A senior White House official has said there are no plans for negotiations to break the deadlock in the peace process during next weeks St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Washington. US Deputy National Security Adviser, James Steinberg, told RTE News that the White House was not a place where negotiations would take place. But he said President Clinton would try and help push the peace process forward during his talks with the North's political leaders.
All the main players in the peace process will gather in the White House next Wednesday and meet President Clinton. Mr Steinberg said the President would urge the party leaders to make progress on the implementation of all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. He said the White House is confident the parties will find a way to resolve their differences, and added that failure is not an option.
Sinn Féin leader, Gerry Adams is beginning a week-long tour of the United States. On his arrival in Dallas last night, Mr Adams, said that he hopes progress can be made in Washington next week. He said he hoped the visiting Irish delegations would use their time in Washington to make progress in their deliberations. And he said the parties can end the current impasse if they all stick to the deal reached last April.
