Wednesday, March 5, 2014

President Clinton to honour Hume

Bill Clinton visit: President to honour John Hume

Bill Clinton Mr Clinton has visited Northern Ireland several times, both during and after his presidency

Former US President Bill Clinton is to pay tribute to former SDLP leader John Hume during his visit to Londonderry on Wednesday.

Mr Clinton will honour Mr Hume's contribution to peace in Northern Ireland in a Guildhall Square speech.

He will also visit the University of Ulster's Magee campus in Derry.

Later on Wednesday, Mr Clinton will be at Queen's University, Belfast (QUB), for the opening of a leadership institute named after him.

He is expected to meet First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness before he delivers the inaugural William J Clinton lecture at Queen's.

John Hume Mr Clinton will honour John Hume's contribution to peace in Derry's Guildhall Square

Mr Clinton said: "I have long tried to support economic development in Northern Ireland and believe preparing young leaders is essential to long-term prosperity.

"So, I am happy to be associated with this institute."

'Proud moment'

The event will be one of the first engagements for QUB's new vice-chancellor, Prof Patrick Johnston.

"This is a historic occasion for Queen's University Belfast," he said.

"It is also a proud moment for me as I begin my tenure as vice-chancellor and it is a landmark event in the life of Northern Ireland.

"We are honoured that President Clinton has given his name to our leadership institute and we are delighted that he has joined us in person to set the seal on that partnership."

The Guildhall Square event is open to the public. It is due to begin around 12:15 GMT and will feature a performance by Phil Coulter.

During his visit to the Magee campus Mr Clinton will help launch Peacemaking In The Twenty-First Century, a new book celebrating a series of peace lectures given at the campus.

Guildhall stage The stage at Guildhall Square under construction on Tuesday

University of Ulster vice-chancellor Prof Richard Barnett said: "The University of Ulster is delighted to strengthen its links with President Clinton and to welcome him back to the city.

'Great honour'

"We are honoured that Mr Clinton will be with us to launch the book and to support the developments at INCORE, the University's international peace and conflict centre, linked to the John Hume and Thomas P O'Neill Chair in Peace."

Nobel Laureate John Hume held the Tip O'Neill chair in peace studies at the University of Ulster from 2002 to 2009.

Mr Clinton has previously described working on the Northern Ireland peace process as one of the "great honours" of his life.

His last trip to Northern Ireland was in 2010 when he outlined his ideas for building economic prosperity during a visit to Derry.


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