Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT
Clinton & Mitchell to be Freemen
BILL Clinton is to get the Freedom of Belfast, it was confirmed yesterday.
The former US President and George Mitchell, who chaired the talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement, will both receive the honour.
The SDLP’S Tim Attwood, who came up with the idea, said it was in “recognition of their role in the peace process”.
A Belfast City Council spokesman said a “special meeting will be called at a later date to officially confer the honour”.
Cllr Attwood said: “Senator Mitchell was seen as the honest broker. He won admiration from across the political divide in Northern Ireland for the careful, patient way he chaired the talks.
“As Seamus Mallon said of him, ‘His patience, skill and deep humanity eased us through the darkest days and nights and led us into the light of Good Friday’.
“President Bill Clinton who gave his unwavering commitment to achieving peace even before he was elected in 1992.
“Who can forget the excitement of his first visit to Belfast in 1995? At critical times in the Good Friday negotiations and since he has used flattery, persuasion, arm twisting and midnight phone calls to encourage people over the line.”
Lord Mayor Nuala Mcallister said: “I look forward to conferring freedom of the city, to coincide with 20th anniversary of GFA.”
But Ulster Unionist Chris Mcgimpsey said the party “had reservations about picking Mr Clinton and Mr Mitchell”.