund for Ireland (IFI), which was started in 1986 and to which the US is this year contributing $17 million.

The fund works with divided communities and exemplifies Mrs Clinton’s belief in “soft power”. It is likely to be extended.