552 Mar. 17 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 1994 ious efforts to help people turn away from District of Columbia. A tape was not available for violence. I just want to mention two of them verification of the content of these remarks. to you. I met a woman named Clementine Barfield from Detroit, who had two sons, two Remarks at a St. Patrick's Day of her teenage sons shot, and one killed in Ceremony With Prime Minister gang fighting. She is devoting her life to try Albert Reynolds of Ireland and an to reach kids to make sure not only that they don't become victims like her sons but they Exchange With Reporters don't become killers like the people who March 17, 1994 killed her sons. The President. It's a great honor for me I met a young man named Sherman Spears to be spending my second St. Patrick's Day from Oakland, California, who is confined to in a row with the distinguished Prime Min- a wheelchair, has had one leg amputated, lost ister from Ireland. He has a presentation to the use of one of his eyes, often still in pain make and a few remarks, and then I'll have because he was caught in the crossfire of a a word or two, and we'll answer your ques- gun shooting. He is devoting his life to an tions. organization which reaches out to victims and Mr. Prime Minister. tries to tell them not to retaliate, not to seek Prime Minister Reynolds. Thank you. vengeance, not to seek revenge, that no one Thank you, again, and I'm really thrilled and ever gets even, and you have to go on with delighted and honored to be back again for your lives. a second visit to the White House, especially These are the kinds of people we want to on this traditional day for all Irish people support. We will send specific suggestions to around the world. anyone who responds to the 800 line. It's 1± In this presentation of shamrock that I'll 800±WE±PREVENT. It's mentioned in the be making in a few moments, Mr. President, ad, and it's very important because the peo- we symbolize the bonds of family, of history, ple who are going to air the ads can't do the and of common values that our two countries grassroots one-on-one work after the air is share. Because of the generations of Irish quiet. people who have come to these shores, St. In closing, let me just say this, you prob- Patrick's Day is perhaps even more honored ably heard Alicia Brown say this, I want to here than in Ireland. Rightly and most im- reemphasize it. In a few moments, she is portantly, today is a celebration not just for going to the funeral of her sixth friend to Irish America but for all in this great Nation die from gunshot wounds, a 14-year-old who share our common values of justice and child, not in a war zone in a far away country, democracy. not in Somalia, not in Sudan, not in Angola, We live in a time when ambitions for peace not in Burundi, not in Sarajevo, but in the are tempered by the realization that old ani- Capital of the greatest Nation on the face mosities and deep distrust often live long in of the Earth. the human heart. They can give rise to ter- That is what has become of childhood, my rible and prolonged violence. In this context fellow Americans, While the rest of us have it is both right and important that I should pursued our dreams in life, had our families, pay the warmest tribute to you, Mr. Presi- raised our children, enjoyed the fruits of dent, for your exceptional efforts to bring freedom, that is what has become of child- peace to the tragedies of Bosnia and the Mid- hood. It is indecent. It is unacceptable. We dle East. can do something about it. And we owe it We in Ireland know from direct experi- to them to do it. ence that conflicts over territory, identity, Thank you very much. and political destiny can only be resolved through peaceful negotiations. That pro- NOTE: The President spoke at 10:30 a.m. in Room found belief informs everything that my gov- 450 of the Old Executive Office Building. In his ernment and I are doing to resolve the prob- remarks, he referred to Alicia Brown, a 14-year- lem of Northern Ireland. Twenty-five years old student at Eliot Junior High School in the of conflict, the loss of over 3,000 lives, and VerDate 31-MAR-98 14:49 Apr 08, 1998 Jkt 010199 PO 00001 Frm 00048 Fmt 1244 Sfmt 1244 C:\TERRI\P11MR4.017 INET03 Administration of William J. Clinton, 1994 / Mar. 17 553 an immeasurable quota of human suffering sides is as thoughtful as it is generous. For have not and cannot advance the search for that you have our deepest thanks. a lasting and equitable settlement. Peace comes dropping slow, Yeats once As you and I discussed, Mr. President, pri- said. But let us hope, Mr. President, that vately this morning, there has been signifi- through our combined efforts, on a day in cant progress in our search for peace. Central the quite near future, the presentation of to this was the joint declaration signed last shamrock will be made to you in the White December by the British Prime Minister House from an island uniquely dear to you John Major and myself. This defines the and to your people that has at last found common ground between our two countries peace. on the issue of Northern Ireland. Mile buichos leat agus go n'eiri an bothair At its heart, the declaration states that it duit. is for the people of Ireland as a whole and The President. Thank you so much, Mr. alone, by agreement between the two parts, Prime Minister, for the wonderful bowl of to exercise their right of self-determination shamrocks and for the sentiments and the of the basis of consent. That and the other convictions you have just expressed. principles of mutual respect, tolerance, and From the earliest days of our republic the reconciliation which underline the declara- American dream has often been the story of tion, do not have an expiring date. Rather, Irish-American achievement. I'm reminded in establishing them, we have sought to open of the words of the Irish poet, Thomas a door for all parties to embrace peace and Kinsella, who urged that we accept, and I enter the political process. quote, ``no limit but the possible.'' That is In our efforts to secure a lasting settle- the spirit that brought many Irish to our ment, we wish, as I said, to embrace all par- shores, and it enriches our lives still today. ties to the conflict. We do so in the firm Ireland has demonstrated its global com- knowledge that the political process can and mitment to peace time and time again. And will resolve fundamental issues and bridge I want to thank the Prime Minister publicly the impasse that presently blocks the road today for the work that has been done with to peace. the United Nations in Lebanon and with its It is our fervent wish, therefore, that vio- continuing peacekeeping role in Somalia. But lence will end and that everyone will em- nowhere is that commitment more evident brace the new and inclusive instruments of than in the efforts this Prime Minister has peace, dialog, and negotiation, that are avail- made in Northern Ireland. able. We need a positive decision from those We have seen historic progress since the concerned to enable a general move in the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister next and much broader phase of the peace made their agreement, and historic progress process and to bring to an end the isolation since Prime Minister Reynolds was here last experienced by significant sections of the year. That progress is in great measure the community. responsibility of Prime Minister Reynolds Mr. President, we greatly value your per- and Prime Minister Major. They have dealt sonal commitment to help to resolve the with considerable challenges in their own issue of Northern Ireland. Your support for countries to pursue this course, and we ap- this has been really inspiring. You share our plaud them. understanding of the need to bring all com- The joint declaration they signed on De- munities fully into the political fold in a man- cember 15th remains the best chance for a ner consistent with upholding democratic future of tolerance and reconciliation in principles. Northern Ireland, especially in the wake of We take heart in particular from your the bomb threats against the London air- readiness to contribute to the peace process ports. I call upon all those who practice vio- when and if needed. It is an enormous source lence for political aims to lay down their of encouragement to all of us devoted to arms. Once again, I urge those who have yet peace and reconciliation to know that your to do so to endorse the joint declaration as advice and your assistance as a friend to all the best, indeed, the only way forward. 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