Speaking following the announcement the First Minister said:
"It is a great honour to be invited to meet with President Bush and to represent the Executive and the people of Northern Ireland in Washington DC. The meeting represents another opportunity to promote our key goal of growing the local economy and focusing on the importance of developing mutually beneficial links between us."
The deputy First Minister said:
"Many US organisations and individuals played an important part in helping us to secure the historic agreement which has already transformed our political situation. We are now building on those relationships to ensure that we deliver the peaceful, fair and prosperous society to which all of our people are entitled".
Notes to Editors:
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