A unionist minister and a nationalist minister jointly represent the people of Northern Ireland at the White House.
There was an element of symbolic unity between Stormont First Minister David Trimble and Deputy First Minister Séamus Mallon who were hosted at the White House by President Bill Clinton.
The unity demonstrated in the White House was sorely tested by continuing disagreement over the reform of policing in Northern Ireland. Commenting on the meeting, David Trimble said,
The fact that Séamus and I are here together is a symbol of the success we have had.
When either man spoke, the other listened respectfully. Séamus Mallon pointed out,
If unionism and nationalism work properly together, then we can solve all of our problems.
Both men acknowledge that there are issue and they have different views, but are determined to face these problems and focus on what they have in common.
Last week, Irish American politicians tabled a resolution in both houses of the US Congress calling for the full implementation of the report of the Patten Commission 'A New Beginning: Policing in Northern Ireland', published in September 1999. While Seamus Mallon has the ear of Congress, David Trimble believes that Congress has spoken without listening to the unionist position.
This episode of 'Morning Ireland' was broadcast on 14 September 2000. The presenter is Carole Coleman and the reporter is Mark Little.
