A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

As you know, President Clinton has worked very hard to support the people of Northern Ireland in their ongoing efforts to find a lasting peace. We are particularly pleased that the new elected assembly and government is now up and running, and we are all so proud of the work done by George Mitchell to facilitate the Good Friday agreement.

I have had the good fortune to visit Northern Ireland three times, and on two occasions with President Clinton. I know the people of Northern Ireland care deeply about improving education.

Last May I visited Belfast to help launch Civic Link, a joint initiative of our department, Northern Ireland's Department of Education and the Department of Education in the Republic of Ireland. Thirty schools in the north and south of Ireland are now participating in this new initiative, which will grow to 120 schools in the next three years.

Civic Link is an exciting cross-border and cross-community learning experience that is based on a program created in the United States called Project Citizen. Our department is currently supporting civic initiatives like this in about 15 nations, including Bosnia, the Czech Republic, Mexico, and Russia.

Several months ago -- John McFall -- Minister McGuinness' immediate predecessor -- came to visit me to discuss the continuing cooperation between our two departments. I am pleased that Minister McGuinness is following in his footsteps.

Our staffs have been working hard. Senior members of my staff have been holding discussions with the minister's staff on a wide range of issues, including special education, educational technology, children in high-poverty schools, pre-K programs and new innovations in American education such as charter schools. We have agreed to continue these discussions.

My staff will be providing the minister with a more in-depth briefing on special education immediately after this press conference and then we will have a working lunch with our staffs. Later in the day we will visit Paint Branch High School, a new science and media magnet school.

Let me now ask Minister McGuinness to say a few words.