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Robinson & McGuinness meet with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Thursday, 18 March 2010

First Minister Rt. Hon Peter D Robinson MP, MLA and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MP, MLA met today with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as they began the second leg of their trip to the US with a two day visit to Washington DC.

The meeting with Secretary Clinton followed Ministerial attendance at a major business briefing event in the US capital organised by US Economic envoy Declan Kelly who accompanied Ministers to their meeting with Secretary Clinton.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "Our meeting today with Secretary Clinton provided an opportunity for us to further cement the close ties that we have with this and previous US administrations who have played a vital part in the ongoing peace process in the North.

"Over many years Secretary Clinton has played a hugely supportive role in that process and in our discussions today I welcomed her determination to continue that role.

"Our visit to Washington will see us undertake a series of meetings with business and political leaders culminating in our visit to the White House tomorrow to meet President Obama."

The First Minister said: "We took the opportunity in our meeting with Secretary Clinton, to brief her on ongoing political developments and on our efforts to promote investment in Northern Ireland.

"The work of Declan Kelly has been of great assistance. In Washington and also in Chicago we have been able to engage with leading figures in corporate America and stress once again the many mutual benefits that exist for investors from the US and the Northern Ireland economy.

"I would be hopeful that as has been the case in the past this engagement will bear fruit in the months and years ahead as we seek to grow the partnership between our two countries at both a political and economic level."

Notes to editors:

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